BOROUGH COUNCIL

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 20902, 21 May 1887, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of tlr: Borough Council was held yesterday evening, when there were pres nt—His Worship the Mayor, Css Jellynaan, McArtney, Riley, Cbing, Hoiiklsworth, (. ooke, and Bytheli. charitable aid. An application for charitable aid was referral to the Hospital and Cham J-!.-. Aid Board.

THE QUEBNS JUBILEE. Several letters were received on the subject of the Queen’s Jubilee. The Picton Town Clerk forwarded a resolution of the Picton Borough Council not to celebrate the Jubilee. Mr John Anderson wrote, stati g terms on which he would erect ornamental lamp-post*. It was resolved to inform Mr Anderson that there was no intention to erect such lamp-posts at present BY-LAWS. I he Mayor moved that the now bylawn be adopted. It was resolved to consider them seriatim. Cr Kiley moved the omission of the new by-law relating to the depositing of rubbish. aB there was already enough protection under the Police Offences Act and the old by-law. Cr McArtney seconded the motion It was agreed that the old by-law, No, 0, should remain unaltered. Cr Riley objected to the new clause, No. 32, against throwing offensive matter into waters within the Borough, or drowning animals in them, This was also dealt with by the Police Offences Act

Hie Worship said that these and other amendments were proposed by Cr Parker, and he regretted he was not present. Cr Riley moved that the original clause 32 remain unaltered.

This was seconded by Cr McArtney and carried. On clause 61, prohibiting the planting of gorse hedges and the erection of brush fences within the Poromdi, Cr Riley said that he thought the old c'ause was sufficient prohibiting ttiem within the inner area. The Mayor moved the adoption of the new clause.

( r Cooke said that he and many • tlier people thought that the planting of poplars ought also to be prohibited witliiu the town. He had been asked to move in the matter. Gorse fences were very dangerous, and even when well trimmed burned freely, and he thought the new clause necessary. Cr Ching thought that the adoption of the clause against gorse in the Borough, would eau-e gieat hardship to many people who had good gorse fences on the outskirts of the town.

Cr ilouldsworth thought it would be sufficient if in the future the planting of gorse fences wore prohibited. Ci -McArtney supported the amended by-law. On the motion of Cr Riley the new clause was struck out

Cr Riley moved the omission of clause 03, relating to the trimming of live fences in November and March, and charging the cost of doing so to the occupiers in ease of failure on their part to do so. He thought it unnecessary, as under the presi nt law offenders could he prosecuted. The Mayor said that quite lately the Town Clerk had been obliged to have a fence trimmed and was unable to recover the cost.

Cr Jellyman objected to fixing particular times for trimming hedges as the season might not bo the right one. The new clause was struck out on Cr Riley’s motion. Cr Riley moved that the now clause No. 97, increasing the minimum amount of kerosene which might he kept in an unlicensed building in the Borough from 24 gallons to 160, and of gunpowder from olbs to 251bs, he struck out. He spoke strongly against increasing in any way the risk of fire.

Cr Cooke supported the now clause and said that storekeepers suffered great inconvenience from tlie present limitation of the amount of kerosence which they might keep on their promises. Cr Riley pointed out that all storekeepers need do was to take out a license and then they might keep kerosene in any quantity. The now clause No. 97 was struck out and the original one of that number left. Cr Riley moved the omission of a new by-law relating to the regulation of closets in the inner area as unnecessary. The present section 102, he thought, was sufficient to work with.

Cr Houldsworth supported the new by-law. "The Mayor said that further regulation was quite necessary, as in some parts of the inner area a very bad state of a ffairs existed. A stricter system was necessary for the health of the town

Crs Cooke and Ching also supported the new by-law, which was adopted, Cr Riley’s motion being lost on the voices.

Mr Earl], who was present, was given permission to address the Council on the subject of the proposed by-laws on licensing hackney carriages. His Worship said he was very sorry that Cr Parker, who proposed the new regulations, was not present. Mr Earll said that he had been in the Council for six years, and had found Mr Parker very much more ready to propose motions than to come down and support them. He maintained that such regulations as those proposed were quite premature here. They were very suitable for a large town, where people did not know their drivers. Such regulations were not supposed to be imposed for revenue purposes, but for the protection of the publfc. There was little cab traffic at present, and the result of the proposed licensing system would be to the detriment of the public. It woul I not pay a livery-stable keeper to keep a man to do nothing but drive, nor could they pay the license fees for all their vehicles. If the system was introduced, he thought that the charges allowed in Wellington, which were much higher than those in Blenheim, might be allowed. The proposal was an injurious one to the livery-stable keepers, and of no benefit to the public. His Worship moved the adoption of the by-laws. Cr Citing seconded the motion. On thp question being put, the first clause relating to the licensing of hackney carriages was struck out. The others were not put. On the motion of the Mayor the bylaws, as amended, were adopted. SUBSIDIES TO BE CLAIMED, It was resolved that the quarterly payment of L 57 18s be paid to the Hospital Board in order to enable the Board to claim the subsidy. It was also resolved that Lo be paid out of petty cash to enable the < lerk to issue summonses for overdue rates, so that the Council might claim as large a subsidy as possible. I’OL’CE PROTECTION'. Cr Riley moved a resolution that the Commissioner of police be applied to to station, another constable in Blenheim, as the present staff was inadequate for the work of continuously watching the town. Mr Houldsworth seconded the motion which was carried. lITUJI .STREET, Os' Cooke moved that tenders be called ; and specifications be prepared for metal- j ling High street from the Omaha bridge j to Market Place. ~ i The Mayor asked Cr Cooke to with- j draw the resolution as the Corporation ! laborers had been instructed to effect ro- I purs. I Cr Cooke said that? lie would like to • oblige lIL. ’Yoroldp, but Lo did not on ’ Ids way to accede to Lis icq met. The work which he asked for Was a very, i Jjejt-aary one Br.Zng the recent vet vert her the street \vn . hr n very bail state. It was a main thoroughfare, and : link.'--, it war* metalled they wcuM,before lon , see vehicles sticking in it. He hot been reproecited by many people with the state of the fcttect and he considered its repair a most desirable work Cr’Riley supported the motion.

The Mayor admitted that the street in question was in a very bad state, buj two carts would he employed in repairs. They must remember their banker’s letter requesting them to reduce their overdraft. In the; circumstances anything like a large contract would be inadvisable. Cr Jellyman said that he thought it would be prudent to let a contract for repairing eight or ten chains of the street near Mr Mclntyre’s, which the Corporation drays could not overtake. The rest might be done by the drays. Cr McArtney admitted that High street was in a worse state than any other street in the town, but in the face of the Bank Manager’s letter he must decline to vote against fresh contracts till the overdraft was reduced. Cr Ching agreed that in present circumstances it woidd be wise for the present to refrain from letting contracts. He would ask leave to withdraw a motion of which he had given notice for the metalling of Grove-road. The motion was lost by four votes to three. NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr McArtney gave notice that he woidd move at next meeting that plans be prepared and tenders called for the erection of a new bridge over the Omaka in Alfredstreet.