LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 363, 10 June 1874, Page 2

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Council was held in the Commercial Hotel on Monday evening- Present : — The Mayor, and Coun* cillors Hay, Walker, Arthur-, Armstrong, and Ferguson.

The Town Clerk read the minutes of theprevious meeting which were duly confirmed.

A letter from Messrs Briscoe and 00. was. read stating that the weighbridge had been shipped by- the Kindo&fcan, which would be due at Port Chalmers in about three weeks time. The recomendation of the Pußliq Works Committee to erect the weighbridge opposite the Town Hall was. adopted. The Mayor expressed himself atrongly against its being placed in that position. A letter from the contractors for the Town Hall Messrs. Mears and Whittet, drawing the attention of the Council to the fact that certain colonial timber ordered by them three months since had not arrived, and that they would be at a Stand still for want of it in a few days. They therefore asked to be allowed to obtain and use Oregon timber instead of that ordered from Messrs Herbert and Co, so tb,at there would not be any delay with the work. It was stated by councilors that the contractors would be quite willing to produce the invoices of the timber they might purchase, and that the .difference- in cosb was not likely- to amount to much money. , _ . '1 he Mayor stated,' on ■ behalf 1 of Messrs Herbert and Co., that they had received a letter on Saturday last from, the mill to ;the effect thatthe timber was all ready cut^buij they had a tremendous difficulty in, obtaining drays i He had no objection to the contractors supplying themselves with the' timber they were in immediate need of, on-th'e'tenris'they;pro-posed. • "i ' ■ -'••• The matter was adjourned till Tuesday. ! A report by, Mr.- Wl H.- Smiths,, Inspector of Works, as to proposed alterations irythe Town Hall, was read.' Mr. Smith submitted an estimate of the amount necessary-*for building in chimneys, doors, and window, at L 3-4 12s 6d ; wheras the amount submitted I for the said alterations by the. contractors for the building was L 5? 12s 6d. This I matter, after discussion, was alao adjourned to Tuesday. " ; >j A telegram from Mr. L^wson to "Mr. Smith, stating that a progress payment to the amount of £460 was due to the Town Hall contractors, was read. As. Mr. Lawson intimated in the telegram that he had sent a letter by post,, the matter vtai referred to the Finance Corumitte^to deal -with it. The following account^ were .received and referred to the Public Works and Finance Committees .'—Thomas Barnett, lls. fid. ; A. Ferguson, LI ; Tuapeka Times, L 2 03. 6d. ; Herbert and Co., L 4 9s. 5d ; F. Meyer and Co.. 17s. lOd. ;. Thomas Arthur, 17s. 9d. ; King and > quires, IA 4s ; L. C. Holmes, commission, L2l 3s. The Public Works Committee's report was ' read and adopted. The report recommended that Mr. Tuckey's account for the reservoir ! fence be paid, on his complying with the following demands, viz., straining the wire properly, repainting the gate, and agreeing to ! accept Ll less than thp confcr.apted amount. The Town Clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Tujkej of the decision of the Council. The appointment by the Mayor of Mr. Squires as auditor, in room of Mrl Arbuckle, was confirmed by the Council. The Standings Orders were here suspended to enable Cr. Hay to- move that tenders be called at once for the approaches to Wetherstones creek bridge. Cr. Hay then moved to that effect, and suggested that Mr. Adams be requested 60 draw, up the- specifications for the approaches. Councillors, however, were so well satisfied with the manner in which the Town Clerk had executed similar specifications, that they were unanimous in their wish that he should draw out the one in question. The Standing Orders being resumed, The rec6mmendation of the Public Works Committee, that a second surfaceman bo employed for a few weeks, was then considered. Cr. Armstrong did not concur in the recommendation, arid thought one good man should be able to da all the work. Cr. Walker was of opinion, without regard to. the competency or .otherwise- of the present manj feher&was sufficient work two good men at present, and by taking time by the forelock a deal of outlay might b» avoided. The fo lowing notice' of* motion was then given- by Cr, Hay :—": — " That in the opinion oi this Council it is advisable 1o engage the services of a competent engineer to lay off a series of sewers for the permanent drainage of the Town. of La\v,rence-i the- survey to becomraenced at once, to enable the work to be proceeded with as soon as. possible." ' The Council then adjourned.