Lawrence town council.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 319, 7 January 1874, Page 2

Lawrence town council.

The ordinary meeting of the Town Council was held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening, at the usual hour. There were present : — The Mayor and a full Council. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

Before proceeding to the business, the Mayor stated that he had received two telegrams from his Honor the Superintend^g. intimating that His Excellency the GovmJßk would visit Lawrence oh Monday next. He asked the Council to decide as to what preparations should be made to give him a suitable reception. Some time ago, his Worship remarked, the RallwaT'Committee proposed havinga demonstrationln connection with his Excellency's visit and the turning o£ the first sod of the railway, but the works in connection with the railway having been in operation already for such a length of time, they now thought it unnecessary to have any demonstration ha connection therewith. Cr. Hayes moved, and Cr. Walker seconded, " That a committee, consisting of the Mayor and Crs. Hill and Armstrong, be appointed to make suggestions as to the most suitable form in which to receive His Excellency, and report the same to a special meeting of Council, to be held on Wednesday." Carried. The following accounts were referred to the committees mentioned : — John Ellis, 128 6d ; Henry Vye, os ; to Public Works and Finance committees. T. Buckley, £8 ; L. C. Holmes, £17 10s ; and A. R. Lmng"*^£2 10s ; to Finance committee. Cr. Hayes moved that the sum of 10s 6d: each be voted to Messrs Anderson and Morrison, for the advice given by them as experts in connection with the timber to be used for the Town Hall.

Cr. Armstrong seconded. Carried. < Finance Report, dated December 24, £11 83 was received and adopted. Cr. Armstrong's notice of motion, that the consideration of a Town Hall be deferred for six months, by permission of the Council, was withdrawn. The Mayor said that he was sorry to require again to refer to the matter of the Town Hall. Nothing further had been received from Mr. Lawson. He would ask Crs. to consider the question calmly, and. endeavour to arrive at same amicable decision upon it. He considered the best thing for the Council to do would be to ask Mr. Lawson to reduce the plans and specifications to the figure agreed upon by the Council, and call for fresh tenders. He believed the plans could be returned in seven days. This, he thought, the best and wisest thing to do.

Cr. Hayes said when Mr. Lawson was in Lawrence, he said the plan submitted would not exceed £2600, but when tenders were called the lowest was £3400, co that to get a buildingwhich would cost £2600, Mr, Lawson's estimate would require to be only £1800. Tha best thing, he considered, would have been to have accepted the lowest tender.

Cr. HiU asked to have the letter read in which Mr. Lawson suggested reducing the plan by ono eleventh, aud in which he also, proposed othor important reductions. The letter was not forthcoming.

Cr. Armstrong, in order to teat the feeling of the Council, moved; " That Mr. Lawson bo requested to supply the Council with fresh dosigns for a Town Hall." He thought from Mr. Lawson's acquaintance now with the wish of the- Council, he would be able to supply them with such plans as they required. Cr. Hay seconded.

Cr. Hayes thought the Council might ba in a similar fix when tenders were receivod for a fresh design, if they exceeded Mr. Lawson's estimato by a few hundred pounds.

Cr. Hill said if the missing letter were before the Council, they would see at once how Mr. Lawson proposed to reduce the amount to about £2800. The suggestions contained in the letter he referred to, would exactly meet the case.

Cr. Mears remarked that it was very singular what become of the letter.'

The Mayor said he was not aware of having the letter, and did not know where it was. He remembered seeing it, and he thought th& reductions proposed in it amounted to about £300.

Cr. Walker was surprised that after all that - had been done, the Council thought of going in for fresh designs. If the mover of the resolution would make the sum £1500 instead of £2600, he would support him.

Cr. Hill moved, as an amendment, "qQ^at the Council adjourn till the missing letter is _ discovered." Cr. Mears seconded. ■ ,^fl On being put to the vote, there were 2 forH the amendment and 3" for the motion. ™

The motion that new plans and specifications be obtained fora building not to exceed £2600, was therefore carried.

A warm discussion then took place relative to a contract now being performed by Mr. Richard Nichol. The following resolution of the Council was passed at their last meeting, viz., " That Mr. Nichol be authorised to contract for the facing of the Beaumont road ia lieu of his completion of the Whitehavenstreet contract, conditional on his giving a guarantee of its permanence for 12 months, the contract price not to exceed £20." It appeared from the discussion that the Public Works' Committee had not acted in consonance with that resolution.

Ce. HiU moved, and Cr. Hay seconded, that the Public Works Committee be instructed to obtain the guarantee agreed upon before any further work be done." For the motion, 3 ; against it, 2. The motion was therefore carried. Cr. Hay gave notice of motion for next Council meeting, viz., " That a stand-pipe or plug be placed at the corner of Mr. Andrew's blacksmith's shop." The Council then adjourned for 14 days.