BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 20900, 7 May 1887, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held yesterday evening, when there were present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Jelly man, Sinclair, McArtney, Cooke, Bythell, Ching, and Riley. HIGH-STREET BRIDGE. A deputation, consisting of Messrs J. Holmes, Clous!o i, and J. Conolly, waited on the Council to urge the building of a bridge in High street, a petition on the same subject having been received last meeting. Mr Holmes said that he and his colleagues represented the views of the petitioners', who had asked for the construction of a bridge in High street. He asked that the Council might go into committee in order that they might treat the matter conversationally. His Worship thought that would hardly be convenient. The deputation had better state their case, and then the Council could consider it, The Councillors could put questions through the Chair. Mr Holmes read a letter received from the Corporation, asking what sum the petitioners would Subscribe towards the erection of the bridge, Mr Holmes did not know that the petitioners would be required to subscribe anything. Such a request had not been made in other cases, such as that of the bridge near the Borough School. The population to receive benefit from the proposed bridge was larger than in that case, and paid more rates. It had been stated that there was an objection on the score of shortness of funds, but he thought he could point a way out of that difficulty. The main point to consider was the convenience of the public, and it was hard that large shippers of produce should not have the same conveniences as other people. High st/cet might be called part of a main, thoroughfare, and a through route by it would be freely used by carriers. The proposed bridge

I would also relieve the traffic on the Alfred Bridge. Large numbers I of people in Manse Road would be benelitted by the bridge. It had occurred to some of the petitioners if the Council did not sec their way to raise a special loan, to suggest that they might take the responsibility of the outlay for two or three years, till the Council was in a position to repay it with interest The advantages to the Council, if they 6,cauired the gasworks would also be eoneiderable if the bridge was built. It might be said that the members of the deputation were specially interested, but the proposal was to the interest of all the ratepayers, end the revenue of the town would be increased. It had been ascertained that a suitable bridge, 20 feet wide could be erected for L 540. Cr Ching said that perhaps Mr Holmes was not aware that a considerable part of the cost of the Borough School bridge v as raised by public subscription. His Worship moved that after tlie ordinary business the Council should take the matter into consideration ; and then the deputation be thanked for their attendance, This was seconded by Cr Sinclair and carried. The deputation then withdrewi In committee the subject was further discussed, His Worship said that it had been understood that the persons interested in the bridge were going to subscribe to its cost, but he found that was not the case. It was unnecessary to say that the Council could not provide the money out of ordinary revenue, but must either raise a loan or levy a special rate, He thought if the Council took any steps in the matter they should submit it to the burgesses in the form cf a proposal to raise a loan. Cr Sinclair said that no doubt the work was a desirable one, but there was a difficulty in the matter of funds and he feared that they would have to wait for some time for the bridge. Cr McArtney thought it was impossible to go on with the work. He had only presented the petition pro fornnj. lie thought that the petitioners were going to subscribe a sum of money for its construction, but lie found that they were not going to do bo, Oil the inotioa of Cr McArtney it wix resolved—'That this Coum il cannot go on with the ereeiionof the bridge, THE JUBILEE.

Letters were received from the I’idon Tewn t lork, the Secretary to the Hospital, Mid from iho Seer* ary to the Literary Institu’e with reference to tire celebration of the Qneen’s Jubilee. The Secretary to th* Literary Institnto stat&i that a depntaion of the Committee would wait upon the Confertnco of Local B idles suggesting that dm Jubilee should be celebrated by rebuilding the library portion cf the Iris'ifute. MOHICIPAT- ASSOCIATION. The Auckland Town Clerk wrote en* closing a resolution of the Auckland Count.il proposing tbo formation of a Municipal Aasocialion, and asking the Blenheim Council to elect a delegate. t was resolved that the letter be acknowledged. OAB RETORT. A letter was read from Messrs Sinclair and McCaUum with}reference to the substitution of a new gas retort in place of one that had been broken. RAILWAY REFORM.

The Secretary of the New Zealand Railway lltform League wrote asking the signatures of the Council to a petition to Parliament to test Mr Yai'e’a system. Ordered ‘-o rtind over.

I.ABO I ERS’ HOLIDAYS MrF. Ccs'elto wrote requestiog to be paid Wage* for a holiday, which bad been deducted from him. as be bad accepted wort during that day frrn another employer. Cr Clung objected to Corporation employes being paid for holidays when they received pay from other people. lie proposed that the action of the Clerk in withholding the pay should b-' support ed and that notice be riven the' if the Cmiio'a‘ion laborers ter k outside work on jil>)ith.va 'he pay wou rl be deducted t Cr Cook" t 1 ought : ‘here ought to be a m ain number oj holidays and ili-t the men should do as they 1 ked with them

C-'9 Hi'ey and McArtney agreed with ( f Coojie iltat in on s!'' ijld d" as they like I «jt 1) 1.1 eir holidays. Cr Sine! >ir was *(' the same opinion, and thought there s! ouhl he no such intct fcunce with liber y. After duenssioo Cr Chin', by lettTe, withdrew liL motion.

