LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1871, 17 February 1892, Page 3

LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meoting of the abovenamed body was held on Monday evening, and was attended by the Mayor and Crs Arbuckle, Walker, Davidson, Chalmers (W.), M'lntosb, Johnston, Hetherington, and Taylor. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr J. E. Page, secretary of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, at the Council's request, forwarded a copy of the rules of the Association, setting forth its objects and constitution. It was pointed out that the Association would be of very great service to the municipalites joining it. The influence which can be brought to bear in furtherance of necessary legislation was likely to be far more effective than any efforts by individual municipalities, and much benefit was found to result from the annual conference and discussions on various subjects affecting the welfare of local bodies. — The document was allowed to 'lie on the table till next Council-meet-ing. The secretary of the Otago Benevolent Institution wrote stating that the Trustees had carefully considered the circumstances of Mrs L. Adams and family, and were of opinion that charitable relief to the extent of 7s 6d per week was quite enough. — Received. Mr J. E. Bromley asked for a continuance of his relief allowance. — It was resolved to recommend the continuance of the relief (5s per week) for a further period of six months. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were referred to the Finance and Public Works Committees for payment if correct : — New Zealandjfcßailway Department, £1 18s 7d; B.^Runn, £1 6s; W. Watson (Inspector of Nuisance), £1 13s 4d; Thos. Jefferies, £3 Is. INSPECTOR OF WORKS' REPORT. Mr Uren, inspector of works, submitted the following report .— I have the honour to report that during the past fortnight we have completed the tarring and sanding of the footpath on the west side of Whitebaven-street, as far as section 14, block XI., about eight chains in length ; also, lifted the drain pipes in the crossing leading to lona-street to a higher level in order to allow the water a better opportunity of escaping during floods. The water-tables in Oban-street, near the schoolhouse,andin Ardrossan-street, opposite blocks xvn. and xxxiH., have also been attended to. . Complaint has been made about the drain alongside of the Town Hall— a matter which has been before the Council several times. The only remedy for it that I can see is to lay 6-inch drain pipes for a distance of 90ft and cover the same level with the present surI have to draw your attention to the very j bad state of the drainage channel, which is greatly polluted with gorse, broom, rushes, docks etc., and would recommend that tenders be called for cleaning the same. Alter the report had been read and Cr At buckle moved : " That the third paragraph of the report, referring to the drainage at the rear of the Town Hall, be referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act."— Carried. It was resolved to request the Public Works Committee to visit and inspect the drainage channel and to submit a report thereon at next Council-meeting. RENOVATING THE TOWN HALL. Cr Johnston mentioned that Mr Burnside, architect, visited the Town Hall on Saturday last, when his attention was drawn to the state of the flooring in the shop formerly occupied by the late Mr Barnett. Apparently the state of the flooring had escaped Mr Burnside's attention on the occasion of his first inspection of the building. The Mayor remarked that it was of the utmost importance that the flooring in the shop referred to should be attended to. Mr Egglestone, the contractor for renovating the Town Hall, had handed in an amended tender, which covered the work in question, there being an understanding between the architect and the contractor, which was approved of by

the Public "Works Committee, that certain repairs to the shop occupied by Mr Arthur should be allowed to stand in preference to the other work. With this set-off, along with the amount the contractor had set down in his schedule for repairs to the shop occupied by the late Mr Barnett, the difference iv the amouut of Mr Egglestone's original tender and the amended one was £2 11s. Cr Hetherington, after comparing the quantities and schedule of prices in the j original and amended tenders, said he was satisfied the amended offer was a very reasonable one. It was resolved to refer the amended tender to Mr Burnside for his approval, with an instruction to alter the specifications of the contract in accordance therewith. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. Cr Hetherington was appointed a member of thDe Public Works Committee ' in- place of ex-Cr Jas. Chalmers (now mayor), who holds the office of chairman of the committee. TOOTBRIDGE IN GABRIELS GULLY. On the motion of Cr Hetherington, it was resolved to add a wing and. handrail to the footbridge in Gabriels Gully, so as to avoid the danger of pedestrians stepping into the creek. THE GORSE NUISANCE. Cr M'lntosh drew attention to the gorse and broom nuisance overhanging the footpath in Oban-street. — It was resolved that the attention of the Inspector of Nuisances be drawn to the matter. Cr Arbuckle said it was high time the broom nuisance fronting the Sergeant's residence in Colonsay-street was removed. The Council had drawn the attention of the authorities to this matter on several occasions, but so far without the least success. The fence was an eyesore in the street, and the broom encroached some distance on lo the footpath. — After some discussion, it was resolved, in terms of section 6 of the Public Works Act Amendment Act, 1889, to serve notice on the occupier of the property to remove that portion of the fence overhanging the footpath. This was all the business.