LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 431, 3 February 1875, Page 2

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Town Council was held on Monday evening. Present : The Mayor, and Councillors Middlemiss, Cox, and Ferguson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, also the outward correspondence. The inward correspondence was then considered. A lelter from Mr. Lawson, architect for the Town Hall was read. This was a letter in reply to one from the Town Clerk enquiring whether anything respecting the insurance of the Town' Hall was mentioned in the articleg of agreement. Mr. Lawson quoted the clause of the agreement which stipulated that the builders must insure the building at their own expense within four months of the signing of the articles. Cr. Cox moved, ■" That the contractors be requested to at once insure the. Town Hall in

the National Insurance company in accordance with the articles of agreement." r, Cr Ferguson seconded the motion, which was carried.

A letter was read from the Under-Secretary stating that the application to have part XIIL, of the Municipal Corporations Ordinance extended to Lawrence would be attended to. . Letters from Mr. Copland and Mr M'Coy offering to act as Corporation solicitor at so much a year were read, but it was thought advisable to leave the matter over for consideration at [a full meeting of the Council.

A letter was read from the auditors Mr. Squires and Mr. King, in which certain suggestions were made as to the accounts. After some conversation the suggestions were approved of, and instructions given to the Town Clerk respecting the same. The balance sheet for the year and the half year were laid on the table, and after being examined were adopted. A letter from Mr. James Harris was read, complaining about the weighbridge house, which he Considered an obstruction to his business premises. This was the second time he had addressed the council on the matter, and he intended to take legal proceedings against the council unless some steps were at once taken for its removal. On the motion of Cr. Ferguson the matter was referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. It was considered that the removal of the house back from the footpath would cost a very small sum, and its' removal would be an improvement to the look of the street. A letter from Mr. Jeffery, secretary to the Embankment Committee asking the council to settle the balance of the embankment account was received. On the motion of Cr. Cox the account was referred to Public Works and Finance Committees. Mr. T. Arthur sent a statement to the council, with a cheque for the amount of the receipts from the weighbridge since he has been lookafter it. The amount was £2 6s. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Arthur for his attention to the weighbridge free of charge, and the hope expressed -that he would continue to look after it until the bye laws were framed, when people would be compelled to have their goods weighed. . • ' The following accounts were referred to the Committees : — A. Louden, £2 15s ; L. C. Holmes, commissions, £5 ; Tuapeka Times, printing, £5 Is ; Auditors, £4 4s ; W. H. Smith £10. Cr. Cox said the sum of £25, had recently been voted by the council towards the lire Brigade. That body had recently purchased an engine, and it was left exposed in the streets to all kinds of weather. He thought as the Council contributed so much money to the Brigade, they should not see that body wilfully neglect their property. He believed Cr. Walker had offered his store in Whitehaven-street for it, yet the engine was still left in the streets. The Mayor and Cr. Middlemiss quitc'agree:! with the remarks of Cr. Cox. Cr. Middlemiss believed that the officers of the Brigade had been looking for a place. The Town Clerk stated that he hud applied to Messrs. Herbert and Co., who kindly placed the blacksmith's shop in Peel-street at the disjDOsal of the Brigade while it was unoccupied. Cr. Cox spoke of the water mains in Ross Place creating a nuisance, through their preventing the flow of water in the gutter. It was resolved that thf Nuisance Inspector instruct Mr. Morrison to remove the pipes from the gutter. Cr. Co.v inquired if Mr. James Hill had ever paid for his lease. The Major replied that he had not ; upon which Cr. Cox moved, " That a letter be sent to him asking for prompt payment, and if not soon paid a summons to issue. Cr. Middlemiss scconde.l. — Carried. Cr. Middlemiss gave notice of motion for next Council meeting as follows : " That Harrington" Place to tlie boundary of the town be gravelled." The Council then adjourned.