Cr Biby moved that the ttmount be paid. He thought that the number of holiday* should be fixed. Cr McArtney seconded tne motion, which was earned. . REMITTING bates. A request was made that the Council remit the rates of a widow with four children. On the motion of t r Ching, seconded by Cr McCartney, the matter was ordered to stand over, gas works purchase. Mr 11. Mclntyre, borough solicitor, j forwarded a draft deed of the purI chase of the gas works, approved [by the vendors. There was, however, I an objection to the words “all stock” 1 added to the enumeration of articles bought. Mr Riley said there were gas fittings which might be included in tbe words which the Council should not take over: A discussion on the matter was taken in committee, and it was generally agreed that the Council should not take over any articles except those specially mentioned' On the mof ion of the Mayor, seconded by Mr Ching, it was resoved to adopt the draught deed. GASWORKS LOAN. Messrs Holmes ami Bell * rote, stating that they had received a cable messagfrom their London house, stating that negotiations were still going on respecting raising the gas works loan of L 14,000. DRAINAGE. Cr Jellyinan complained that the East Ward had been charged with a large amount of mon y, which had been spent on drainage, partly for the benefit of the West Ward. His Worship thought that without rescinding a rcsolu ion of the Council all money spent within a ward must be charged to it. Mr Sinclair thought it would be unwise'to depart from the rule. His Worship said the discussion was irregular, ■end before bringing it up notice must be given to rescind the previous resolution. ACCOUNTS. Accounts wero passed for payment amounting to L 122 15s 7d. The claims were: M. Crook LI2, F. McHalc LlO 10s. S. Mahon LlO 10s, F. Costello LlO 6s 9d, W. Nosworthy Ll 5, W. J, Bassett L2 2s. Fell Brothers and Company L 3 19s, Gas Works Ll 3 4s 3d,'J. Salatnay L 5 ss, F. C. Litchfield LI 19s lid, B. S. Penney L 3 9s 6d, G. Nors ury LlO 6s 9d, F, 11. Pickering L 3 2s, J. Hornby 9s 2d, J. Lees L 5 18s, Printing, etc., Ll 4 4s 6d, Lie-nsing LI Is. HIGH STREET. Cr Cooke asked leave to move without notico that the Town Clerk prepare specifications and call for tenders for metalling High street from Market Square to the Omaka bridge. As there was an objection to that being done without notice, Cr Cooke gave notice for next meeting. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES On the motion of the Mayer without notice W. Nosworthy was appointed Inspector of Nuisances. BURGESS ROLL, The Burgess Roll, to which there wore no objections, was ordered to be certified and signed. GROVE ROAD. Cr Ching gave notice that he would move at the next meeting that sp. cifications be prepared and tenders called for metalling Grove Road. THE OVERDRAFT. A discussion took place in Committee, on a letter from Mr Fields, Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, who wrote, drawing attention to t lie state of the Corporation account, and requesting that the over-draft be reduced Since the special loan was raised, the general position of the Council had deteriorated /202. He asked that the situation might be brought seriously under the notice of the Council His Worship explained what the financial position of the Council was, He thought that the Council had been very economical lately, and had reduced the monthly expenditure to /179, while two years ago it was /305. He did not anticipate Mr Tildes' letter, though he did anticipate a little difficulty. He did not know whether they might strike a special charitable rate. Another way was to reduce expenditure by dismissing day laborers, and do all the work that was necessary by contract. Mr Sinclair thought that the latter plan would be the better, and that everything should be let by contract, Roads would have to be patched, and general economy practised till they reduced the overdraft.

Cr Cooke thought that the day labour ought to be reduced, The opinion of the people generally was that the Council could| get t etter value for their money if they did their work by tender. In other ways economy could t c effected. Cr Citing thought that they should take time to consider the matter.

Cr Cooke proposed that the Borough labourers be reduced to two, a month’s notice being given, and that all works costing over LlO be tendered for. Cr Riley said that such a reduction would only be a fleabite. • Cr Clung thought they should take a week to consider the matter, and moved that this business should be held over for a fortnight. Cr _ Cooke’s motion was postponed for that time. This was carried.

It was resolved, on the motion of Or Sinclair, that Mr Fields be written to to the effect that the Council would so manage its finances as to reduce the overdraft.