LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 137, 22 September 1870, Page 5

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Lawrence Town Council was held on Monday last. Present — the Mayor and Crs. Mears, Uren, Williams, and Harrop. A letter from the assessor was received, complaining of the Council for returning the assessment roll. It was agreed to allow the matter to stand over till next meeting. The following accounts were then referred to the Finance Committee. : — D. Wliittet, altering fire plug, &c, 18s 6d ; H. Bastings, rent of Council Chambers, £20 ; Armstrong and Keen, auditors, £4 4s ; H. Bastings (Returning Officer), 15s ; Downie, £8 16s ; Tuapeka Times, £5 os6d. Letter from Mr. Mouat, with reference to the bad state of the lower portion of Campbellton-street. The Town Clerk was instructed to write to Mr. Moaut to the effect that steps would be taken to repair it. With regard to the footpath on south side of Colonsay-street, referred to in a letter from Mr. Adams, the Town Clerk was instructed to write to the magistrate about the embankment of the Courthouse grounds, which was slipping down on the footpath. The Council then adjourned to the following evening to consider the assessment roll, and the office of clerk for the Corporation. At that meeting there were present - the Mayor and Crs. Mears, Barnett, Williams, and Harrop. The Mayor stated the assessor had revised the roll, and made such alterations as he thought would be satisfactory to the Council. Mr. Keen had said that he had valued the property to the best of his ability, and as he was appointed by the Council, he thought they should confide in him, and not make a fool of him. Crs. Mears and Harrop looked over the roll, and did not seem satisfied with some of the valuations which had not been altered, and some of the mayor's own sections had been reduced from £70 to £35. A long silence ensued, during which time our reporter fell asleep, and awoke with the first sound of a human voice. The Mayor said it would be good policy to pass the assessment a3 amended ; it would save litigation and a deal of bother. The Council might appoint another man whose valuation would be as opposed to their ideas as Mr. Keen's was. At last Cr. Mears proposed, " That the Council disallow the assessment roll as brought forward.'' Cr. Harrop seconded. On being put, there were two for and two against. Cr. Williams then moved that the assessment,as submitted, be allowed. Cr. Barnett seconded. Cr. Mears moved as an amendment that a special call of the Council be made for Friday evening, so that all the Councillors may be present. Cr. Ilarrop seconded. On putting the amendment, it was found there were two for and two against. The Mayor then gave his casting vote for the amendment. The next business was the election of a Town Clerk. The Mayor read the three applications which had been handed in, viz., Arch. Cowie, L. C. Holmes, and John C. Love. Crs. Williams and Mears thought, as a full meeting was likely to be had on Friday evening, that the Council had better adjourn till then. The Council then adjourned.