LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 179, 13 July 1871, Page 5

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Theaisual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening, when there were present the Mayor and Councillors Mears, Harrop, Williams, Coverlid, and Uren, and the Town Clerk. The minutes o£ previous meeting having b«en read aud confirmed, accounts from

the Inspector of Nuisances and the Town , Cllerk were referred to the Finance Committee. - A letter from John Bennett, a ratepayer, statins "that his Christian name ' Appeared as Thomas instead of John on the roll, was referred to the Revision - Conrt. An application from Robert Chapman . to mine within the, municipality was referred to the Reserves Committee. A

letter from William Sntton, requesting 'that applications from parties to mine on ground he had taken up within the municipality niigh.t be refused. " ' Cr. Mears said ihat Sutton and Chap- ■ man, whose applications had just been read, had been iiv partnership, but had recently quarrelled and parted, and Sutton was anxioustq secure the ground vfhith he. had previously worked con-

jointly with Chapman. He would urge upon the Council the propriety of not consenting to become arbitrators in a case of this description ; let them settle their own quarrels. If the Council once under- | took to settle disputes of this nature, their hands would soon be full of them. The letter was referred to the Reserves Committee. The Mayor said before reading the tenders which lay before him, it was his I duty to state that the subsidy to munici- | palities was a thing of the past, and that there was no hope of obtaining any money from the Government for the current year for the next four months ; this being the case, and as they were already somewhat invslved, it would be unwise for the Council to incur the responsibility of any further liabilities. They could not count on any assistance from Government for some years to come ; indeed he questioned if thay would ever derive any help or benefit unless the county system superseded Provincialism, and the Town Council merged into a county. At all events he did not think they were at present justified in incurring further liabilities. After a short discussion between the Mayor and Cr. Mears, the latter moved and Cr. Uren seconded, " That the tenders be deferred till next meeting of Council, and the Town Clerk be instructed to bring up a report of the financial position of the Council." — Carried. The gravelling of footpath leading to the Post-office and one or two other similar little matters were referred to the Public Works Committee. After some discussion relative to the condit ; on of the reservoir, in which the Mayor, and Councillors Coverlid, Uren, and Mears took part, Cr. Mears said that it would be a profit to the Council to lease the municipal reserve for twenty-one years to some person who would be willing to fence it in and place a border of forest trees round it. It would make a good pnddock of five acres, and he had no doubt plenty of people would go in for it. This would also be the mtans of preserving the reservoir, and keeping cattle from damaging it. Ultimately Cr. Meara moved that the matter, together with that of cJ earing out the reservoir be referred to the Public Works Committee. Seconded by Mr. Coverlid and crrried. The Council then agreed to hold a Revi ion Court next day to consider the applications of ratepayers. The Council also agreed that the nomination of Mayor should take place on Saturday, 15th inst. After some explanation by the. Mayor Cr. Mears moved '• That the clerk be instructed to write to the proper authorities, in conformity with the Act, requestingthat those parts of the Corporation Act of 1867 adopted hy the Council may be brought into operation." Seconded by Cr. Coverlid and carried. The usual vote of thanks to the chair having been accorded, the Council aujuurned for a fortnight.