Blenheim Borough Council.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 198, 9 October 1869, Page 5

Blenheim Borough Council.

The usual meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday evening last, when were present : Crs. Robinson, Hutcheson, Sinclair, Taylor, and Nosworthy. In consequence of the Mayor’s absence, Cr. Nosworthy was voted into the chair. The minutes having been confirmed, a letter was read from Mr. Pitt applying, on behalf of Mr. Romford, for a fee of £2 2s, with 10s. 6d. cost of letter, for being subpoenaed to attend at the Resident Magistrate’s Court as a witness on the occasion of the recent appeal cases. Cr. Robinson said he would vote against the sum being paid. Mr. Romford had to attend in his own case, and he waa only subpmnaed to bring with him and produce certain documents. In any case, he was not entitled to more than 10s. a day. Cr. Sinclair strongly recommended getting the advice of a solicitor. He would prefer the°expense of that to a whim even on the part of the Council. The witnesses were present nearly two days, and he hoped they would take into their consideration the fact that there were several others besides the one now claiming, who, finding the effect of this application, might take proceedings at once to recover without applying to the Council. Cr. Robinson explained that it was Mr. Romford’s own case which required that they should make him pi-oduce the document alluded to.

Cr. Hutcheson thought it would be the safest way to get legal advice on the subject. Cr. Taylor was surprised to find the demand was £1 Is per day ; he would be very well paid at 10s. Cr, Nosworthy would vote against any sum being paid, because the claimant was the appellant in the case, and took them into the Court. He learned that Mr. Nelson had told the Clerk that they were not liable. Cr. Sinclair wished the question postponed in order to get legal advice, and moved that the letter be submitted to Mr. Nelson. Cr. Nosworthy said Mr. Nelson had promised to send in a list of all these claims, and the expenses the Council was put to. On being put, the motion was lost; Crs. Hutcheson and Sinclair voting for, and Crs. Robinson, Taylor, and the Chairman against it. Cr. Sinclair again remarked that there would be a number of other claims sent in. Cr. Nosworthy moved that the letter stand over till next meeting, which was carried.

Cr. Sinclair enquired if the letter to the Collector stated that A 5 had been voted to enable him to sue for rates. On the letter being again read, together with the minute on the subject, he contended that the money could not be paid because the sum was not stated. Cr. Nosworthy said the sum was named in the application, and the minute was sufficient to enable him to sign the cheque for the money. Eighty per cent, on the contract for repairing Maxwell Road, by Broughan and Beal; £8 for work on Leeds Quay, were carried. On £1 Is. each to Flannagan andjgarey for engrossing petihis opinion that it was a deal of money to pay for such purpose, a simpler document, which might have been done by the Council itself, would have answered the purpose. The item was then passed. In reply to Cr. Hutcheson, the Chairman said no person had yet been summoned for rates. Keeping Roads in Repair. —Cr. Robinson regretted there was not a larger proportion of the Council present, in order that the question of ’calling for tenders to keep in repair for 2 years the road from the boundary of the town to the Maxwell Road might be properly considered. Cr. Sinclair said there was a probability of the main road being exempted with the bridges, and wished the question deferred. Cr. Taylor did not see sufficient reason for deferring it, and thought tenders might be called at once, Cr. Hutcheson was in favor of the project, and as the tenders would have to lay before them a month, thought no harm would be done by the

motion passing now. The motion was carried. BomforcTs Bank. —Motions standing in the name of Cr. Dodson having reference to this work ; also motions by the Mayor, lapsed in their absence. High-street Ditch. —Cr. Nosworthy called the attention of the Council to the bad state of the ditch in Arthur-street, also to one of the supports of the Maxwell bridge, which was falling in. Cr. Sinclair thought it best to take steps in time to make necessary repairs, but it must not be supposed that he gave his ccnsmit to the ditch, which, by being cut, destroyed his means of access to nearly 30 sections, which were about the best he possessed. _ Notices of motion were then given, by Cr. Nosworthy with reference to the ditch on the North side of Arthur-street ; and by Cr. Sinclair with reference to Jellyman’s bank.