MEETING ON TUESDAY LAST.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 105, 29 February 1868, Page 4

MEETING ON TUESDAY LAST.

On Tuesday last, a partial distribution of an anonymous circular was made, requesting the Householders of Blenheim to assemble at the School-room at half-past Seven o’clock that evening, for the purpose of considering the Municipal Corporations Act prior to the public meeting called for the following night. Although uninvited in common with many others, when we heard the School-bell ringing somewhat wildly, we set out, wet as it was, to see and hear what was going on. At the school-house we found eighteen persons present, but until eight o’clock no business was attempted, a mild kind of merriment being kept up by means of a slate which was handed round the room with playful and suggestive sentences written thereon, as, “Will you preside T &c. At the hour named, Mr. Millington accepted the situation, and briefly stated as per circular. A silence for other twenty minutes followed, and at length

Mr. Sinclair rose and said he had received a circular like the rest, requesting him to attend this meeting, and he thought it a very wise step. He had prepared a few remarks, which he would read to them. He had also with him the very able articles which had appeared in the local papers, which he would read if desired, also the Act itself. He would not give them the speech he intended for the following night, but he would refer to the various clauses, and make a running comment upon them. After referring to the weather, and the consequent small attendance, he stated that he regretted the unpleasantness that had existed in reference to the so-called Board, but he trusted they would not permit any man to be over-ridden by them, although he contended there was no such thing as a Board in existence. After some further similar remarks, Mr. James T. Robinson requested that as no person connected with the Board was present, or had received circulars inviting them to attend, that the speaker should refrain from making such remarks.

/ Mr. Sinclair was speaking about the Act and would not be put down by any interruption, he was not aware but that circulars had been sent to everyone ; they were addressed to the householders. The Literary /Institute had dwindled down to nothing, in /consequence of the determination of parties to have their own way in everything. He had procured them the best site in town, from Mi-. Fell, notwithstanding which, it was a failux-e. However, he wished to drop all ill-feeling, and commence entirely afresh. He referred to the Validation Act, and said that protected his interests, that it was a special Act of Parliament for

his benefit, and he would have no rates to pay for the next three years. He might have brought a bill against the Board for £l5O, damage done to 30 of his sections, by cutting the ditch in Aucldand-street, but it vvas no use to do so. There was his costs in the late trials brought by the Board to compel him to pay unjustly. They wanted the old Board to merge into the Council, in order that their debts and liabilities might be taken up by it, but they would not allow this. If there was any just debts owing they would consider them, and perhaps pay them, but not the costs alluded to. They had been told at the late meeting that 50 names were required, provided it was done through the old Board, but he could tell them it was unnecessary. The speaker also referred to the boundaries of the town, which were fixed in the present unsatisfactory manner by a political party, for the purpose of affecting the election of members of the Provincial Council in favour of the Picton paily, and should be altered in any future Act, and the land in Maxwell Hoad should be taken in. He urged the importance of wards as a necessary feature in any future scheme for the town. The Council would require to be nine in number; there were only two of the so-called Board who had been duly elected, and as five was a quorum under the Act, there was not a sufficient number to initiate it. He then spoke of an Ulster Act, which would enable him to oust the other three members, should they attempt to act, by virtue of which he had only to make an affidavit, and it would be for them to prove they were duly elected. The roll for the election of councillors was provided for a new beginning, and every person on the Electoral 801 l could vote. He had been challenged about his statement as to the number of paid officers required under the Act, but he had counted them and found there were 14. First there was the Mayor and Councillors Mr. James T. Kobinson objected to this as incorrect, as he believed the Act strictly prohibited their payment, but was not able at the moment to find the clause. Mr. John Smith Carroll was of the same opinion.

Mr. Sinclair continued to enumerate the officers ; there was a mayor, town clerk, treasurer, collector, surveyor, two valuers, manager of roads, inspector of roads, inspector of fires, inspector of nuisances assessors, auditois, and valuers, (Inter - ruption.) The Mayor must be a man of education and attainments to sit on the bench and hold his court; but the town clerk, who would be really the judge in all cases, must be a trained man, possessing legal knowledge. Mr. Robinson objected that there was nothing in the Act stating that the Mayor would be empowered to hold courts, and that it was a mei'e assumption on the part of the speaker. Mr. Sinclair was understood to say that there was nothing in the Act forbidding them from holding a court, and consequently they would do as in other places, where there was a Mayor’s Court, and the fees and fines went to the credit of the borough funds. It was so in Dunedin, where there had been litigation, and referred to Mr. Johnson for corroboration. Mr. Johnson said the case of Dunedin was not analagous, as it had a special Act of Incorporation, and was not established under the Municipal Corporations Act.

Mr. Sinclair said the fees and fines of the Mayor’s Court would leave little after paying expenses. Tolls might be levied as a source of revenue, but he objected to them, as also to pounds within the boundaries of a town, it was very severe, as impounded cattle might be sold after 24 hours’ notice ; it restricted killing of cattle in towns, and the keeping of pigs; other provisions compelled every householder to keep a 50-gallon tank full of water upon his premises in case of fire, compelled them to keep the wharfs in order 1 , as well as the bridges, &c. He was in favour of the Act in preference to its becoming simply a road district, which he believed would be more expensive ; he urged that the town should be made more compact, and then only to have the streets to keep in repair, leaving the main trunk line to the care of the Government. Let all the past bitterness be done away with ; as he had before said, it required five to form a quorum, while there was only two qualified members, as there was no Act between the Judges’ decision and November, when the Validation Act came in force. He would oust the other three. The Board had never been of any service; the first clerk got £BO for the first two years’ services, doing very little in return. They would be fools to sign any petition which would cause them to assume the debts and liabilities. It would take

three years to clear him alone. He would undertake to assume all fair liabilities, and would insist on three wards. He urged that no rash action should be taken for some time—say four or five months—as when the Assembly met, the Act would possibly be amended. In reply to Mr. W. Parker, he said the meaning of clause 390, making it possible for any complete part or parts of the Act to be adopted by any town was very obscure, but he believed it applied to the union of boroughs in some way.

Mr. James T. Bobinson said no such thing as a Mayor’s Court was provided in the Act, the Mayor would be a J.P., and as such could sit on the bench. The cisterns and other bye-laws could be adopted or not as seen fit. As to the clerk’s salary, it was less now than it was in Mr. Sinclair’s time when chairman of the Board.

Mr. Sinclair said, if elected, he would serve as a simple councillor, but he would pledge himself not to accept any office whatever —from mayor down to inspector of nuisances. Mr. Bomford said the Board should resign.

Mr. Silvius wished to know if the Board claimed to form the new council.

Mr. Sinclair said the Board ought to be convinced that it was no good being obstructive. At this stage —it being half-past ten o’clock—the meeting dissolved without having come to any resolution.