LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1887, 13 April 1892, Page 3

LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The regular meeting was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Monday evening, the members in attendance being — The Mayor and Crs Arbuckle, Fraer, Walker, Chalmers (W.) and Johnston.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr £\ Black, secretary of the United Districts of Central Otago, Tuapeka,and Otago Charitable Aid Board, wrote stating tfiat owing to delay in determining the valuation lists of the several contributing local bodies, a complete return of the rateable value of property in the districts within the Board's jurisdiction had not yet been obtained, consequently the Board was unable to fix the contributions of local bodies for the current year until the said complete .returns had been obtained. Under these circumstances he asked the Council to continue its payments to the Board at the same rate as last year until such time as the contributions for the current year could be assessed. — Received.

The Secretary of the Department of Trades and Customs (Wellington) forwarded an extract from the New Zealand " Gazette " containing an Order-in-Council specifying that the following goods shall be deemed to be " specially dangerous goods" within the meaning of the "Dangerous Goods Act, 1882 "— viz., Gelatine, dynamite, geligmite, and all fuses and detonators for igniting and

discharging said explosives. — Received. Mr David Cochrane drew attention to the gorse and broom nuisance in Edenstreet which was spreading into his garden. — .Referred to the Reserve Committee to inspect and report.

ACCOUNTS.

The following accounts were referred to the Finance and Public Works Committees for payment if found correct : — Dunedin City Corporation (tar), £7 Is 9d ; Jas. Dutbie and Co. (carting), 16s 6d ; W. Watson (inspector of nuisances), £1 13s 4d.

defaulters' list.

The clerk laid the defaulters' list on the table, showing that the value of the rates in arrear was £133 12s 6d.

THE BOROUGH FINANCE.

The usual return laid on the table showed that the Council's overdraft at the Colonial Bank was £22 9s lOd, the general account being overdrawn to the extent of £332 Is 6d, while the following accounts were in credit — Water-works, £297 14s 7d; Cemetery, £6 19s 7d ; Fire Brigade, £4 17s 6d— total, £309 11s Bd.

FOOTPATH NEAR DOMAIN GROUNDS.

It was resolved that the footpath near the Domain Board's grounds be put in order by the surfaceman as early as possible,

A GENTLE ZEPHYR.

Cr Johnston said that at the last Council meeting a rather insulting remark had been addressed to him by one of the councillors. He would tell his Worship that in future he would not submit to these insults without retaliating. He was quite capable of taking his own part, and would do so if the occasion arose without studying the personal comfort of the party who was so ready to give offence.

The Mayor remarked that so long as he was in the chair he would insist upon members of the Council being respectful towards each other. He would allow no unseemly squabbles, nor allow councillors to address insulting language towards each, other. The incident to ■which Cr Johnston took exception was so trifling that he hoped it would not be again referred to. Cr Chalmers was satisfied his Worship would protect members of the Council from insult. It was the duty of councillors to look to the Mayor for protection. Cr Walker was not present at the last Council-meeting, but he knew perfectly well that the Mayor would not countenance any unseemly conduct on the part cf councillors nor allow them to address each other in other,, than a respectful manner.

Cr Fraer expressed himself to the same effect as the previous speaker. The Mayor would do his best to see that tbe business was conducted in a decorous manner and that the dignity of the Council was maintained.

The Mayor said he hoped the matter would now be allowed to drop. Cr Johnston could always rely upon the protection of the chair.

Cr Johnston said that was all he looked for. The Council then adjourned.