Municipal corporations act.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 145, 21 November 1868, Page 5

Municipal corporations act.

Ok Wednesday afternoon last a meeting of Ratepayers was held in the Provincial Hall, for the parpose of considering tlie draft of an amended Jetition in favour of adapting the above Act. Mr. OBNSON in the chair. The Chairman called on the promoters of the meeting to atate the reasons which had led to the Mr Litchfield, as one of the Committee, read a letter which he had received from the Government, and which appeared in our last issue. He aaid that the alleged error arose through a mistake in interpreting a clause In the Municipal Corporations Act, and this meeting was called to petition in strict accordance with the Schedule to the Act. As there were no other means of having a Town Board, and as the Act had commended itself to other towns, while the rating being on the value »o let, it did not appear to him of paramount importance whether the agricultural sections came under a town or country Board. He would move y *• That we petition the Government to appoint Blenheim a Borough under the Municipal Corporations Act, with the boundaries as laid down in the second schedule to that Act.

Mr Gorbie seconded the motion. When the Borough was formed, they could lake care to elect men who would see that in the assessment no grievance arose to those holding country lands. To tux land on a farm in conjunction with town land was out of the question. Mr. Collie wished io know whether the Committee had taken any steps to ascertain if the view of the petition taken by the Government was corW jjr. Litchfield replied that ho understood that the Government had taken the opinion of the highest authority on the point; and believing this, the Committee had considered it would be ot no use examining in'o the matter further. Mr. Sinclair agreed heartily with the previous petition. They were now embarking in a different venture, and the question was whether it w.,& a wise one. What they had petitioned for was a natural town : but now, if they adopted this-which was a politically-formed district—by taking the old boundaries. they might have to extend their operations for a mile and a-half into the swamps 5 make expensive roads as far as McCullum’s property ; have to deal with roads to Adams’ and Rose’s properties, and do a great many other things. They could not allow thia and relax that. It was not a matter of discretion. The Opawa bridge might get into a precarious state. What share would the Corporation have to take in that if their operations extended so far 7 He was of opinion they ought to be very cautious, and that they had better pause and see whether they could get a proper town boundary. He felt certain they were likely to gather into their arms a vast deal of tumble. The Provincial Council could not be long in meeting, nor the Assembly cither. Should they, therefore, get the town more naturally defined In a Bill, or rather adopt the old boundary and then ask for alteration afterwards? A mile or so out of town roads and banks were being cut up, and they would have to attend to these things. He bad competent legal opinion that the ; petition was correct; but as the Government had decided against it, it was of no use questioning their'; decision, as they would not alter it. He would' again say that as a corporation they would bo bound to certain duties all over that district—they would have to keep the roadft good, or they would be open to a legal action, as was shown by a decision against a superintendent the other day. Another question, that occurred to him was. whether the Conservators under the Rivers Bill could come within the boundaries of the Corporation for the purpose ol •topping the overflow of the rivers. (Hear) Mr. John T. iiOBINBON said Mr. Sinclair had pointed out no remedy, although he hail thrown out doubts at to the advisability of what they proposed. Ha could ace little barm In adopting the present ■boundaries. Under the old Act injustice was done to those occupying land outside the town, but now there could be jnonn; for whereas agriculturalists might, under the old Act, have been liable for a tax o(j£4o or SSO ; now their liability would not exceed £b or so, and those parties could not object to such a eira to have roads made * which they were constgotly using. They might not get off ao easily utider a District Board. They could apply for an of boundaries by next sitting of the Assembly, before which period no rati scon hi be levied. Mr. Sinclair proposed pro forma that they should adjourn for a month, but the amendment was not seconded. Mr. Nelson said if the Government were asked to alter their decision, they were certain to refuse, although it had been bis opinion, as expressed when asked by one of the Committee, that the Government, perhaps,, under the Act, had the power to grant the alterations, but as the Government had ruled against them, it was of no use considering that mattter further. The Act allowed for the enlargement of boundaries, but there was nothing about lessening them. They had best agree to be constituted a municipality upon the old footing, and afterwaids when they should have greater grounds for showing tike grl vances that existed they could apply for alterations. They would be in a position as a municipality to show that grievances existed. Have a municipality and not be afraid to do anything. It was of no use waiting for a session of the Provincial Council, and then . perhaps bungle it after all, and a lot of law expenses be incurred. If - they asked for an Act from the General Assembly they might be referred to the Municipal Act and bs refused. He believed with Mr 1 Sinclair grievances might arise about rivers and bridges, but they hud qo help for it. Mr. James T. Robinson thought the Opawa .< bridge, which bad been referred to by a previous - ; speaker, was outside this boundary. 7 ‘ | ; Mr. Sinclair said the boundary extended to theeo4 of the bridge. Be would impress,upon ■ it those who might belong to the coming Corporation the of faoldingthat the through roads in the tom) should be a Provincial or country affair. It bad been osnried by the House of Lords that such reads hgd to be providedfor by the country Boards. The tswtteU was then put, add carried uaani- ■ mou»ly. The Chairman having read-the draft of the ’ petition, which contained thO same boundaries as those described in the Blenheim 1 mprovement Act,' Sod the Municipal Corporations Act, ' Mr. McUdtcbbson moved “That the petition as read be adopted." Mr. Bom ford seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.