BLENHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 180, 10 December 1880, Page 3

BLENHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tuesday, December 7th,

The Council met at S o’clock. Present — His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Robinson, Rogers, Parkei, Litchfield, Sinclair, Fell, Houldsworth, and Riley. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. PETITION. Cr Robinson presented a petition signed by a number of ratepayers in the North Ward, praying that the approaches to the new bridge across the Omaka River at York Terrace be constructed on piles. The petitioners stated that if the approaches were made of earthwork great damage would be done to property in the locality. They allege that a high Taylor flood is not confined to the bed of the Omaka, but stretches out from Alfred-street to Ancle-land-street, and averages a depth of - feet over that area, with a very rapid current. They consider that the proposed embankment will curtail the fioodway by 220 feet, making a resistance to the current of a surface of 000 square feet, and deflecting the stream on to the residences in Alfredstreet and Auckland-street. Cr Robinson said he was sorry to have to refer to this obnoxious bridge, but whether the work ought to have been undertaken or not was not the question to-night. The petitioners asked the Council not to allow the ratepayers property to be flooded by the erection of an earthwork in the shape of an embankment Bor 10 feet wide. It was a question which affected him materially as well as many other owners of property in the neighborhood. The question was postponed until a later period of the evening, and, on being resumed. Cr Robinson spoke strongly against the bridge, and said Cr Parker had said outside that all he (Cr Robinson) objected to it for was that it was not put up in front of his own place. If the bridge had been put where be (Cr Robinson) suggested it would have benefitted the Council by about £2OO. He hoped the Council would agree to the petition, and he would like all the Councillors to go to the spot, stand on the bridge, and judge for themselves as to the approaches. He moved that the petition be received. Cr Litchfield seconded the motion, which was carried. The Mayor said he did not think the proposed earthwork would have the effect contemplated by the petitioners. As regarded expense wooden approaches would cost twice as much as earth. Cr Fell concurred, and said the filling up in Alfred-street near the Omaka bridge had not had such an effect as the petitioners thought would be the ease at the new bridge.

Cr Rogers suggested that the matter should stand over for further consideration. Ur Robinson moved that the Council be a Committee to inspect the locality and report to tiie next meeting* Cr Sinclair moved as an amendment that the tenders for the earthwork be now opened. This was carried. The tenders were as follows : —J. Batty, £lll ; D. Bishell, £ll6 lGs; G. Sutherley, £lOl 15s ; F. Beamsley, £l4l 10s ; G. A. Smith and Co., £142 ; C. Gomez, £133. It was agreed that the acceptance of a tender be postponed for a fortnight, until the Council had decided whether they would have earthwork or woodwork. It was also agreed that the Council as a Committee visit the locality on that day fortnight, at two o’clock, and report on the work and on the petition. REPORT OF INSPECTOR OK NUISANCES. The Inspector reported that the nuisance complained of at the rear of the Erpresn office had been abated ; but nuisances remained on Mr Cross’s section, and at the back of the National Bank premises. The Inspector hail directed the cutting of quick and gorse fences in various parts of the Borough, and he wished to be informed of what|was meant by the term “brushwood tences.” Cr Robinson said there was a very great nuisance existing under Mr MeNab s office and Mr Stenliouse’s which ought to be abated. [A letter was read from Mr McNab complaining of the nuisance.] Cr Fell concurred, and said it was incumbent on the owners of the property to abate the nuisance.

Cr Sinclair expressed himself to the same effect. There could be no doubt tiffs was a nuisance, and if the Inspector did not think so and take notice of it, he was not lit for his office. He thought the Council should administer a reprimand to the Inspector. Cr Houldsworth said the Inspector did not appear to be instructed what his duties were.

The Mayor here read a letter from Mr Stenhouse complaining of the same nuisance.

Cr Rogers moved that the Inspector be written to on the subject. Cr Robinson seconded the motion and suggested that authority be given to sue the offending parties. Cr Houldsworth concurred.

The Mayor pointed out by the Act that notice to abate a nuisance must be given beforeobtaining authority to sue. Cr Houldsworth said a bye-law might be passed on the subject. Cr Fell said it would be no use passing a bye-law in direct contravention of the Statute ; but there was one way of getting over the difficulty by appointing a Board of Health, which would have very summary powers. It was no use storming at the Inspector. Let the Council instruct the Inspector to give notice' to the offending parties to abate the nuisance, and if they did not comply give him authority to sue them. Cr Litchfield moved to the above effect, 14 days’ notice being given to abate the nuisance. Cr Riley seconded the motion, which was carried. CRICKET. 2Jr George S. Budge, the Secretary of the Star Cricket Club, wrote to the Council asking that a portion of Seymour-square be set apart for the Club’s exclusive use. Cr Fell said a similar request had been made some time ago and negatived. He would be glad to do all lie could for the club, but as the request had been previously negatived he should not like to vote differently. Cr Robinson said he should oppose the the motion. He believed the Ratepayers objected to any part of the square being set apart for this or any other club. Moreover he doubted whether the Council had power to give the club the right asked for. He did not think at the same time that the public would interfere with the club’s pitch. Crs Houldsworth, Parker, and Rogers concurred. Cr Rogers moved that the Secretary he written to and informed that the Council regretted that they had not the power to grant the request. VERAS DA 118. Permission was granted to Mr J. Chinn to erect a verandah in front of his premises subject to the appoval of the Inspector of Works. Similar permission was granted to Mr Burns. ARTHUR STREET. Mr Joseph Scott wrote to the Council thanking them for their offer to make the footpatli in front of his cottage, lmt setting forth that it was not what he wished the Council to do. What he wanted was that the Council should fill upthe ditch in the street, it being left to him to make the footpath when wanted. This ditch he submitted was part and narcel of the street, and was dangerous to life and property. Cr Rogers said this ditch ought never to have been made. It was a trespass ditch which turned one of the streets into a river, and deprived people of frontages to which they had a legal right, and it was particularly unfair that an embankment should have been put up for the benefit of owners and occupiers of one side at the expense of those on the other. Cr Fell said tiffs was a first attempt to turn the Taylor into the Omaka. He objected to anything being done hastily in the matter and opposed the motion. It was resolved that the matter should stand over until the next meeting of the Council.

