LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 281, 19 June 1873, Page 3

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the Town Council was held on Friday last. Present : The Mayor and Crs. Meyer, Hill, Coverlid, Walker, and Hay. Cr. Meyer moved and Cr. Walker seconded, "That the action taken b/ the Public Works Committee in reference to the footpath in Irvine-street be confirmed and that the tenders be opened, and that the offer of Mr. Ferguson to contribute to the cost of the same be accepted." Carried. A letter from P. Aitken, complaining of the water lodging in his garden, in Lisinore-street, was referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. A letter from Messrs. Taylor and Grooday, asking permission to mine on the old Beaumont road, was received. Permission was not granted. Messrs. Downie and Detert were granted an extension of time to complete their contract. The Mayor here remarkprl that the contractors wei'e giving the Inspector a considerable amount of trouble with regard to the pitching. A letter from Mr. It. W. Nichols, asking to be allowed until next spring to complete his contract, was received and permission granted. A letter from T. Robinson and Co.. with reference to weighbvige, was received and ordered to lie on the table until next Council night. The letter stated that the largest weighbridges in stock in Mcl bourne were for 5 tons, but that two capable of weighing 10 tons were expected shortly to arrive. A letter from Mr. Bunvill, architect, Queenstown, re plans, &c, for town hall, was I received. The Council decided that the letter should lie on the table till next meeting, so that all the Councillors could have an opportunity of considering the matter. The Public Works and Finance Committees' report, as follows, was then read : — Lawrence, sth June, 1873. At a meeting of the Public Works and Finance Committees of the Lawrence Town Council, held on the above date—present, the Mayor and Crs. Hay, Walker, and Hayes : It was resolved that the Committee procure estimates of cost of carrying out the works of sewerage and town hall. That the Council be recommended to borrow the sum of £2000 for the purpoae of building a town hall, with offices, shops, &c. With regard to the report of this Committee of date 27th Way, which was referred back for re-consideration, it was considered that the principle of economy therein emboied is well worthy of the notice of the Councillors, as it is undesirable to saddle the municipality with a heavy debt at the present time. E. Herbert, Mayor. Cr. Hay stated that he never knew anything of these reports until they were laid before the Council. He thought he should, as a member of the Public Works Committee, at least be shown a draft of them. When the last report was brought up, it surprised none more than it did the members of the Public Works Committee. The Mayor said he had consulted Mr. Duncan, the engineer, regarding the sewerage, and he thought there would not be any difficulty with it. He (Mr. Dnnean) had taken the levels, but had not left the particulars with him (the Mayor). The interest on £2000 for I the town hall would probably be £150, from which the following revenue might be calculated : — Rents, two shops, £120 a year ; rent saved for Council Chambers, £12 ; and say on average of £2 a week for the hall — thus giving, under favorable circumstances, a profit of about £100 a year after paying interest. He would not be backward in I doing his utmost towards carrying out I the other works, such as the water j works and the sewerage, when the time j came for these works. He understood that some of the Friendly Societies in the district had money to lend, and he thought, if it could be borrowed from them, it would be well. Cr. Hill asked if the Council could not decide upon the amount to be borrowed, say £5000 or £6000, and meantime only issue debentures for the £2000 required for the town hall. By this means the resolution would save all future discussion. The Mayor thought the Council had mo power to bind their successors in ! that manner. Let the Council first I borrow this sum, and thus make a ! stai"t. Cr. Hay moved the reception of the report. Cr. Walker, in seconding its reception, said he believed all the Councillors were fully alive to the best interests of the town ; but he considered it most absurd to imagine that an) capitalist would hold his money in readiness for them. The £2000 would be quite adequate for the town hall. The water works, no doubt, were quite as necessary and as reproductive ; but he thought the Council were not justified at present in rushing into the iron market, when a large amount might be saved to the town by a short delay. The report was then adopted. Cr. Coverlid moved and Cr. Hay seconded, " That the Public Works Committee procure particulars as to size of town hall and probable cost of same." Finance Committee's report No. 16 was received and adopted. The following accounts were received and referred to the Public Works and Finance Committees : — M'Rae Bros., gravelling Ross Place, £180 165. ; John Nixon, 4 lamp-posts, ; Henry Miller, gravelling Stranraer-street, £31 ; Meyer and Co., sundries, £1 10s. The following tenders for forming

j and gravelling footpath in Irvine-street i were received .—II. Miller, for the 17 chains, £12; J. Tuekey, at 15s. a chain, £12 155. ; C. Roughan, 255. a chain j A. Fraser, 18s. a chain; Downie and Detert, 19s. 6d. Cr. Hay moved and Cr. Coverlid seconded, that Mr. Miller's tender be accepted. Carried. Cr. "Walker moved and Or. Coverlid seconded, "That the Public Works Committee be empowered to make the approach from Harrington Place to Penrith-streeb." Carried. Cr. Coverlid moved and Cr. Hayseconded, " That the Town Olerk write the School Committee, requesting them to place a large culvert in the channel of Whitehaven-street opposite the schoolhouse." With reference to the rates, the Town Clerk stated that during the past week he bad three cases in Court. The meeting then adjourned.