LAWRENCE TOWN" COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 100, 8 January 1870, Page 5

LAWRENCE TOWN" COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was held on Wednesday evening, in the Council Chambers. Present — The Mayor, and Councillors Mears', Coverlid, Harrop, and Walker. The object of the meeting was to rescind a resolution recently carried, refusing the acceptance of Cr. Keen's resignation. "* Standing Order 23 having been suspended, it was moved, seconded, and carried, " That Cr. Keen's resignation be accepted." By referring to the list of fines, it was ascertained that £25 was the largest amount which could be inflicted. Cr. Coverlid moved, " That a fine of £10 be inflicted." Cr. Mears seconded. He thought it a mere matter of form, as a fine had been decided on before, and no action ever taken by the Council to recover it. He apprehended that the Council would be as dilatory with regard to this £10 fine as they were in the other case. He would be inclined to push the matter to its furthest. Cr. Harrop supported the motion. Cr. Walker also spoke to the resolution. Cr. Keen had dragged the Council into hot water, and he should like to know if the Council was a legal body. He had read in the Ordinance that they could fine, and he should like to know if the fine could be recovered. The Mayor said he disagreed with the Council in pushing the matter to extremes. It would be nonsense to put the * Council to unnecessary expense ; besides, Cr. Keen had been a good Conn cillor, and might have other reasonsprivate reasons -than those of which he was accused, and which were unknown to the Council, for resigning his seat. He was surprised to hear gentlemen at that board speaking of being dragged into

anything. Were they not supposed to be the elect of the town? — the most enlightened and independent-minded members of the community? and yet they would talk of being dragged into anything ! He thought a nominal fine would be more conducive to the interests of the municipality, and he believed Cr. Keen would gladly pay such a fine. Cr. Coverlid replied by stating that it was as an example he wished the matter carried out. According to the wording of Cr. Keen's resignation, he looked upon it as a slight to the Council. He would prefer not to take proceedings until they knew the result of a similar case pending in Oamaru. The motion was carried unanimously. The minutes of several previous meetings were then read. A letter from Mr. Lange was read, expressive of the great difficulty he had in collecting the rates. The Council instructed him to issue summonses at once. Cr. Henry's seat was then declared vacant. Nominations for two Councillors for Middle Ward to be received on Friday, the 14th inst. ; poll, if necessary, on Monday, the 17th. Cr. Coverlid was appointed returning officer. Cr. Walker referred to the public works which were to be carried out in Stranraerstreet and the Cemetery-road. Tenders had been called, but there was no specification prepared. It was agreed that the Town Clerk write out a specification and submit it to the Pubiic Works Committee. The Mayor said that no works of any description could be proceeded with until the rates were collected. The money in hand was merely a nominal sum. Cr. Means then proposed, " That Mr. Mouat be requested to take immediate steps to recover the fine of £10 inflicted upon Cr. Keen." He was particularly anxious to have the case tried, as Cr. Keen was confident that it could not be recovered. Cr. Walker seconded. The Council adjourned for fourteen days.