BLENHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 110, 9 April 1880, Page 3

BLENHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tuesday, April 6th. The Council met at 8 o’clock p.m. Present, his Worship the Mayor, and Crs Robinson, Rogers, Wemyss, Presswood, Fell, Litchfield, Parker, and Houldsworth. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE, &C. A letter was read from Mr McColl, contractor for the Maxwell Road footpath asking the Council to take his case into favorable consideration, his work having been de stroyed by the late Rood. The contract was let on the 13th September, 1879, and was to be completed in three months from that time. Cr Litchfield said if Mr McColl had completed his contract in proper time it would have been out of his hands before the flood came. He thought it would be a bad precedent to compensate him. This was not the first time that M r McColl had been behind hand in his contracts. Cr Rogers concurred,

('V Houldsworth said this was a hard ease. Mr MoColl Ind g.»t on with his work quite as fast as nm t people who had contracted for work lor the Bor >ugh Council, and had nearly completed it when the flood came. He thought the Council should com pensate him to some extent. The Council resolved that they could not entertain Mr McColl's application. FIRE BRIGADE. A letter was read from Mr C. J. Kae, Captain of the Blenheim Fire Brigade, including a copv of a resolution (previously published), that the plant and property of the Brigade should be handed over to the Borough Council, and expressing the regret felt by the members and himself at the necessity which exists for the course taken, and also testifying to the zeal and energy of the Brigade, which has declined in members owing to the want of adequate support, so that at the present time there are not enough men to work the small engine, nor had they sufficient funds to keep the plant in working order. Under these circumstances they believed it their duty to resign their trust into the hands of the Council.

Cr Robinson said he regretted that the Brigade felt it necessary to take this step. He was sorry that Mr Rae, who was a good old soldier, and sailor too, was going away, and they would be sorry to lose the “Old .Shell, ” as he called himself. He hoped that a new Brigade would be started. Mr Fell referred to the position of the Wellington Fire Brigades, who felt great difficulty in carrying on without being on some set led foui datio l and were threatening to resign in cjiiscque' ce, but there the Insurance Companies and the Corporation made allowances to the Brigades, a d he would suggest that the Insurance Association here should be invited to meet the Borough Council to discuss the matter and that the Brigade should be requested to furnish an abstract of their accounts for the past two years. It would be a great loss to the town if the Brigade collapsed altogether. For it to depend on scraps thrown to it like a bone to a dog was very unsatisfactory. Cr Rogers supported Cr Fell’s motion, and said he was at a loss to understand how the Brigade, having lasted ten years, should suddenly collapse. There must be something wrong somewhere. It had done good work in the past and had been a credit to the town. Cr Robinson also supported the motion. The Mayor said he quite agreed with Cr Fell’s motion, and pointed out that it was hard for people who belonged Co the Brigade and worked for the good of the town to have to put their hands in their pocket--. The motion was put and carried. REDWOOD STREET. A letter was read from Mr H. Dodson, calling attention to a low place at the side of the road at the junction of Redwoodstreet and the Old Ron wick Road, where there is a quantity of water which finds its way into his cellar. If the Council will put in a culvert Mr Dodson will do the necessary earthwork at his own cost. Cr Robinsqn said lie did not object to assist any ratepayer in such a matter but he did object to people interfering with the streets and doing work and then, when it was done, coming to the Council for permission to do what they had already done. In this case it appeared that Mr Dodson had gone'on with the earthwork and then askeil leave to do it. On the motion of Cr Wemyss the application was agreed to, subject to the approval of the Inspector of Works. MARKET STREET. The Mayor moved that an opening be left in the footpath ou the eastern side of Market Street North, and that planking be laid down from Mr Macey’s to Mr Griffiths’ as agreed to at an informal meeting held sinee the last ordinary meeting. The motion was seconded, put, and carried unanimously. LOCAL INDUSTRIES. The following letter was read : “Wellington, Mar. 17th, ’BO. ‘‘Sir, —I am directed by the Royal Commission on Local Industries to inform you that the Commission would be happy to receive from you any information regarding the local industries or manufactures in the district of Marlborough, together with any suggestions that may occur to you for establishing new or promoting existing industries. “ The Commission would he obliged by an answer addressed to the Chairman, at Timarn, before the 16th April.— I have the honor, etc., “Edward Wakefield, “ Chairman. “His Worship the Mayor, Blenheim.” On the motion of Mr Fell, it was resolved that the Mayor and Town Clerk be a Committee to reply to the matter. RAILWAY. The Mayor pointed out that the land taken for railway purposes by the Government, took in about 15 Indies of the footpath in Grove Road, near the old brewery, and it had been suggested that instead of this ground being fenced in by the railway authorities, the corporation should pay the nominal rent of Is a year for its use, otherwise the footpath would be spoiled. Cr FeP said be had spoken to the engineer about the matter, and ho had agreed to this, and moved that the Council accept the terms. This was seconded, put, and carried. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment : Salaries for the quarter ended 31st Mar., I SSo—Town Clerk £25, Inspector of Works £lB 15s, Do Nuisances £5, Postages ss, Collector £l9, Registrar of Dogs £1 ss, Messenger £3 2s 6<l, Crook labor £lO Ss, Davidson £8 12s, ferry £3 12s, Returning Officer£l Is, Maddock (rent of paddock) £3 ss, summonses for rates £3, Earll (oats and hay) £2l 12s 6d ; repairg to damage by flood —McColl £lO 2s Sd, Ching £lO 2s Bd, Gosling £3 4s, Burton £5 6s Bd, Kellor £4 10s 8(1, Murphy £5 14s, Foster £4 4s, Bythell £5 16s : 10d, total £49 Is 2d; Valuer £2O, Mahon £9 9s, Robinson Bros. £5 16a lid, Nosworthy (widening Market Street) £SO 10s, Carroll £2 0s lOd, ferryman £25 4s Od. registration of dogs. Cr Litchfield suggested that some alteration should be made in regard to the registration of dogs. If the tax were £1 instead of 10s and the Inspector was paid by fees, it might he the means of getting rid of a number of useless curs which were to be found wandering about the streets. No motion was made on the subject. RATES. The Mayor brought under the notice of the Council the fact that several occupiers of property destroyed by fire in February, 1878, considered they were entitled to a refund’of rates paid by them. Cr Rogers moved that the rate be refunded. j Cr Fell supported the motion. Cr Robinson pointed out that the land was not burned, and it might be a question j whether the whole of the rates should be remitted. I Cr I/Bchfiejd sqid he thought the laqd

