LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 149, 15 December 1870, Page 6

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Town Council was held on Monday, the 12th inst. Present — Ilia Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Coverlid, Uren, Mears, Barnett and Williams.

Town Clerk read the minutes of previous meeting.

His Worship ruled that the following portion of the minutes were out of order ; therefore, before confirming them, he should require that the portion referred to be struck out, viz. :—": — " That, in the opinion of this Council, the action taken by certain of its members in the recent case against M'Nickle is opposed to the interests of the ratepayers, and evinced utter disregard or even ordinary precaution in the expenditure of the money piaced under their control by the citizens by whom they were elected."

Cr. Mears wished his Worship to read Standing Orders, for he (Cr, Mears) did »ot consider his Worship had power to expunge any part of minutes of previous meetings.

The Mayor read that clause under which he ruled.

Cr. Mears did not consider his Worship had power to act as he was doing. He h id looked carefully through the Standing Orders, and could find nothing authorising such a course. The Mayor considered it his duty to act as he was doing. The minutes referred to reflected upon the integrity of some gentlemen at that table, therefore he would request some councillor to move the minutes be confirmed, omitting the objectionable resolution.

Cr. Williams moved that the minutes be confirmed, except that part objected to by his Worship. Cr, Coverlid seconded the motion after he had heard the explanation.

Cr. Meais proposed, although he had no expectation of a seconder, that no part of previous minutes be left out.

Cr. Williams' proposition was then put and carried.

A letter from Mr. J. L. S. Keen, was, on the motion of Cr. Mears, ordered to be returned, in consequence of its being couched in language disrespectful to the Council,

A letter from Sergt,-Major Moore, in answer to one from Town Clerk requiring to know if the prisoners in Lawrence jail coulcj. be employed in repairing streets within the Municipality, was replied to in the affirmative, and refeired to Public Works Committee to take action thereon.

Tl;e following accounts were referred to the Finance 'Committee, excepting J. Johnson's, which was referred to Public Works Committee : —

Cr, Mears would like to know by whose authority the public money was expended in M'Niclde's case ; he wished to hear Mr. M'Coy's account read. The Mayor read Mr. M'Coy's account, whicli was as follows :—: — „ ' For professional services - £11-"' 11 Cash out of pocket - - 21 19 0 Cr. Mears said he had,f'looked very carefully for any authority for the course jmrstied by the Mayor acting solely on his own responsibility in this" case. He considered it to be quite illegal. Before such expenditure of public money was nuide, it was necessary to have the consent of the Council, and also the Corporation seal attached to the document authorising such expenditure.

The Mayor denied emphatically that Jie had acted without the full knowledge of the Councillors ; as the affair progressed, conversations were continually occurring on the subject, and he (the MayorJ ventured to say the Councillors were fully cognisant of all proceedings going on in this matter. He tfas v/ell aware that during his absence it had been attempted to make capital out of tjie course he had felt it his duty to take. As the head of the Council, he considered it his duty to do all he could to recover the money lost through Lang's defalcations. He disclaimed any ill-feeling in the matter towards M'JSTickle, for' whom he always maintained the most friendly sentiments. He had written to M'Nickle on the subject, and waited in vain for a reply. He had also spoken to M'Nickle about it, and the answer ho got from him was that ib was for the Council to take action in the matter, Under these circumstances Mr. Gooday had been consulted, who was at that time professional adviser to the Council, and he recommended the action that had been taken. He had endeavoured to smooth over this unfortunate affair— unfortunate both for M'Nickle and the Council. He did not consider any benefit could arise from further discussion upon it.

Cr. Mears wished to know if the Mayor could expend the public money without the consent of the Council ; if so, the Council was simply a nonentity. The Mayor said he must stop Cr. Clears on a point of order. He was arguing on a hypo.th.esis — an absurd course fco adopt, as in this matter the Council had full cognisance of everything t lat was done.

Or. Hears denied such to be tlje case, and defied anyone to point out in the minutes anything to show tl*at the Council was cognisant of tl^e matter. If the minutes were incorrect, why confirm them. He (Cr. Mears) could find nothing in the ordinances Qr new bye-laws. The Mayor said they were not acting under the new bye^laws. Oi\ Hears wished to have the letter from M'Nickle read offering to compromise the affair.

The Mayor read M'JSTiokle's letter offering a compromise for tlio amount deficient up to the time of his bankruptcy, which the Mayor said would not amount to so much as they had got in pursuing the course they had done. He (the Mayor) thought it was time the mismess of the Council was proceeded v/i.h, and all discussion ceased upon this p ie3tion. it wa.s agreed that an allotment be rented to Dr. Halley for the consideration of £2 sterling, and a .yearjy rental t ni 20s per annum f ortr t %h& years. be| Charged, .. \ .-.".1

Cr. Mears wished to ask whether this was to be a precedent, so that others could obtain allotments applied for on the same terms If an isolated case, he objected to it. He knew several parties who intended to put insimiLvrapplications, and it was only fair they should have the same advantageous terms. The Mayor considered it would be better to put up all the allotments by public auction.

