LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL,

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 18, 13 June 1868, Page 2

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL,

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Lawrence Town Council was held on Wednesday evening. Present : The Mayor, and Councillors Robertson, Donovan, Aimers, and J»ffery. The minutes of previous meeting were confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. A. letter from the R. C. Church Committee, requesting the Council to lease a Municipal Reserve adjoining the R. C. Chapel. . Proposed by Cr. Robertson, and seconded, by Cr. Jeffery, "That the Town Clerk be instructed to acknowledge receipt, and to state that the matter had been referred to the Municipal Reserves Committee, and would be dealt with at as early a date as possible. " Carried. ACCOUNTS Mr. Tuckey , £8 11 0 „ Jeffery 2 7 0 referred to Finance Committee. FHrAirC» REPORT, No. 6, for footpath at corner of Beaumont Road. Carried. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. Moved and seconded, " That Public Works Report be received and adopted.'' Carried. Water Inspection Committee. In connection with this report, a letter "was received from Mr. Murray in reference to four communications from the Town Clerk, and requesting a remittance for £300, being the balance due the water works contract. There was a lengthened discussion on Mr. Murray's letter. Cr. Donovan thought the letter was not respectful, and should be returned to Mr. Murray. He did not believe the work had been done according to the contract. Cr. Robertson thought the Council should consider well before returning the letter. It may be a little sharp, but let the Council first be satisfied whether Mr. Murray was really at fault. Referring to the discrepancy in the length of pipes, Cr. Robertson thought the joints might make the difference. He did not see the necessity for puddling the reservoir. He would therefore move that the letter be received. Cr. Aimers said Mr. Murray undertook to leave the ground which he opened as he found it. Now he had not done-so ; it ought to have been gravelled, and he (Cr. Aimers) understood the contract to be at so much per chain when laid in the ground. Cr. Donovan thought Mr. Murray should be informed that the objections to his charges were made by the Water Inspection Committee, and the Council were not to be intimidated into paying for work which wai not done according to contract. After a further conversation, it was moved by Cr. Robertson, and seconded by Cr. Aimers, " That the report be received and adopted, and that Mr. Murray be paid the sum of £240, the balance to be retained on account of one chain of maiu-piping overcharged, puddling of reservoir, and tamping of ground, &c, over the pipes : When these matters are settled, Mr. Murray to receive balance coming to him, if any." Carried. Cr. Jeffery then gave notice of motion for fixing Rates for the municipal year ending Ist August, 1869. Mored byCr. Donovan, and seconded by Cr. Robertson, ' 'That tenders be called for Assessorship for the municipal year ending Ist Atigust, 1869." Carried. Proposed byCr. Robertson, and seconded by Cr. Jeffery, " That the footpath on north side of Ross Place be channelled with good strong pitching." Referred to Public Works Committee. Cr. Robertson hoped the Mayor would draw the attention of the inspector to Kilmarnock-street, which required something done to it. It might be necessary for the contractor to hire an extra team for a day or two. Cr. Donovan thought the most economical way would be to advise him to call for tenders. The Mayor drew the attention of the Council to th& difficulty the Town Clerk had in collecting the rates, and stated that he had given instructions that the parties who did not pay after having been galled upon a reasonable number of times, should be immediately sued. The Mayor doubted if the Council had power to levy the rates' separately. He thought they should be in a lump sum. Cr. Donovan, with reference to the levying of the rates, hoped that a special rate would be made for the water, so that people might know what was paid for it. Cr. Robertson moved the adjournment of the Council to Wednesday, the 24th instant. - .