lords and not the tenants should be made to pay. , . . Cr Rogers’ motion was put and earned. FOOTPATH IN' GROVE ROAD. Cr Fell moved that the footpath be raised six inches from McLauchlan’s corner to Auckland Street, and that the kerbing be repaired. Cr Parker supported the motion, saying the work would have been done before, but for a difficulty on the survey. Cr Robinson also supported the motion, as did also Cr Rogers, who said he thought new kerbing was required. The motion was carried. IS RIDGE OVER THE OMAKA. Cr Wemyss moved that a cart bridge be erected across the Omaka river from York Terrace to Auckland-street, near Shortstreet. He pointed out that another bridge was much required over this river besides the only one they had in Alfred-street. It would boa great convenience to children from parts of the North ward and for cattle driving. A number of ratepayers were willing to subscribe £4l 103 towards the expense, and the owner of the land would make a grant of the approaches. Cr Fell seconded the motion, and said he thought the site proposed would be much better than if it were placed at the end of Seymour-street. When the motion was brought forward two years ago he thought it was premature, but now he thought the time had arrived when the bridge should be built, Cr Robinson said if the bridge was put opposite Short-street it would have to be much longer than if it was put up at the end of Seymour-street. He also thought that a cart bridge would be too expensive in the present state of the funds. He thought a bridge was much required in High-street. He should vote against the motion. The people in Maxwell Road and that part of the town should be as much considered as people who lived in North ward. He would suggest that the whole Council should go and see the site, as well as the Reporters and any independent person. Cr Presswood did not think the Council was in a position to undertake the expense of a cart bridge ot the present time. He would move that the matter be further considered that day six months. Cr Robinson seconded the motion. Cr Litchfield suggested that tenders should be called for a foot-bridge. He thought Seymour-street the most preferable site. Cr Rogers said a cart bridge would cost £4OO or £SOO, but he would support the motion of a cheap foot-bridge at Seymourstreet. Cr Houldsworth supported a foot-bridge at Short-street. Cr Rogers mo /ed that a foot-bridge be be put up at Seymour-street. Cr Robinson seconded, This was put and lost. Cr Rogers now moved that a foot-bridge be put up at Short-street. Cr Litchfield seconded. This was put and lost. Cr Fell spoke in support of the motion for a cart-bridge at Short-street. He believed the bridge could be put up just now at a very low" figure ; timber and labor were cheap and work scarce. The Engineer of the Public Works Department would assist them with plans. The erection of this bridge would so increase the rateable value of the property that it would soon be paid for. The Mayor said the time had come when a second cart bridge over the Omaka was required, and that the Council would be justified in undertaking it. He thought Short-street would be the best site. Cr Wemyss replied in snpport of the original motion. Cr Presswood’s amendment was put and lost. The original motion was put Ayes 5 Crs Houldsworth, Fell, Parker, Wemyss, and Farmer. Noes 4—Crs Robinson, Litchfield, Rogers, and Presswood. The motion was consequently carried. ALABAMA ROAD. Cr Rogers moved thatthe Alabama Road be extended and metalled with 9 inches of metal to Redwood-street. Cr Houldsworth seconded the motion, which was carried. TENDER FOR PRINTING AND ADVERTISING. The tender of Mr J. Tait, proprietor of the Marlborough Times, was accepted for printing and advertising for the Council for 12 months, ending March 31st, 1881. NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notices of motion were given for next meeting By Cr Robinson—That plans and specifications be prepared for a dray bridge at the West end of High-street, and that the Road Board be asked to assist. By Cr Wemyss—That specifications beprepared for gravelling the footpath round the Borough School. By Cr Rogers—Thatthe railway authorities be asked to provide a cart-bridge in con junction with the proposed railway bridge over the Omaka river, and that the Council wili contribute a proportion.