Blenheim Borough Council.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 179, 12 June 1869, Page 4

Blenheim Borough Council.

The Council met at the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening last. Present;—The Mayor ; Councillors Robinson, Sinclair, Hutcheson, Bythell, Nosworthy, and Dodson. The minutes af former meeting having been read and confirmed, The Mayor reported that in pursuance of a resolution, himself with Councillors Sinclair and Dodson, had waited upon the provincial Secretary, in the absence of his Honor the Superintendent. That gentleman informed them that the Superintendent had left no deputy, but that the Council could have the use of the hall pro tern, and he (Mr. Wemyss) undertook to write to his Honor, and forward the request of the deputation to have the permanent use of the Superintendent’s room and the one adjoining it.

On the motion of Councillor Noswobthy the Standing Orders as laid down in Part ll of the 13th Schedule of the Act were adopted as the Standing Orders of the Council. On the motion of Councillor Dodson the Council went into committee, Cr. -Nosworthy in the chair, for the purpose- of considering the propriety of petitioning the General Assembly, and to confer with the Superintendent, so as to have the trunk line of road running through the Borough included in any road district that may be formed which embraces the trunk line from the watere to the Wairau river. The Mayor moved as an amendment that the Council should petition the General Assembly, that in any Road District Act they may bring into force in the Province of Marlborough, they will be pleased to

include the three bridges known as the Opawa bridge, the Omaka bridge, and the Toylor bridge, in the district in which the Town of Blenheim may be situate, and not leave them under the control of the Corporation. Or. Sinclair wished to propose that a standing committee should be formed for the purpose of watching and advising what steps should be taken in the Assembly with reference to this very desirable object. Cr. Dodson could hardly expect that these questions should be considered by a smaller section of its body than the whole. The Road Act, whenever passed, would no doubt be for the whole Colony, with schedules stating which roads would be affected by its action. When these came under discussion would be the proper time to affect them by action from this Council. As the amendment seemed to have a similar effect to his motion, he would withdraw the motion in its favor.

Cr. Sinclair thought he had been misunderstood. He did not mean to suggest a permanent standing committee, nor that the Council should part with any of its power. He would submit that it would be very useful for the purpose of watching and providing information to the Council, as well as recommending what course would be the best to take. The Roads Bill of last session passed the Lower House, but was not taken up by the Upper House for want of time, consequently there was no doubt but it would come on again this session. He wished the committe to prepare material for the Council to digest at the regular meeting, and thought a smaller body would be more active than the formal Council.

Cr. Bythell thought the General Assembly would not be guilty of so great an injustice as to saddle the Corporation with all these bridges. He objected to a committee of five as suggested by last speaker, as that would be a majority of the Council, which would thereby be controlled and overruled in its action, and obliged to adopt whatever course the committee resolved upon. He objected to mulcting the country people by fixing a toll-gate to support the bridges, as he did not think it would produce more than would pay a keeper’s salary, and even if it did not produce much more than that it would be of little service.

The Mayor thought that in so small a bocty aa the whole it was undesirable to appoint a committee for the proposed object. It would rather be their duty to watch proceedings by their clerk. The Council could work quite as easily, and would be as active as a committee. For himself, he would do all he could to keep our Representative up to the mark. He could not agree with what had fallen from Cr. Bythell, as the Assembly, knowing nothing of our peculiar local position as to the three bridges, would pass it over unless their attention was directed to it, and thought a petition was the best way to keep them in mind.

Cr. Sinclair did not consider the five committeemen would be bound by their report; such did not necessarily follow. It might be that not more than three would be bound. It required an active body to watch from day to day; they would be more active, and time was fleeting. Cr. Dodson’s motion was then withdrawn.

Cr. Bythell did not object to petitioning the Assembly, but he considered the Mayor and Town Clerk would be on the watch.

Cr. Dodson thought it was but right to acquaint the Assembly with our needs as to the roads and bridges; and the best course appeared to him to be to pass the motion before them, and prepare a draft for a petition to be submitted to the next meeting.

Cr. Sinclair thought we needed an intelligent petition. No doubt the Acts left over last session would be brought forward again first this session, and therefore the petition should be sent as early as possible. The Mayor's amendment having been again read, Cr. Sinclair, after some further remarks, moved, —“ That a committee of the whole Council, or a smaller number as may be appointed, to take the most active and immediate steps to carry into effect the intention of the motion,”

Cr. Bythell pointed out that there was no motion to which the amendment referred, nor did he see that it was any improvement on the amendment before them.

On being put, Cr. Sinclair’s amendment was rejected. The Mayor’s motion, on being put, was carried. , Cr. Dodson moved, —“That the Mayor; l Crs. Nos worthy, Sinclair, and the mover,

be a-committee to draw up a petition in accordance with the last motion, and submit the same at the next meeting of the Council.” Cr. Sinclair, wished his name to be withdrawn, and another substituted. On being put to the Committee, Cr. Sinclair’s name was allowed to be withdrawn. The Chairman then reported progress, and the Council resumed. Cr. Dodson directed the attention of the Council to the state of Grove Road, and thought some immediate steps should be taken to repair some of the very bad places. Cr. Robinson agreed with last speaker that the road named required immediate attention, as did Collie’s bridge, and a place near Lewis’ stables, and thought the worst places should be done, if only to stop the diphtheria from coming again ; £3O would go a long way towards covering the repairs alluded to. He had been informed there were persons who would undertake the work on credit if necessary, and at a reasonable rate. A, number of notices of motion were then given in, and the Council adjourned until Monday evening next.