LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 175, 15 June 1871, Page 5

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Town Council was held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening. All the Councillors were present. Cr. Mears was called to the chair. The minutes were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter from Mr. W. D. Morrison, asking permission to make two crossings to his property in Ross Place and Colonsay street was received, and permission granted. A letter from a miner named Henry Brown, asking permission to construct a water race across the Municipal paddock was received and referred to the Reserves Committee. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were put in the proper channel for examination and payment : — L. C. Holmes, Inspector of Works, LlO ; R. W. Nicholls, balance of contracts, £90 14s. ; John Downie, contracts, £20 6s. ; Henry Miller, balance of contracts, £21 ss. Finance Report, No. 10, £124 19s. 3d., was read and adopted. Cr: Barnett, according to notice given at previous meeting, moved, "That tenders be called for continuing the gravelling of footpaths in Peel-street to corner of Oban-street ; and from the corner of Colonsay-street to the Postoffice." This work being considered much needed, the motion was carried unanimously. The Chairman quite agreed that this was a more important work than some others that had been done, and although the Council had already exceeded the sum they allocated for public works, viz., £300, still, the expense of the gravelling was bo small, that the Council were quite justified in entailing it. Cr. Harrop asked the Committee what steps they purposed adopting with reference to the prizes awarded to the Lawrence Grammar School — the gold medal, Ac. The original minutes were referred to, and it was found that the Council had decided to make it an annual one. The Councillors generally expressed an opinion that prizes valuing £3 and £2 would be quite sufficient for all practical purposes. Cr. Uren drew the attention of the Council to the bad state of a certain portion of Stranraer-street, which had been recently formed, and was now full of deep ruts. If a few loads of stones and gravel were placed in the rats referred to, the road would be quite passable. He would -prove that the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee to be dealt with. — Carried. Cr. Coverlid drew the Councillors' attention to the fact that a considerable time ago several very important clauses of ihe Municipal Act of 1857 were decided to be adopted by the Council, and incorporated with its Bye-laws, and that the Mayor had promised to get the necessary formula performed, and get the additional Bye-laws gazetted ; but so far as he was aware, nothing had been done in the matter. He thought the Council should act at ence in the matter, to enable them to carry out the special rate system which was so much required. The Chairman said he never saw so much apathy displayed in anything as had been done in this matter. The blame -was either attached to the Mayor or the Town Clerk. He (the Chairman) had brought this same subject forward three years ago, and nothing yet seemed to have, been done. If these clauses of the Act, applicable to their Municipality, had been then adopted, the fees and fines accruing therefrom would have paid the working expenses of the Council. He did not only blame the present Town Clerk, but the last one also, for neglect in this matter. The Town Clerk then replied, and cleared himself entirely of any dereliction of duty on his part. Cr.. Williams moved that the Legislative Committee look over the Act, and bring forward a report as to what they think should be adopted by the Council. — Corned. Cr. Harrop said there was another matter which he thought should be gon«fc into, viz., the redi vision of the Westa3d| MY<idle Wards — in the former there^veH only some 20 voters, while in thelatfefß j^hera were between 300 and 400 L He moved that the Town Clerk write to the MayV>r, asking if he had takdn any steps with, reference to the redivision of these Wards. TSr. Uren seconded. — Carried. Cr. Williams said it was a very bad practice of bringing forward these important subjects without a motion to the. effect. The Council then adjourned.