Blenheim Borough Council.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 235, 11 June 1870, Page 4

Blenheim Borough Council.

TUESDAY, JUNE 7, IS7O.

The ordinary meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday last. Present : The Mayor in the chair; Crs. Robinson, Sinclair, Hutcheson, Litchfield, Farmar, and Nosworthy. The minutes having been read and passed, a letter from Mr John T. Robinson, M.P.C. for Blenheim, was read by the Mayor, and laid on the table, with reference to the late unsucces»ful attempt to prevent the charge of the various bridges being placed on the town ; also from C. and T. Davies, and others, relative to the state of Auckland-street; from Mr C. Henderson, relative to a refund of rates paid in 18R7 ; and from Edwards and Co., relative to a fire-engine, which, they stated, had been applied for and sent to Lyttelton. Cr. Nosworthy moved that the Council now proceed to levy a rate for the year ending March, 1871, and that such rate be 12d. in the pound. The subject having been entertained before, it needed no explanation. Cr. Robinson seconded, and the motion was carried. Cr. Robinson moved that the salary of the Inspector of Nuisances be £5 per annum, and that the office be advertised for. Carried. Cr, Farmar moved that the motion of 6th September be rescinded, and that £3O be paid to Jellyman for that work. He remarked that the work was substantial, and had stood the test of floods. Cr. Sinclair seconded, and stated that he had been in favor of this for some time. The Mayor, being interested, was unable to vote on this subject. Cr. Robinson would not support it, having heard that an interested party had threatened to destroy the bank. Were it placed under the control of the Council he would support a vote for a less sura. Cr. Litchfield considered the work of such importance that he could not believe anyone would injure it; and he supported the motion because Jellyman deserved it. Cr. Hutcheson was of a similar opinion. It transpired at this stage that no less than four of the Councillors were in the same position as the Mayor. Cr. Sinclair moved an amendment for a sum of .£29 10s., in order to express an opinion that a quorum could pass the motion, did the interested ones absent themselves. I The Mayor suggested the postponement of the /motion to next meeting, I Cr. Farmer then showed that the question Icould not be entertained unless brought forward twhen a larger number could vote than when last (before the Council, as it was a motion to rescind fa former one. ' The question then lapsed, i Cr. Robinson withdrew his motion relative to jßomford’s Bank. a; I Cr. Sinclair stated that it would be brought on again. ’ . . . . The letter of residents in Auckland-strect Was then read, and the subject referred to the Inspector of Works to report thereon. In respect to the letter from N. Edwards and Co., Cr. Hutcheson said he believed the New Zealand Insurance Co., for which he was agent, had an engine, which might be procured. It was then resolved that the letter referred to should be sent to the agents of the Northern and New Zealand Companies,, in order that they might communicate with their principals. The letter of Mr Robinson, as M.P.C. for Blenheim, having been read, the Mayor considered the subject one of vital importance, and suggested that the thanks of the Couiicil should be given to the writer. Cr. Sinclair then moved that the thanks of this Council be given to J. T. Robinson, Esq., the member for the Borough of Blenheim, for urging the claims of the town in his place in the

Provincial Council; and for drawing their attention to the manner in which it sought to burden the town with the bridges. The motion was carried unanimously. Cr. Litchfield suggested the immediate consideration of the bridge question, as the Council was yet sitting; he thought the proceeds of the publicans’ licenses might be got for the town, instead of being devoted to Education. Cr. Robinson also objected to Education being supported from publicans’ licenses, as it was open to a slur that children should be educated by drunkenness ; and thought it was drunken men who wanted good roads. The Mayor approved of going into the matter to-night, and suggested a deputation being appointed to wait on the Superintendent at once. The Mayor and Crs. Hutcheson and Litchfield were then appointed, and requested to impress on the Government the total impossibility of our rates bearing the strain of the maintenance of bridges in the borough; to report to an adjourned meeting on Thursday. The consideration of Mr Henderson’s letter was deferred to next meeting. On the motion of Cr. Nosworthy, the Inspector of Works was instructed to prepare specifications fnnJHpby’s drain. On thfTmbtion of Cr. Robinson, the Inspector was instructed to report on Mr Litchfield’s verandah. Also to report on the most necessary works of the town, and furnish an estimate of their probable cost. It was then decided that the meetings of the Council should be held, till further notice, on the first and third Tuesdays in the month, at 7 n.m.