LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 262, 6 February 1873, Page 6

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

'The usual fortnightly, meeting of the Lawrence Town Council was held ou Monday evening. ■ Present: The Mayor, and Crs. Hill, Hay, Hayes, Walker, Coverlid, and Meyer. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed^ The, correspondence was dealt with iis follows :— Letter from A. Willis, Under-Sccretary, relative to closing •certain streets ; received. Letter from '" tf. Downey, intimating his intention to execute h ; s tender for the formation of Irvine-street; received. Letter from Xx. Burrows, stating that he had made lip hi 3 mind not to proceed to Dunedin for threo months ; received. In reference to this letter, Cr. "Walker explained ! that ]3uvro\vs, feeling incapacitated for work, intended to obtain admission into the T>enevok'iit As\hun. Letter from j Mr. Harris, asking permission to remove a stack ot liny ; received, and the requested permission granted. Letter fioin J. Buckley, disking permission to erect a house on Lancaster-street, offering to remove it ni a week's ' notice ;, received, and permission granted. Fa-om Mr. 11. A. Ko bin sou, explaining the matter of watering the streets j received. Upon this letter being read, Cr. Hill said that before employing Robinson lie had consulted Cr. Hayes, who agreed with him. He had sent Burrows to Cr. tlay, who also expressed his agreement, and to Cv. Walker, whose reply could not he repeated. Cr. Meyer also agreed that it was de sirable to have the streets watered. The work had been done, and was well worth the amount charged. He might remark that if the Public Works Committee knew nothing about the matter, why did they allow Robinson to have the use of the hose and hydrant. He might also allude to the fact that on a ratepayer complaining of annoyance through watering the streets, the Public Works Commitee had expressed regret that their servant had caused complaint, and promising that he should not do so again. Cn Hayes said there had been enough feaid about this matter, and "moved that the account 1 c paid at once. Cr. Hay seconded the motion. Cr. Coverlid asked why the fact that the conti-act had been entered into bad not been brought up at the Council the first meeting afterwards. The matter regarding Robinson using the hydrant was easily explainable, as he was a member of tile Fire Brigade, and the Public Works Committee were probably under the same impression as he (Cr. Coverlid) was, that Robinson was practising. As the water cost so much money, he thought that those who bene6tted by the watering of the streets Should pay for it, and he believed that they were willing to do so. A.bove all, lie objected to the Council moneys being expended in an irregular manner. ; Cr. Walker stated that upon Burrows inquiring if he would give his consent to the streets being watered, lie refused. The Mayor mentioned that he was away from Lawrence when the contract was entered into. However, be thought the work was very necessary. The motion was then put and •carried. The following accounts were referred to the Pinancp and Public "Works j Committees. G. Burrows, £3 4s Od ; D. "Whittet, £2 lGs 10|d._ The Committee's report, stating that payments to the amount of £25 Is Od, had been made, was received aad adopted. The Public Works, Committee's reported that Michael Ryan having refused to .carry out his tender, the Council should disqualify * him from "tendering for twelve months, and thai John J?ov, nie's tender forTrvine-stroel being the nc\t highest;, had been accepted ; and f'-mfc Vye aud Tucker's tender being tlie next highest for reservoir fence, had been accepted. It also recommended that tho £5 voted by the Council towards the swimming • bath, be not paid till the proposed additions wi j re made. Cr. Hill remarked that the last clause of the roport was scarcely complimentary to the gentlemen who had undertaken the construction of the baths. Afairamounthcdbeen collected through their exertions, and the least '.thing the Coancil could do was to keep its promise, and to pay' the five pounds. Cr. Hay paid the Public Works Committee thought that all the works mentioned in tbe statement submitted to them should be completed before the £5 was paid. Cr. lliiyea was under tlie impression 'that the Public Workfl Committee had nothing whatever to do with the mattor. The cC3 had been voied by the Council, and he moved that the amount be paid at once. The motion was seconded by Cr. Hill, and carried. ' The report was then adopted. The Reserves Committee's report, recommended that tho market reserve be leased for 5 years at an upset price of 10s per acre per annum ; that the &. AY. portion of block 47 be leased, at an upset rental of 20s per acre per &unuin • and that certain other sections be sold by public auction. It was received and adopted. It Vsras resolved 'that Mr. Say should Sell by auction the reserves proposed ■to be disposed of, on the 15th Feb. 'Cr. ffill, in the absence of Cr. Say, tottvedjthe motion he had given notice *>i'&fc the previous flitting *k** tke £©*■-

uiation, pitching and gravelling of the Beaumont road from tbe corner of Peel-street, to the town boundary, a distance of 26 chains, be at onco undertaken, and that the owners of property on that road be requested to build retaining walls. He asked permission to strike out the latter portion of the motion. It was thought ~lhat the motion would be better as it stood, than with the proposed alteration. Cr. Hayes seconded the motion. Cr. Coverlid moved as an amendment, that tbe matter stand over i ill tho next Council night, on account of the harvest being on, which would lessen competition, and cause the work to bo dearer than if it were delayed. On it being pointed out that before the plans and specifications "nere prepared, some weeks would elapse, Cr. Coverlid withdrew his amendment, aud the original motion was passed. The Town Clerk was instructed to to ask the Government for the services of Mr. Simpson, to survey and prepare plans of the r,oad. Cr. Hill drew attention to^the fact that tbe Public Works Committee had not attended to the man-traps iv Peelstrcer. Cr. Coverlid brought the goat nuisance under the notice of the Council. Tiio Town Clerk was directed to communicate with the Inspector of Police, reqm-stiug him to instruct the constables to deal with the goats as the Act prescribed, viz., by shooting or impounding them* Cr. Coverlid stated as drain pipes were now being used, the Council should patronise local manufacturers. Mr. Tonks was producing drain pipes of a quality superior to those brought from Dunedin or Tokomairiro, and cheaper in price. At the request of that gentleman, he had brought some of the pipes, and also some paving tiles for the inspection of Councillors. The pipes and tiles were inspected, the quality approved of, and Councillors expressed their opinion that local industry should be encouraged as far as laj in the power of the Council. The Council then adjourned.