LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 369, 1 July 1874, Page 2

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tho adjourned meeting of this body was held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening. Presont : The Mayor and all the Councillors. Before entering upon the business, the Mayor remarked that as the term of office of himself and some members of the Council was drawing to a close, it would be necessary for them to sot their house in order for their successors. He hoped the retiring Councillors would be re-elected ; but he much regretted, so far as he himself was concerned, that he would not be able to hold the position of Mayor during the forthcomingy ear. At the next meeting lie would make afew remarks by way of a review of the year. In the shape of Municipal Reserves they had hatlgroat a J.iirions made during the year, and he hoped these reserves would not bo sacrificed. A letter was receded from Mr. James Hill, asking for a cheque for the amount of the deposit paid by him on account of Wetherstones Creek bridge. Agreed to. . The Mayor stated that while in Dunedin lately he saw the Provincial Secretary, and had a conversation with him regarding cutting a channel throngh the point of the hill at the mouth of Gabriels Gully, and having the land so reclaimed iold. The Secretary spoke favorably of the scheme,

A letter from Mr. J. Williams, offering to rent the paddock opposite his house on the Beaumont road, was received. _ _ Or. Walker was in favor of leasing it m such a manner as the Council could get possession of it at any time, and ho believed Mr. Williams would give a fair rent for it. The matter was referred to the Eeaerves Committee to report upon it. A letter from Mr. Jamison, asking tho Council to have a little filling up done at the head of the swamp in Lismore-street, to allow a dray to paBB over it, was referred to Public Works Committee, with power to act. A letter frem Messrs. Goodf ellow and Co., offering for sale about 200 feet of clay pipes, was received. The Public Works Committee were empowered to purchase only what pipes they required. It was not thought advisable to purchase them as a speculation. A letter from the contractors for the Town Hall was received. In view of their being unable to obtain bricks for their requirements, the contractors asked the Council if they would have any objection to the back and east walls being carried^up with stone. The matter wafMXiferred to the architect for his decision. A number of accounts were then referred to Committees. The following report of the Public Works Committee was received and adopted :—: — " Your Public Works Committee have to report that with reference to the letter of Messrs Hears and Whittet as to the substittutinn of Oregon for black birch, to be used in the principals, &c, in the Town Hall, and also as to certain alterations in the Town Hall, they have authorised the use of Oregon, and guaranteed the payment of the extra cost of the materal used therein." " There has also been an alteration or deviation from, the original plan of the Town Hall, in the matter of providing two fireplaces, and two doors, and two windows, the price of which has been fixed by the architect, Mr. Lawson, at £44, and which outlay they consider will be of great advantage to the building, andse'euremoreaccommodation to the tenants of the shops on on the ground floor." Finance Report No. 17 was received and adopted. Cr. Hay then moved the following motion, of which he had given notice : " That, in the opinion of this Council, it is advisablo to engage the services of a competent engineer to lay off a series of sewers for the permanent drainage of the town of Lawrence. The survey to be commenced at once to enable the work to be proceeded with as soon as possible." Cr. Hay considered it would save the Council a considerable amount of money if the work were undertaken at once. The work could never be done cheaper than at present. Cr. Walker seconded the motion pro forma, to give Councillors an opportunity of speaking upon it. Had the Council anticipated the action of the residents of Ross Place in the construction of an embankment, it would have been a wise thing to .have gone into this drainage scheme ; but as the mover of the resolution had stated that some of tho residents had already built on the boundary of embankment, and as nearly all the residents had box-drains emptying into the creek, he did not think there was an immediate necessity for going on with the work, more especiallyasit wastoo extensive anundertakingtotako into consideration so Tieaar to the close of the Municipal year. Cr. Hayes was of opinion that it was not advisable to entertain the motion at present. Cr. Armstrong moved an amendment — " That the motion be not entertained." Cr. Hayes seconded the amendment. Cr. Hay observing that the Council were against him in the matter, desired to withdraw the motion, but was not allowed to do so. Cr. Hayes remarking that he (Cr. Hay) might as well have the credit of initiating the scheme. The Mayor stated the Council had all the information Cr. Hay asked for in a report on the subject given by Mr. Barr, C.E. The amendment was carried. The 10th of July was fixed for the holding of Revision Court. The meeting then closed.