Blenheim Borough Council.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 184, 17 July 1869, Page 3

Blenheim Borough Council.

Thb Council met on Thursday evening. Present: The Mayor in the chair ; Councillors Robinson, Sinclair, Hutcheson, Hodson, and Nosworthy. The minutes having been read, were objected to by Cr. Sinclair, who said the voice of one member could not anticipate the action of the Council. Cr, Nosworthy said the mintues read were correctly entered, Cr. Sinclair said he might be outvoted, but his one vote was sufficient to prove them inaccurate.

Cr. Robinson believed the minutes were correct, and wished it to be pointed out how they were wrong. . Cr. Sinclair said it had not been decided yet. The Mayor explained the portion indicated, and showed how the motion of Cr. Nosworthy was carried at the last meeting, and caused the minutes to be again read, Cr. Sinclair wished to state that Cr. Nosworthy’s notice of motion was not a vote of the whole Council. . Cr. Hodson explained that the motion alluded to was not a notice of motion, but that the notice was a different one which had to be discussed to-night. Cr. Hutcheson partly agreed with the last speaker, that the minutes were right, but thought the motion should be discussed. Cr. Sinclair was not to have notices of motion burked, and requested the attention of the Press to the matter. He wished to know where his notice was, to the effect that the rate should be 6d. in the pound ? , . , The Mayor said no such notice had been given. Cr, Robinson called Cr. Sinclair to order. Cr. Nosworthy said the motion passed at the last meeting was in accordance with section 209 of the Act, which required the notice to be given of the intention of the Council to levy a rate, the period for which the same is intended, and was published the week previous to the intended making of the rate which it was the intention to move that night. , . ~ Cr. Sinclair continued to state that the minutes were false, whereupon a scene occurred which we may not attempt to report. The Mayor put the motion that the minutes be confirmed, which was carried with one dissentient. , . , . . . Cr. Sinclair again asked where his slip giving notice of a rate at 6d, was, and wished to know why it had been burked ? Several Councillors stated that none had been Cr. Sinclair again insisted that the minutes were not correct, and said that if signed by the Chairman he would be guilty of forgery. Another scene occurred, amidst which the minutes were signed. ' Cr. Nosworthy called attention to the offensive and disorderly language used, contrary to the provisions of the Act. Cr. Sinclair replied. Cr. Nosworthy, in moving, “ That this Council

do now proceed to levy a rate of one shilling in the pound, for the year ending November 30th, 1869,” said it was necessary once in every year to levy a rate. Under the valuation of the old Town Board, they raised considerably over £4OO, but under the present one, a much less sura would be obtained, therefore he found it was necessary to levy a maximum rate at once in order to do any works. His reason fer fixing the date was because the financial year ended about that time, and he had named the period so as to fall about a month before the time appointed for the audit. Cr. Hodson seconded the motion.

Cr. Sinclair would rather have had the opinion of his brother Councillors before speaking. He felt under a pledge that all should roll together smoothly, and relying on that, and another pledge that he would work along with the team, but now he differed with them, not in principle, but in detail. To carry on the works would require some money. He had seen his brother burgesses, and said we should start on a low scale. There were certain holes to be filled up, but to do so, it would become a difficulty for many a worthy family. He had promised them to keep the rates as low as possible. Was this keeping our pledges to the people, and keeping faith? Would they have signed the petition for the incorporation of the Borough had they understood this ? A shilling waf too severe. If we could get the publicans’ licenses, wharves, and the dog tax enforced, these would produce about £4OO. Why then press on the poorer inhabitants. He wished the question put to the meeting, but desired that members would not give a silent vote. Cr. Hodson thought all the members expressed their feelings pretty strongly at the last meeting. He was himself in favor of a Is. rate, which would not be oppressive, and as the money would be spent in the place, even the poor fellow, whom Cr, Sinclair said they would be robbing, would reap the benefit. He would even be favorable to a special rate of 6d. additional, so much was he impressed with the necessity for the work being done, and how lightly it would press on those alluded to.

(Jr. Robinson went in without a single pledge, yet he was at the top of the poll; but if half the people asked him to vote for a 6d rate, he would sooner resign. It would leave us in debt, and give nothing at all for repairing the roads ; he would even join in such a motion as suggested by the last speaker. He had been accused by one of the papers of seeking his partner’s interests, but he voted there as an honorable man, and did not care for all the papers in New Zealand. Cr. Hutcheson said he was the only or e who suggested a rate of 9d-, and should move an amendment to that effect.

