LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 284, 10 July 1873, Page 9

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tho usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening last. Present : The Mayor, and a full Council. The minutes were read and confirmed, after a slight alteration. A letter from Mr. D. Johnston was read, asking permission to blast rock in his section in Ross Place, and was referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. A letter from Mr. Jamison was received, in which he reminded the Council of a previous letter he sent them with reference to filling up the street at his garden. There seemed to have been some misconception as to the decision of the Council in this matter. Cr. Hay understood that it was agreed to fill up the street, and he believed Mr. Jamison would not have commenced the work had he not been under this impression. He was, however, informed by the Town Clerk that Mr. Jamison's letter had only been received. The Mayor understood the filling up was to be done by the Conncil when they had stuff handy to do it. Cr. Walker remarked that it was very inconvenient for the builders to erect the wall unless the filling up of the street was carried on simultaneously. On the motion of Cr. Hayes, seconded by Cr. Meyer, the matter was referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. A letter from Messrs. Downie and Detert, complaining of the irritation and annoyance to which they had been subjected by the Town Clerk interfering with them in carrying out their contract, was read and received. The Town Clerk, in explanation, said he really did not know exactly what he was charged with. The only thing he could think of was a matter which oc- i curred three or four days ago. There was a lot of mud collected outside Downie and Detert's contract, which required to be removed. The Public Works Committee had asked the contractors what they would charge to have it done, and they named £2 10s. as their figure, if he recollected riglitly. He remarked to Cr. Hay that the sum mentioned was large, and he believed Mr. Vye would be glad to get it for colonial mortar. With Cr. Hay's authority, he asked Mr. Vye, who said he would remove it for £1. He afterwards saw the contractors putting mud where they should have put gravel, and he complained of it to them, and said he would inform the Public Works Committee of the matter. He then told Cr. Walker of it. After two or three of the Councillors expressed their complete satisfaction with the Town Clerk's explanation, Cr. Hay moved that the explanation be received. • Cr. Walker seconded. Or. Hill thought the Town Clerk had no business to interfere. If he saw anything wrong, it was his duty to inform the Inspector, so that he would deal with the contractors. The motion was carried. The following tenders for the completion of the Beaumont road were then opened. The extent of road for which tenders were called was six chains, which would complete the road to the town boundary in the Beaumont direction :—: —

