LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL,

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 1294, 18 September 1873, Page 5

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL,

The ordinary meeting of the Town Council was held on Monday evening. Present: The Mayor, and Crs. Mears, Hill, Hay, Hayes and Walker. The minutes of -the previous meeting and special meeting, which were read by Cr, Hill, were confirmed. A letter from the Town Clerk apologising for his unavoidable absence was received. A letter was received from Mr. J O. Arbuckle, calling the attention of the Council to the state of the street in front of the premises 'occupied by him, next door to Mr. Middlemiss' shop. As the crown of the main road has been raised, and there is no footpath in front of the said premises, the water is dammed back upon them. Mr. Arbuckle asked the Council to take some steps to remedy the nuisance. Letter referred to Public Works Committee. An account from Mr. Buckley for £8 was referred to the Public Works and and Finance Committees. Accounts from Mr. Harrop for £20, and frum the Phoenix Water Company for £26, were each referred to the Finance Committee. The Public Works Committee's reports, as follows, were received :—: — Lawrence, 15th September, 1873. The Lawrence Town Council. Gentlemen, — Your Committee of public works have to report that according to instructions given for that purpose at a special meeting of the Council held on the 11th instant, they caused several loads of stone to be placed as a breakwater against that portion of the new road which had been recently washed away by the river fresh ; two drays were occupied half a day, and two men assisted to load and lay the stones, and we believe the outlay, which will not exceed £4, will be serviceable in preventing further damage until more permanent repairs can be effected. The stone now placed as a breakwater will be available for any future repairs that may be needed. There was another report from the Public Works Committee with reference to the action they had taken in regard to the town hall and -certain footpaths. Cr. Hill moved, and Cr. Hay seconded, that the reports be adopted. The Mayor said before putting the adoption of the report to the Council, he might state ihat M*. Simpson, the Provincial Engineer, \o\A him thai the fault of the road giving way lay entirely with the contractor!*. Cr. Mears was of opinion that the work which had jbeen done by way of projecting the wall was quite useless,

Cr. Walker said, with all due respect to Cr. Mears. he might state that he (Cr. Walker) visited the wall where the damage waß done. The action taken by the Public Works Committee, he contended, was the only one which could have been taken. Cr. Mears might have adopted another course, but it would certainly not have been a better one. The reports were then adopted. The Finance Committee's report stated that the negotiations in connection with the loan were completed on the 9th inst. The report was received, Cr. Mears said he had been greatly misled with regard to the business of the Finance Committee in reference to closing the transaction of the loan. He thuught the Council were not bound to take all the money at once. The money would not be required for 3 months at the very soonest ; in fact, he doubted if it would be required before 5 months. In the meantime they would have to pay 50a. per week for interest. He was informed that it would have suited the person who lent the money better to have given a portion of it now, and the great bulk of it three months hence. He therefore thought the Finance Committee might have made a much better bargain for the Council. Cr. Hayes said, placed as they were, had they waited three months they might have had to go begging for the money. Cr. Hay thought Cr. Mears had forgotten -that there was a considerable overdraft which would for the present be wiped off. Cr. Hayes moved, and Cr. Walker seconded, the adoption of the report, which was carried. A conversation then took place with regard to the action taken by Cr Mears in representing the Council as a deputation to the members of the Government when in Lawrence regarding the market reserve. Crs. Hay, Hill, and Walker spoke strongly against any Councillor or Councillors taking upon himself or themselves the duties of a self-elected deputation from the Council. The Council then adjourned.