The Mayor said he had no wish to give a silent vote, and had expressed his opinions before. At the last meeting he presented a list which he had drawn up of works which he thought necessary to be done, and called their attention to them. No person could deny that every penny of the estimated amounts attached to the several items would be required ; besides these there were works in progress, for which they would be liable £80; these with half the liabilities made £385; add salaries and printing -£4O, and the total far exceeded what would be realised by a maximum rate. How then was it possible to do with a Gd. rate? Every 3d. of a rate but raised £IOO. Were they to come there and waste their time week after week to raise a paltry Gd. rate? The streets and roads having had nothing done to them for nearly three years, were all going to ruin. Few people had paid anything for three years. Where would be the use of such a rate. A Is. rate would not come heavy upon anyone, since most cottages were valued at from ATS to it 20 a year only, and he did not think the persons would object to the proposal. The amend ment would only be trifling with business Cr, Sinclair in moving an amendment that the rate be Gd wished to give his reasons. He had listened with admiration to the Mayor, and thought nothing less than Is. would carry us over the first year, but where could it be got from ? Here the speaker again referred to the Publicans’ licenses, &c„ which he said only required an Act to obtain them. It was all very well for those who had a few pounds to spare, but how was it with the poor man who had not a loaf of bread. Could we not raise the money in other ways. It was shabby for him to speak thus unless he could shew them how a Gd rate could be made to do, and was enough. He did not think a rate could be laid in the time. Cr. Nosworthy spoke of the end of the financial year : would he tell us of the beginning ? The present Clerk got £4O ; would his year be up with the financial year. If they combined, he thought it likely they could get the publicans’ licenses, &e. John Ewart was a very respectable man, but he had told him he had 40 dogs about his place. He thought people who kept them should pay for them, say 10s, a year. He did not think they would be guilty of taking the shingles off a poor man’s roof to fill a hole in the road. On the amendment being put, the Mayor said the Noes had it. Mr. Sinclair called for a division, which resulted as follows : Noea, 4 : —Messrs. Robinson, Hodson, Nosworthy, and Litchfield. Ayes, 2 Messrs. Sinclair and Hutcheson. The motion was then put, and passed without dissent. . , Cr. Dodson’s motion lapsed m consequence of his absence from town. Cr. Robinson asked leave to withdraw the motion relative to the insertion of the advertisements in the Express, and consequent filing of the paper, until there was a full meeting of the Council. Cr. Sinclair objected, adding that a quorum was equal to full Council. He would not consent without speaking. Supposing the proprietor of the Express removed to another place The speaker was called to order. On being put, leave was granted and the motion was withdrawn. Cr, Sinclair said it was not passed, as he objected. He did not roast chestnuts before the fire, and referred in terms more forcible than E elite to the Clerk, who, he contended, ought to e placed in some other part of the room, and not be ear-wigging the Chairman. Upon this, another scene ensued similar to the former. Cr. Nosworthy protested against conduct which he considered was perfectly disgraceful, and personally offensive. The Mayor remarked in strong terms upon the same subject. Cr. Hodson moved-“ That the Council do

take in'o consideration the necessity of appointing an Inspector of Works; and if they think proper, to combine the office of Inspector with that of Collector.”—ln so doing, he felt there was a necessity for an officer of the kind. Several works had been ordered to be done, and a committee appointed to overlook them. He thought it wns more proper to appoint a proper person for the pux - pose, who was thoroughly competent to see the work properly done, and named an instance in which a committee had been interfered with by a person who had failed to get a certain contract, and now found fault with the way in which it was done. It was necessary to have a person who would be responsible to the Council and the public. Cr. Sinclair seconded the motion, as it was only right and proper in the spirit, but trusted it would bo carried out without more expense than they could help. The M iyor agreed with the motion ; such person would have to prepare specifications, and see the work done properly. It would be necessary for them to fix the salary, and thought it would be well to have the offices combined. Cr. Hutcheson agreed with the spirit of the motion, but these affairs ran away with the money Ho thought if the Council attended there twice a mouth, it was as much as could bo expected of them. Cr. Sinclair wished the appointment to be left with the Mayor, The motion was then carried. Several notices of motion were given (1) with reference to the payment of Half the liabilities this year. (2) The salaries of Inspector of Works and Collector. (3) The removal of the Clerk’s seat. (4) The consideration of what bye-laws should be adopted. The Mayor received a letter from Cr. Bythell, resigning his seat, which was declared vacant. He also declared Mr. Collie’s seat vacant in consequence of his absence at four ordinary meetings. Another scene occurred, with reference to which the Mayor protested strongly against remarks made by one of the Councillors, and trusted there would not bo a recurrence.