LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 371, 8 July 1874, Page 2

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of tho Council wa* held in the Couucil Chambers on Monday evening. There were present tho Mayor,and Crs. Hay, Arthur, Walker and Ferguson.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read au A confirmed.

The following letter from the Provincial Under-Secretary was rend :—: — " Provincial Secretary's Office, " Dunedin, 20th July, 1874.

" Sir, — I have been directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Town Council, that the Government has had under consideration the advisability of taking some more effectual steps than heretofore towards the repression of illicit traffic in spirituous liquors ; and with that view, it proposes to appoint a Revenue Officer for the Province, with sufficient assistance to enable him to procure the conviction of persons guilty of selling without being duly licensed. It is also proposed that he shall be specially instructed relative to the Inspector of Weights and Meaaures, and tt> enforce the provisions of the Dangerous Goods Act, 1869, and the Bakers' and Millers' Act, 1871, and the Adulteration of Food Act, 1866. Hitherto the Corporation of Dunedin has contributed towards the cost of the present Revenue Department, and the Government, believing that the country corporations are equally interested in preserving gdod order and morality within their municipal boundaries, before proceeding to make- the proposed appointment, wishes to be informed what proportion of the probable cost, say^ £700 per annum, tho Corporation of Lawrence is prepared to contribute. Such contribution being distributed over so many municipalities, the Government thinks, would press very lightly upon the revenues of each. " I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your most obedient servant, "Alex. Winra, " Under Secretary."

Cr. Hay moved that the letter be considered by the Coußcil that day month. He considered it another attempt to rob the Municipality of its just dueß. The question of a Revenue officer was one for the Provincial Government to consider.

Cr. Walker seconded the motion as it was a matter that required consideration.

Cr. Ferguson thought if the fines realised from the appointment of a Revenue officer went to the Municipality, they could afford to pay their share of the salary of the officer.

A letter from Mr. George Walker asking that a lease of a certain section he had leased from the Corporation might be made out in the name- of Mr. Isaac Walker was received, and the request agreed to ou hig paying any expenses attending the same. The following accounts were rcfer*ed to Committees :— W. Mears, £2 10s. 2d.; Mears and Whittet £3 10s.; L. C. Holmes, £17' 10b,; Mr. Crawford, £4.; M. Ryan, £8 10s.; Wm. Fergusson, Bs.

The Financial Report No. 18. £59 was received and adopted. On the motion of Cr. Hay seconded by Cr-. Ferguson it was resolved that the whole Council form a Revision Court, and that they meet in the Council Chambers at 10 o'clock on Friday, 10th instant. Carried.

Wednesday the 15th July was fixed for the nomination of Mayor, and the election will take place on the 21st. Cr. Walker drew the attention of the Council to several matters requiring the attention of the Public Works Committee. He said a few loads of gravel were required oft the footpath in front of the Town Clerk's office, and the houses of Mr. Middlemiss and Mr. Andrews, to carry off the water. If this was not attended to, he was afraid the wall recently erected would be injured. The next matter was the channel at Mr. Wootton's. Mr. Wootton objected to allow the channel to be cut ; the consequence was the water wa» backed on the various properties. A few days since they were quite flooded. Mr. Morison, who owned tho adjoining section to the creek, had given theCouncilpermission to throwadaift across. A few loads of stuff would be sufficient to convey the water through, the bridge. Cr. Walker "believed the sum of £5 would be sufficient for all the- works- he referred to.

Cr. Hay said if the surfacemen were to *Ug a drain along the inside of tho embankment, the water would clear itself of the properties referred.

The rarioas matters -were referred to the Public Works Committee, as aLjo .the .draining of a swamp -In Lismtrffr-street;