THE CHIEF TOWN OF MARLBOROUGH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 13

THE CHIEF TOWN OF MARLBOROUGH.

At the junction of the Opawa and Omaka Rivers, in the midst of the fertile Wairau Plain, is situated Blenheim,

tho liub of prosperous Marlborough. For many years during its earlier history Blenheim was known as "Tho Beaver," a narao which it received as a result of a remark pa.ssed by one of tho earliest sottlers, Mr. Joseph Ward. This gentleman was a surveyor by profession, but took up land in the Wairau, and afterwards represented the district in Parliament. Tho story goea that Mr. Ward and party, when engaged upon a survey near tho present sito of Blenheim, was surrounded by Tho party were unable to l«sw> their habitation till tho waters had subr.aed, and in referring to their plight afterwards remarked that they had sat liko a lot of beavers on a dam. Tho word caught on, and for many years tho town was officially known as The Beaver. Tho name scarcely did justico to the town, and it was afterwards renamed Blenheim, in commemorj'aon of one of the victories of tho Duke of Marlborough, whose name tho provinco bears. Tho site on which Blenheim stands was purchased from tho Now Zealand Company by Messrs. Fell and Seymour, a Ne'.son firm of merchants, who laid it oft:'. as a township in 1557. By the year. 3860 tho population had reached three hundred, and it has since steadily grown, till at the present timo its inhabitants number upwards of four <thousauc!. Tho cutting up of large estates and the progress of the South Island Main Trunk railway lino are materially adding to the progress of Blenheim, and it is quite safe to predict that under ordinary circumstances tho town will advance more rapidly within tho nest ten years than it has done at any period of its history. Blenheim was constituted a borough in 1569, Mr. Henry Dodson (afterwards member for the district in Parliament) being tho strongest advocate of the change. Tho first election was held on May 15 of the same year, tho returning officer being Dr. Muller. Tho poll resulted in the following gentlemen being elected: Messrs. Lichtfield (Mayor), Robinson, Dodson, Nosworthy, Sinclair, Collie, Bythell, Hutcheson, and Hodson. Mr. J. T. Kobinson was tho first Town Clerk. Tho present Mayor is Mr. E. It. reniiy, and he is supported by a body of councillors who arc progressive and fully alive to the great future which lies before tho principal town of sunny Marlborough. Blenheim is plentifully supplied with artesian water of excellent quality, and for fire-prevention purposes mains are laid in the chief streets of the town, and into these water is pumped at very high pressure by a stationary engine. With the engine at full steam, the Fire Brigade has under trial scut nins jets of water over the post office tower. The brigade is composed of volunteers, who are very enthusiastic in their work. Their only fixed revenue is a grant of one hundred pounds a year from tho Borough Council*