LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1217, 27 January 1886, Page 2

LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the above - named body was held in the Borough Council Chambers on the evening of Monday last. There were present — His Worship the Mayor (P. Miller, Esq.), and Crs Fraer, Mitchinson, Taylor, Chalmers, Walker, Johnston, and Morrison.—Mr F. H. M'Coy also took his seat as one of the representatives of Middle Ward. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The inward correspondence consisted of letters as follow :—: — From the Returning Officer, intimating that Mr F. H. M'Coyliad been elected to fill the vacancy in the Council for Middle Ward.— Received. From J. C. Arbuckle (Secretary of the Tuapeka Horticultural, Poultry and Bird Society), requesting: the use of the Town Hall on Thursday free of charge for the first public exhibition of the Society. — It was unanimously resolved to accede to the request. [ From D. Lawrence and seven others, ! asking the Council to cause the obstructions across Thurso-street to be removed. — Cr Mitchinson stated that the obstrucJ tions complained of were two gates which | he had placed across the street adjoining the racecourse. He had given instructions that day to have the gates removed. — Letter received.

From P. Robertson, requesting that some improvements, rendered necessary [ by nearly ail the land adjoining the raceI course being fenced off lately, be made to Thurso-street from the back of the Caledonian Society's grand stand through to Ardrossan- street. He would undertake to plough the road-line to a width of 18ft if the Council would instruct the surfacemen to trim up the water-channels and fill I in any crabholea. — Mr Robertson, who j was in attendance, explained the nature of the work which he wished the Council to undertake. — It was decided to refer the letter to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. From the Minister of Mines, stating that as he wished to save the local body any trouble or expense he would be quite satisfied with the Council dealing with the tenders for the extension of the sludgeI channel. — Received. ACCOUNTS. I The following accounts were referred to the Finance Committee for payment if fonnd correct : — Haggit Bros, and Brent, I £16 12s ; J. Hetherinaton, 143. I EXTENSION OF WATER SUPPLY. I The Mayor said he had got a return • prepared showing the cost approximately of laying down a four-inch pipe from the corner of Colonsay-street to Harrington j Place (a distance of 33 chains), and also j the amount of revenue that was likely to I be derived from the water-supply in the | event of the scheme being carried into 1 effect. The cost of the work was estimated at £414, and the amount of revenue likely to be derived from the water-supply waa set down at £48. It was high time that ! some action was taken in the direction of extending the water-supply as far as the ■ Hospital. He might state for the infor- , mation of Councillors that the cost of bringing in water from the Corporation ' iMce iv Gabriels Gully was estimated at £144. Cr Fraer was in favor of extending the water-supply in the direction of the Hospital, but thought it was premature to enter into the matter until the Finance and Public Works Committees had an opi portuniiy of reporting thereon. He . moved : " That the statement submitted ( by the Mayor be allowed to lie on the table for future consideration." Cr Johnston seconded. Cr Taylor was opposed to any delay in the matter. The necessity and urgency | of proceeding with the work was self- ' evident. The ratepayers had clamored | for years back for the extension of the ; water-mains as far as the Hospital. ' Unless the Council had the work completed before the 31st March a year's revenue from the water-supply would be lost. He moved as an amendment : i " That tenders be called by next Council : -meeting for a supply of 4-inch pipes for | extending the water scheme as far as ' Harrington Place." 1 Cr M'Coy seconded the motion. He referred at length to the importance of the work, and the necessity of having it undertaken without loss of time. Cr Fraer strongly objected to the undue I haste with which it was attempted to force the matter through the Council. It would be better to allow the Finance and Public "Works Committees to submit their reports before anything further was done. The statement which had been submitted relating to the amount of revenue likely to be derived from the water-supply if extended could not be relied upon as being accurate. Cr Walker suggested the extension of the water-scheme in the direction of the Hospital, but objected to the Council calling for tenders for a supply of pipes until everything had been duly considered. Cr Chalmers opposed the amendment for reasons similar to those advanced by Cr Walker. Cr Morrison supported the amendment. Nothing was to be gained by delay. After some further discussion, it was resolved that the Finance and Public Works Committees be requested to submit reports bearing upon the extension of the water-scheme at next Council-meeting. THE WATER ST7PPLY. The Mayor stated that on several occasions lately there had not been a drop of water in the Corporation reservoirs. The water had been turned on as usual by the manager of thePheenix water-race, but some parties along the race had diverted the water for the purpose of irrigating their gardens. This sort of thincj should not be tolerated. He suggested that an advertisement be inserted in the local paper cautioning parties against

tampering with the Corporation waterrace. Ie was decided to leave the matter in the baads of t he Mayor. TENDERS. Bight tenders were received for the contract for completing the drainage scheme. The lowest tender — viz., T. Gilmore and party's — was accepted, the amount being £440 7s Id. The Council then adjourned.