LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1182, 23 September 1885, Page 2

LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the abovenamed body was held in the Council Chambers, Lawrence, on the evening of Monday last. Members present — His Worship the Mayor (J. Thompson, Esq.), and Cri Chalmers, Walker, Morrison, Johnston, Mitchinson, and Taylor. The minutes of the previous meeting wore read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The inward correipondenee was as follows: — Letter from the Returning Officer, intimating that Mr John Morriaon had that day been returned unopposed as Councillor for West Ward. —Received. Telegram from Mr J. C. Brown, M.H.R., conveying the information that he had been successful in having £1000 placed on the Supplementary Estimates for the extension of the -Lawrence drainage scheme, and that the item was carried in Committee last Saturday evening. Mr Brown added that Major Atkinson, Mr Rolleston, and other members were strongly opposed to the vote.—The Mayor remarked that the thanks of the Council and of the ratepayers of the Borough generally were due to Mr Brown for his untiring exertions in this matter.—Telegram received. Letter from Mr J. J. Mackerris (Chairman of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce) asking the co-operation of the Council in approving of resolution No. 4 passed at a meeting held recently in the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, re the defences of the Colony.—The Mayor said there could be no two opinions as to the necessity of Government keeping down expenditure in the matter of the defences of the Colony. The Council should back up the opinion so forcibly expressed by Admiral Scott in this respect.—Cr Johnston did not think the Government were justified in squandering public money on works of an unreproductire nature.—Cr Taylor thought the Council should not be too hasty in coming to a conclusion. Major Boddam, whose repott appeared in the " Daily Times " of that day, condemned Admiral Scott's lecture, and pointed out that the latter showed a lack of knowledge of the elementary principles of gunnery and submarine mining. He (Cr Taylor) moved : " That Mr Mackerris' letter be allowed to