LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 20, 27 June 1868, Page 3

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

(To the Editor oftlie Tiiapeka Times.) Sir, — As tenders have been called for by the Lawrence town Council for a competent person as assessor, I trust they will select one who will do his duty, and not make a party job of it. Should the Council shirk their duty, in not ascertaining who are really ■to be the consumers of the water, and in what quantities, or what demension of branch pipes they propose to have ; and should they further allow the assessor to use his ovra discression in the matter, I fear the consumers will suffer more by the cure than the complaint ; and for that reason, if a general rate be agreed iipon, I see no reason why the scheme should not pay ; but if the- consumers have to pay the rates separately for water, then we shall ascertain the amount of revenue derived from it ; and as tho present Councillors are all likely to retirto very shortly, on account of an increase in number for the coming year, I think it only just and fair that the present Council make up a financial statement of the past year, and lay it before tho ratepayers before the coming election, so as to give every ratepayer an opportunity of knowing what moneys have been spent, and on what works. This course I suggest as the present Council wiU be better able to lay such a statement before tho ratepayers than an entirely new one would be ; and, ns yet, we have no guarantee from any of these gentlemsnj.tha.t they ,wiU take office next

year. But there is one thing sure,— , that new blood will be in the Council and we, as citizens, have a duty to per form, and that duty is, to select gooc men. It has been said that we need mci for Councillors who possess education, and can do something more than get uj. and second a motion. I think all tlw present Councillors possess a tolerable education, and are able to speak a little ; but my opinion is that something more than education is veiy requisite in the Lawrence Town Council. What we want, and must have, is a few thoroughly practical gentlemen, as the fact is well known that men may be well educated and yet have no practical knowledge to detect whether works, when finished, are really well done, or only made to look as if well done ; and as our Corporation is scarcely large enough to employ a good engineer, we need to look at the circumstances in their proper light. I merely write tin's as my opinion, and not for any motive ; but trusting that any one differing from me will claim the same right as myself, and express it, so that we may be the better able to arrive at the best conclusion, and get the right men in the right place, as by this achievement we shall bo able to progress with any other country incorporated town within th Province of Otago. — I am, &c, Quakkr.