LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 22 August 1872, Page 7

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Lawrence Town Council was held on Monday evening. Present — The Mayor and Councillors Hill, Hay, Walker, Meyer, and Hayes. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The correspondence consisted of a letter from Mr. M'Kiminie complaining that the Inspector of Nuisances was constantly annoying him about the state of his premises after measures had been taken to remove any nuisance that might be upon them, and asked the Council to interfere to prevent his being unnecessarily tormented. Received and referred to the Inspector of Nuisanos to report upon. The following accounts were received and referred to the Finance Committee. R. VV. Nicholls, £12 195., D. Whittet, £16 ; J. Williams, 10s . L. 0 Holmes £1 10s. 6d ; J. C. Arbuckle ,£L Is. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that an open drain on the municipal section adjoining the Cafe de Paris was creating a nuisance and inquired whether proceedings should be taken against the parties in occupation of the ground. He reported also that a nuisance existed at i the water table on the south side of I Ross Place. Received and referred to j the Public Works Committee with power ! to act. The Public Works Committee's report was read. It recommended the refusal of Ah Poo's application to mine near the road opposiii Williams' store ; and stated that a slight expenditure had been incurred for repairs to the culvert near the schoolhouse, which work had beeu executed. It also stated that the Committee had examined the oulvert in lona-streefc, and the repairs to the culvert in Canip- \ bellton-street, which works had been completed in accordance with specifications. Received and adopted. ; On the motion of Or. Hay, seconded by Ct< Meyer, the Public Works Comraiti tea were empowered to have wings oonBtrueted to the oohsst in lonarstreet,

and the ohannel of the creek straigh- ! tened. The Reserve* Committee's report re coin mended that Mr. J. M. Clarke's application to leaße the water works reserve be declined; that Mr. J. M. Clarke's offer to lease block 46 be accepted for a term of 10 years ; that Mr. Jamison's application to lease section 6 and 16, block xTT^ for 2L years be agreed to at the sura of £4 per section, and Is per year rent ; also, that a lease for 21 years should be issued to Mr. Pyke for section 6, block j XI, and that Mr. Pyke be refunded £4 j 10s., that sum being his payment for the \ extension of the lease. Received. j After a discussion, the report, with the exception of the portion relating to the ■ letting of block 46, was adopted. I On the motion of Cr. Hay, seconded by Cr. Meyer, Mr. Clarke's oft'er to lease block 46 for a term of 21 year*, in the terms set forth in his application was acceded to. T ie Finance Committee's reporii Nf s. 1 and 2, stating that payments to the amount of £'46 lls. and £14 Is. 4d., were received and adopted. Cr. Hay moved the motion that he had given notice of at the previous meeting, viz., " That the Council request the Government to extend Campbellfcon-Btreet through the Camp Reserve, and sell the frontages so obtained." Mr. Hay said j the reserve was much larger than those jin cities the size of Dunedin, and the course he proposed would have the desirable result of giving revenue to the Government, and also to the Corporation. The sites obtained would be eligible for building private residence upon, and he was sure they would sell woll. Camp bellton. street could be easily made, a-i'tl its being extended to Peel-street, woul I enhance the value of property in the vicinity. He believed the Oovemmant were favorably disposed to the project. If it were carried out the GorerMunv-t buildings would be gathered on the C< 1 nay street frontage, instead of strug.,»i ig about all over the reserve as at pre&our. This would greatly improve the appearance of that street. The reserve that would remain after the portions proposed were cut off, would be sufficiently large for all purposes of tiio Government. The buildings in the way were all dilapidated ricketty structures, which ought in nny i case to be replaced by more suitable edifices. Cr. Meyer in seconding the motion concurred in Mr. Hay's remarks. The motion was carried uuanimoualy Cr. Hay remarked that if the Government agreed to the proposition, it would be well to have a piece of the laud reserved for school buildings; When the wdlway came to Lawrence, the present schoJ house would have to be removed, as it was immediately opposite the place where it was proposed to have the station. Cr. Walker said he felt assured that the motion he was about to propose was one that deserved, and would receive the I hearty support of all the Councillors, j They ail knew that it was the intention of the citizens to present the late Mayor with a testimonial in recognition of the services rendered by him to the town. They all knew that while filling the honorable position of. Mayor so m^ny yearn Mr. Hastings did his duty in a thoroughly competent aud business like manner, and creditably to the town, and won the repect of all who knew him. Ha moved— " That the Council vote the sum of £10 towards the testimonial." He was sorry that he could not propose ten times that amount, but their financial position did not permit such being done. The Mayors iii if the Councillors wished to give LlO towards the testimonial privately, it was quite competent for them to do so. In this matter they must, however, remember that they were dealing with public funds, and, as a matter of principle, he was convinced that such a vote was not right. They might be called upon some day to refund the amount out of their own pockets. Cr. Walker said there was not an unprejudiced ratepayer in the town who would object to the vote. If, however, the ratepayers did object, he for one would be ready to put his hand in his pocket to refund the amount. The Mayor said the vote would be illegal — it was beyond the jurisdiction of the Council. Cr. Hayes had much pleasure in secondin? the motion. The vote proposed was for a far mo.-c praiseworthy object than one for a much larger amount which had been passed for the erection of a triumphal arch when the Governor visited Lawrence. Cr. Meyer considered Mr. Bastings deserved all they could give him. It was not nothing but right that a man who had served the town faithfully and well for six years should receive seme token from the Council that his services had bean appreciated. Cr. Hay would have had much pleasure in supporting the motion if it had been for the presentation of a testimonial from the Council, instead of merely subsidising a testimonial from the outside public. The Mayor asked if any Councillor co'tfd show anything in the Act or Standing Orders permitting such a vote. Cr. Hayes said as the Council were unable to give a testimonial to -Mr. Bastiugs worthy of his acceptance, it was only an act of courtesy to subsidise the amount raised by the ratepayers for that purpose. Cr, Meyer pointed out that the Council voted money to the school for prises. If it was lawful for them to do that, he did not see how the present purpose could be illegal. Cr. HilJ endoraed every word that had been said in favor of Mr. Bastings. He did not see anything to prevent the passing of the vote. He suggested, as an addition to the motion, that the resolution passed by the Council as a recognition of Mr Bastings' services should be engrossed and frame- 1 and presented at the sumo time as tha teatiu*oni*l from the ratepayers. The Mayor said ha did not kno^v of any olanse in the Sta idimj Orders or Act whioh permitted the passing of *uch a vote. As to the mxlaU givwn. to tho sohool, he might say, us a member of the School Committee, that he had always opposed their being received, as Ivj considered the Town Council was exceeding its powers in baat^wiij^ them. He suggested that the matter ba deferred until a legal opinion omild be obtained as to whether the Council had the power to pass such a vote. Or. Hayes observed that obtniai&g &

legal opinion would cosfc more money thsa the amount of the Vote. The motion was then put and carried. The Mayor said he cmld scarcely section the vote until he had U#\\ advice upon it. Cr. Hayes said, if the CWicil had not the privilege of passing such a vote ha would not sit at the t<tble another night. The Council then adjourned.