JIB J AS. SINCLAIR AND TIIE COUNCIL. Mr .Jas. Sinclair wrote to the Council complaining of what he considered the unfair way in which the Mayor and Council were dealing with him, in regard to an action which the Council have commenced against him in the Supreme Court in reference to a piece of land in Sinclair Street.

The Mayor said he could not see how Mr Sinclair could have known what opinions he had taken in the matter which was in the hands of the solicitor, and he declined to enter into any further details. mr Johnson’s grievance. In reference to Mr Johnson’s complaint of injury to his property caused as he alleges by the action of the Council’s servants in stopping a culvert, Cr Fell said the stoppage of water was not caused by any action of the Council. It was the parties themselves who put up a bank which effectually stopped the water. He moved that a copy of the Inspector’s report on the matter be forwarded to Mr Johnson. This was agreed to. WYNEN STREET. Cr Fell moved that the patli on the north side be made and that tenders be called for the work. This was seconded, put and carried. ALABAMA CONTRACT. Mr A. Cameron wrote to the Board requesting an advance of £2O on the Alabama ltoad contract.

On themotion of Cr Houldsworth, seconded by Cr Robinson, the request was granted. INSPECTOR OF WORKS’ REPORT The Inspectoi of Works reported that he saw no way to prevent the drainage complained of by Mr Johnson, except at a very great outlay, and he was unable to recommend the Council to take any act Jem, m the matter, as lie considered it more a ji’fivpte question. He estimated the costof kerwng and making a footpath on the south side c. Wynen-strect at £47, and of a narrow earthwork on the north side at £lO. RAISING HALIFAX STREET AND j MAXWELL ROAD. Cr Robinson, pursuant to notice, moved that the motion previously.passed giving authority to the Wairau Rivers Board to raise Halifax street and Maxwell Road, be rescinded. He said this was a very important matter. He was sorry and surpnse. that the motion had been carried, it the proposed work was carried on it would do nrreat injury to the centre of the town, ant would benefit nobody but some perhaps outside the town. Individually, he wonhi he somewhat benefited but many would be injured, and those who would be injured would not rest- satisfied with simply petitioning against the carrying out of tne W< Cr Litchfield said he understood that the Rivers Board now proposed to raise Halifax street only, which he thought would be generally satisfactory. . . . Cr Robinson said he objected to raising Halifax street and Maxwell Road also. Cr Parker seconded the motion pro forma. . , Cr Fell moved as an amendment, that the words “ Halifax street” be omitted from Cr Robinson’s motion. He thought the raising of Maxwell-Road, would do harm, but that raising Halifax street would do good to many, and injure noth' Rogers supported the amendment, but said lie thought the raising of Maxwell Road would not do harm ; he objected to the bank along the Taylor ditch winch threw the water on to the Maxwell Road. The Rivers Board and not the Council \vas the proper body to deal with the ri\ei conservation. Cr Houldsworth was in favor of the work as orginally proposed, and was followed by’Cr°Litchfiehl on the same side. Cr Robinson said ii the work was carried out would it lead to a great waste of money in law. He did not think the Rivers Board had legally the power it claimed m the matter. . Cr Sinclair supported the amendment and said he did not think the work asonginally proposed would do any harm. The amendment was put and earned, Crs Robinson and Parker voting against The motion as amended was then declared carried. MARKET STREET NORTH.

Cr Fell said that a burgess (Mr Jelly man) had a grievance in reference to widening Market-street which he wished to bring before the Council. He moved that Mr •Tallyman he heard. This was agreed to. Mr Jellyman then stated that it was of great importance to him that he should have certain deeds of his property, which had been promised to him, time after time but had been kept from him for IS months. If he wtis kept out of them much longer he should hold the Council responsible. Cr Rogers said ho understood there was a dispute as to 14 inches of land. Cr Sinclair explained that there were 14 inches of land which would have to be paid for to Mr Bliek. It arose out of the widening of the street. The matter, it appeared, had been referred to the Mayor and Town Clerk, who hail not been able to get it settled, but expected to do so shortly. HOARD OF HEALTH ACT. Cr Fell gave notices to move at next meeting that the Board of Health Act be brought into operation forthwith. ACCOUNTS. The monthly accounts were ordered to he paid and the Council then adjourned for a fortnight.