LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1463, 13 June 1888, Page 3

LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the above body was held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening.' Present —Hia Worship the Mayor, Ors. Jas. Chalmers, Walker, Hetherington, Wm. Chalmers, M'lntosh, Arbuckle, and Johnston. MINUTES, ETC. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence approved of. BBDUCUOV WANTED. . Michael Ryan (per Mr Finlayaon) wrote applying fora reduction of his rent for section 23, block xirv, Lawrence. He had been, paying £5 153 for ground rent, and as property had fallen in value, and wages" had decreased, a reduction would be reasonable. On the motion of Cr Johnston, seconded by Cr Hetherington, it was agreed to reduce the rent to £4. AOCOUWTS. The following accounts were referred to the Public Works and Finance Committees for payment : — N.Z. Railways, £13 8s 9d ; G. Walker, £1 2a 6d ; Hospital Board, £14 33 3d ; Jas. White, £1 10s 6d ; J. Harrop, £1 5a ;W. Anderson, £5 ss ; Jaa. Pettigrew, £139 19s 6d. BATE. Cr Chalmers proposed that a rate of one shilling in the £ be levied on all the rateable property in the borough ; the same to be made payable on August Ist. Cr Walker seconded. — Carried. PEEL-STREET. Cr Arbuckle moved : "That the Public Works Committee be authorised to call for tenders for the reduction of the grade in Peel-street from the Post-office upwards." This was a work which must recommend itself to the Council. It would be a great boon to the residents in that part of the town. He had been urged by property-owners to move in the matter; and he certainly thought that immediate steps should be taken to have the work carried out. If the Public Works Committee found that it was going to cost too much, the Council could decline to go on with it ; but he felt convinced that the work could be done very cheaply at present Some of the propertyowners and residents were so desirous of having this work done that they were prepared to guarantee the interest on the cost until the Council was in a position to pay for it. , Cr M'lntosh seconded tfie motion. Cr Chalmers did not think that guaranteeing the interest would get over the difficulty. When they interfered with Peel-street, Campbellton-atreet would also have to be attended to. Cr Hetherington said there were very few streets with the exception of Robs Place that received much attention at the hands of the Council. A lot of money had been frittered away on little things. There were a lot of streets in the town that were badly in need of improvement. Cr Walker believed that Peel-street was a necessary work ; but he considered their finances were not at present in a position to undertake it. Besides, the traffic In the street did not warrant it. The Mayor thought little or no benefit would accrue from the work; and he thought there were other works in the town more necessary. He believed in doing it properly when they did undertake it ; and they could not now afford to do it properly. He thought the Council should husband its funds till the summer, and then have the footpaths in Ross Place asphalted. Or Arbuokle wanted to know if the Mayor thought the asphalting of the footpaths in Ross Place of more importance'than the forming of Peel-street. The Mayor thought that, speaking generally, the work was more desirable. He wished to take exception to Cr Hetherlngton's statement that the money of the Council had been frittered away in small works. That was not the case. Cr Johnston suggested that Cr Hetherington should withdraw the remark. Cr Hetherington would not. It was his opinion. Cr Johnston: It's one that no other councillor holds. The motion was lost on the casting vote of the Mayor. I.EAVB OF ABSENCE. On the motion of Cr Chalmers, leave of absence wag granted Cr J. C. Brown for four months. The Council then adjourned.