Cr. Coverlid understood the reason of granting this allotment at that price was that Dr. II alley had obtained the front allotment at the same price, and the allotment asked for was in the rear of Dr. Halley's present grounds, and could not be of any service to anybody else. It was situated in a gully.

Cr. Mears wished that some rule should be laid down that the ratepayers might have some guide to go by.

Cr. Barnett thought it full value for the allotment. The Government had sold allotments contiguous to the one in quality for £4 sterling.

The report was then adopted. The Mayor said the next business before the Council was the appointment of an assessor for the ensuing year. The Mayor read the clauses refering to the appointment of assessors, &c.

Cr, Mears asked if it was possible for the Town Clerk to perform the duty of assessor.

The Mayor said it was unusual, but he found nothing in the Ordinance against such an appointment. Of course, in large towns it was impossible tj combine the two offices, but in a small community like this he could see no objection. Cr. Mears then proposed that tho present Town Clerk be appointed assessor for the ensuing year at a salary of £15. The woik to be completed within 21 days from the d.ite of his appointment.

Cr. Coverlid had much pleasure in seconding that appointment.

The Mayor then asked if councillors wished the Town Cierk to retire while the voting too place. Upon beini; replied to in the affirmative, the Mayor directed the Town Clerk to retire.

The Town Clerk as then unanimously chosen, and having returned was informed of the appointment.

The Mayor said it had been usual for him, when the Council required funds, to make the necessary provision, and even advance it out of his own pocket, but for the future he certainly sin mi Id not do so without the authority of the Council given to him by the Town Clerk and properly sealed, itc. There was a bill due next Saturday, for which no provision was yet made. Tho Council had better see about it, and do something to prevent its being dishonoured.

Cr. Mears said ho considered it was quite time the Coimc.l did regulate these matters. Perhaps the time might arrive when they would not be blessed with the present parental care, or presided over by one in whom thi'y h,xd such entire confidence. He (Cr. Mears) had not forgotten that useful lesson taught them by his Worship, to tho effect that they were at present in a s^ate of chrysalis or embryo, from which iiiv.j might some day emerge and display their talents in a more useful and elevated sphere. He thought they wore out of their swaddling clothes and able to toddle a little, and hoped soon to be able to run alone. Therefore, as a step forward, lie moved that his Worship be authorised to see the bank manager, and take whatever steps would be found necessary to arrange about the bill due on Saturday next.

Cr. Williams seconded. — Carried

The Mayor then drew the attention of the Council to a matter that had found jilace in his thoughts for some time past. The annual examination of the scholars in the Lawrouce (iraminar School would take place on the 22nd inst., and he thought it would be advisable to initiate a yearly prize to be competed for by the scholars. His idea was that it should take the form of a medal. When in town he had enquired and found that a very handsome medal, suitably inscribed, could be procured for tha sum of £5. He considered it a most desirable object, and did not think a single ratepayer would object to money expended for so laudable a purpose. It would stimulate the exertions and foster the ambition uf the scholars to carry off a trophy that they might look upon in after years with becoming pride as being the best scholar in such a year at the Law rence Grammar School.

Cr. Mears fully concurred in the object, \ but did not think it desirable to confine it to one priz3 ; the education of the two sexes was, or in his opinion ought to be iv many respects, so different, that it did not appear to him fair or proper to place them in competition. He therefore moved a proposition- -that iv the opinion of this Council, it is desirable to stimulate the youth of Lawrence to extra exertions in their studies, and therefore, to promote this end, a medal of the value of L 5 be given to the best general scholar for geueral knowledge, and also one of L 3 to the best female scholar. Cr. Coverlid seconded. — Carried. Cr. Coverlid asked if the old foot bridges not now in use could be made available for crossing places when needed elsewhere. This question was referred to the Public Works Committee. Cr. Williams observed that nothing had been yet done to the road between this and Williams', although ordered some time since. ' The Mayor could not help mentioning, although somewhat out of their province, to notice tho great waste of public money that had taken place in White-haven street. For want of proper metal or gravel, vrhat had been done was being quickly destroyed. lie would suggest that Government attention be called to it, and the Town Clerk be instructed to write to the General Government about it. Town Cierk instructed accordingly. Cr. Mears then moved that die Council adjourn for a month, in consequence of Christmas holidays. Cr. Coverlid seconded. — Carried.

The " Lyfcfcelton limes " has recentlygiven offence by one of its musical critiques, and at the foot of one of the published letters on the subject we find the following editorial note :—": — " For the lust dozou years we have been so perplexed in our endeavours to satisfy the musical world, in the way of criticism, that we are now thinking of inviting every performer to criticise his or her own work, and s.ee how that will answer."

Jeorge JeneryFoseph Johnson I. Vye ---- ["UAPEKA TIMKS >V, Hayes - Phoenix Water Company r\ r . N. Gooday £4 4 8 0 3 16 32 15 3 0 9 7 28 0 1 5 (5 0 4 0 0 4 0 0