LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4923, 8 January 1902, Page 3

LAWRENCE BO ROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the above body was held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening. Present : His Worship the Mayor (Mr B. W. Winn), Crs Blair, Miller, Stokes, R. Filling jun., Smyth and Walker.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From John Thompson, applying for renewal of auctioneer's license and enclosing cheque for fee. — Granted. From the Chief Inspeotor of Factories, giving directions regarding the fixing of the statutory half-holiday. — Resolved that the clerk take the necessary steps. From the Secretary Volunteer Fire Brigade applying for a subsidy of £ for £, up to £10, towards the purchase of hose and couplings required for the efficient working of the Brigade.—Application granted.

From D. L. Christie, offering the sum of £2 for the right to graze the banks of the sludge and flood channels. — Application not entertained, Crs being of opinion it would be establishing a bad precedent and also interfere with the powers vested in the Inspeotor of Nuisances,

REPORTS.

The Inspeotor of Nuisances directed attention to the broom and gorse nuisance on a number of the streets on the outskirts of the town, and also to the danger to children caused through Messrs Craig and Co. driving their coach horses through the streets. In regard to the latter he suggested they should be led by halters. — Resolved that the property owners within the borough receive notice to clear the broom and goree on the roadlines adjoining their property and that the County be asked to give a similar notice to those on their side of the boundary streets ; and that Messrs Craig and Co. be written to asking them to discontinue the practice of driving their horses through the streets

ACCOUNTS.

On the recommendation of the Finance Committee the following accounts were passed for payment: — M. O'Gorman, £2 15s 3d ; A. M'Nicol, Is 6d ; Chas. Smith, £1 os ; interest coupon, £65.

THE LIGHTING QUESTION.

The Lighting Committee recommended the Council to take a poll of the ratepayers to rescind the resolution of ratepayers carried on the 12th July, 1900, to light the borough by elecbricit} . His Worship said that in accordance with the motion passed at last meeting of the Council to accept Mr Watt's offer subject to ihe approval of the Borough solicitor, the Lighting Committee tad met that gentleman and discussed the matter with him, and he advised that a poll of the ratepayers should be taken to rescind the previous decision of the Council to raise a loan to light the borough by electricity. This he said was necessary because the Council had commenced to carry out the resolution previously passed by getting an engineer's report and acquiring land for site of works. If they proceeded without taking thi» step it was open to any ratepayer to step in and prevent the Borongh accepting an offer to light the town by gas.

Cr Smyth moved that the committee's report be given effect to. He was strongly in favor of Mr Watt's offer being accepted and proceeded with as early as possible, but at the same time he would like the work carried out in such a way that there would be no after blame attached to anyone. He was also of opinion that the Council was under a moral obligation to submit the question to the burgesses. No seconder among the councillors being forthcoming, His Worship seconded the motion pro forma.

Cr M'lntosh said he did not agree with the Borough solicitor's opinion j be considered the Council would be per? fectly justified and safe in giving Mr Watt permission to proceed with the work at onpe.

Or Walker also doubted the necessity for a further poll. The Council had done everything in its power to give effect to the resolution to light the town by electricity and failed, and he considered that now they had an offer to light the town by an up-to-date system at a cheaper rate than by kerosene they should use their* common* sense and accept it without further ado.

Or Pilling explained that it was on his motion that the recommendation of the lighting Committee to the Council was made. He bad not then had time to consider the matter in all its bearings or he would not have proposed such a course. He thought as the Council had done all in their power to raise the money to carry out the electric lighting scheme there was now no necessity for a further poll to rescind the previous proposal. His Worship pointed out that they should not lightly discard their solicitor's advice in a matter of such importance. It was necessary whatever they did to be on the safe side. He did not like delays any more than other people, and he suggested that the b,etter plan would be to refer .the matter baok to Mr Craoke with instructions to get thp opinion of a leading Dunedin solicitor.

Or Blair produced an opinion obtained by Mr Watt from Messrs Oalyert and B. rough, and asked the Council's permission to read it.

The Council having given its sane* tion,

His Worship read the opinion, which was to the effect that no further poll was necessary.

Gr Blair said the burgesses had been called together to discuss the acceptance or otherwise of Mr Watt's proposal. The meeting decided that before accepting Mr Watt's offer other companies or individuals should hart an opportunity of offering to light the town. Further offers had been invited by the Council and Mr Wait's was still che only oce to hand, and he considered it should now be accepted without further reference to the ratepayers. Cr Miller also expressed himself in favor of Mr Watt't offer being accepted without further reference to the burgesses. He considered they had by tbjj| motion passed at the last publio meet? ing, in. which they authorised the Connpil to call for offers from companies or individuals willing to light the town { praptically rescinded the original mo* tiop. Mr Watt, who was present, ex- 1 plained (with the permission of the Counpil) what had been done by the Balclutha Boropgh Couupil tinder pre» cisejy similar circumstances. .Cr Filling said he felt inclined to accept the advice of his Worship, and moved as an amendment: "That the Borough's solicitor be requested to get the opinion of Messrs Mondy, Sim, and Stephens, and that a speoial meeting of the Council be held on receipt of the opinion to ponsider it. On being put to the meeting the amendment was carried. DOG TAX. It was resolyed that the annual dog tax be the same as last year — viz., 5s per dog and that Mr W. Watson be appointed collector. OUPJNARY BUSINESS. The notice of motion standing in Cr M'lntosh's name regarding the adop? tion of portion qf the Noxious Weec|a Apt was allowed to stand oyqr tiU next meeting^ when \b was, hpped to haVe the presenpe Qf the inspector, Or M'lntpsh again drew attention to the deplorable state of the cemetery, and pointed out that with a credit of over £200 it was only right that better attention should be paid to it. — His > Worship explained that every effort waa

being made to keep the caretaker at the work.

It was resolved that the Publio Works Committee look into the matter of the application of tbe Looal Industry Co. for ground at the lower end of Gabriels Gully and if thought necessary enter an objeotion.