Before deciding upon any one of these tenders, the Mayor called the attention of Councillors to the ways and means. He thought if the mud were cleared off, and a good coat of gravel put on the road, it would answer the purpose very well till summer. At present the Council's overdraft is £250, and by the time all the contracts are finished it will be £350. As soon as Mr. Smaill came up he would endeavor to get him to make the road passable without entailing any expense on the Council. It was really the duty of the Government to do the work in question, and not the Council. He would recommend the Council to receive the tenders, but not deal with them at present. Cr. Hay said, under the circumstances he would move that the tenders lie on the table, to be dealtjjwith in future. It was possible for the Council to go a little too far in debt. The next Council would come into office and say, " Why, we have nothing to spend." Cr. Coverlid seconded. Cr. Walker remarked that it was well known they had a good road all the way to the coalpit excepting this small break, and it would be a pity to leave it as it is. 300 loads of rubble mixed with gravel would keep it good during the winter months. The standing orders were suspended, and the sum of £10 or £12 voted by the Council to have the work done in the event of the Government failing to do it. The standing orders being resumed, the question of lighting the lamps was then considered. A tender from T. Buckley, to find oil and wicks, and to light and extinguish the lamps, for the sum of LI per week, was received. Cr. Hay said something should be done by the Council in this matter. It would be absurd to allow the lamps to rot. Cr. Coverlid said they were the Councillor's white elephants. Cr. Hill moved that the tender be accepted. The Mayor thought their own man might be able to do the necessary work connected with the lighting, &o. Cr, Hill said perhaps Councillors don't think the lamps should be lit. It was understood that the tender was £1 for every seven nights the lamps were were lit. The Mayor thought three lamps might be lit with candles. Cr. Hill : That would be shabby. Cr. Coverlid did not think so, as some hotelkeepers lit their lamps with candle. He thought £1 a week too much. Cr. Hill : The hotelkeeper had a very different object in keeping a light in his lamp. Cr. Hayes objected to the surfaceman doing the lighting. If he worked his 8 hours a day, no more could be expected of him. Cr. Hill's motion was read and carried. Tho following accounts were then re ceivd and referred to the Finance Committee : — A. Armstrong, rent, £6 ; Mills, Dick, and Co., advertising, 3s. 6d. A letter from Mr. E. T. George, Mayor of Naseby, asking for information anent municipal matters, was read. The Town Clerk stated he had replied, giving the required particulars. The Mayor said there %as a matter he wished to bring before the Council,.althoughit was beyond their peculiar duties, still it was deserving of their consideration. Recently there had been a deal of traffic with parties travelling with stock, and, if Tuapeka was to be the place which they all hoped and expected it would be at Borne not very distant day, it was but natural to suppose, a regular market would be held in it. He therefore would suggest to the Council the advisability of applying to the Provincial Council for say 500 acres of land as a market reserve, or place where stock might be placed within abnut an hour's drive of Lawrence, so that they could be easily driven to market. He thought this matter well deserving the consideration of the Council. On the motion of Cr. Hayes, the Mayor, Crs. Walker, Hay, Hill, and the mover were appointed to devise means to procure sucli a reserve as had. teen men-tionecL The Mayor said there was another matter he would like the Council to take in hand, viz., the getting up of a petition to the Provincial Council, while in session, with the object of getting a propor survey made of a road from Lawrence to the Blue Spur. Cr. Coverlid moved that the Town Clerk be instructed to draw up a petition, to be signed by the people of Blue Spur and Lawrence, to get a survey of a proper road made, aiid that tho petition be entrusted to J. C. Brown, Esq., M.P.C. The motion was spconded and carried. Finance Report No. 17, showing accounts to the amount of L9l 3s sd, was received and adopted. Cr. Hay asked permission to withdraw the motion of which he had given notice, to alter the term of ycara from 20 to 14 for the corporation bonds. There being no objections, the motion was withdrawn. The Mayor stated that in accordance with a resolution of the Council, he saw Mr. Lawson the architect when in Dunedin, and gave him some idea of the design the Council wished for a Town Hall. He now submitted the sketch plan drawn by Mr. Lawson. It represented a h&ll 66ft. x 40ft., with a Council Chamber 20ft. x 20ft., and two shops, 25ft. x 40ft, All the Councillors seemed highly pleased with the general appearance of the building sketched out by Mr. Lawson, and Cr. Hill moved that a letter, conveying the hearty thanks of the Council, be forwarded to Mr. Lawson for the trouble he had been at. He (Cr. Hill) supposed the matter must now be held over till they saw how the money came in. The motion was seconded, and unanimously carried. Cr. Coverlid asked what amount of rates remained uncollected. The Mayor replied by stating the amount to be about LIOO. On the motion of Cr. Coverlid, the Town Clerk was instructed to supply the Rating Committee with a list of all rates i uncollected. With reference to the election of Mayor for the municipal year commencing Aug. Ist, Cr. Hay moved that the nomination take place on the 12th iii3fc.

Cr. Tlill seconded. — Carried. It was decided to hold a special meeting for the purpose of appointing returning officers, Ac, on Friday, the 18th instant, at two o'clock After some conveasation respbeting the coming election of Mayor, the Council adjourned.

L. Miller - - - - i. Taylor - - - - >. Nichols - - - 'ownie and Detert - w 17 II 12 5 0 11 0 0 10 19 6 5>

D. Wluttet 6 per c) tain T. Bruntoa 12 9 0 „