Blenheim Borough Council.

Marlborough Express, Volume VI, Issue 296, 10 June 1871, Page 7

Blenheim Borough Council.

The Council met on Tuesday evening, when were present—His Worship the Mayor, Olrs Robinson, Hutcheson, Taylor, Hodson, and Nos worthy. Letters were read from Messrs Rae, Spencer, and Hodson ; also an account from Mr Gome.:

Inspector of Works —Mr Rae reminded the Council that he had some time ago. called their attention to the smallness of his salary, and as it had not elicited any response be tendered his resignation. The Mayor reminded the Council that the Inspector had aslied for an advance some time ago, and lie how coupled with it his resignation. He now moved its acceptance at the end of the current quarter. The motion was carried without comment.

Grove Road Contract. —Mr Spencer, the contractor, applied tor an advance on account of this contract. In answer to the Mayor, the Town Clerk stated that he had rece ved about £35 of the money. —Cr Robinson moved that he receive an advance of j£2o, which was seconded by Cr Taylor.—Cr Nos worthy complained of the delay in completing the Work under this contract, and requested that the Town Clerk would ascertain when it would be finished, as it was already two months over the time allowed. The motion was then carried.

Paving Footpath. —Cr Hudson applied for leave to pave the footpath opposite his shop with bricks—Cr Robinson moved that leave be given under the inspection of the proper officer, he having noticed that in Nelson it was the general practice in front of butcher’s shops, enabling them to wash and clean out their shops more frequently.—Cr Nos worthy seconded the motion.—The Mayor recomm'ended the use of cement instead of bricks, as being better, cheaper, and more durable; haying the intention of doing his own footpath, with it, and had long used it. for his brewery floors. He added that lie knew of no bettor material for mixing with it than the silt to be found in this locality; —Cr Hodson would be glad to take the subject into consideration, and would visit the brewery and sec the floors spoken of. Carried.

Accounts. —Mr Gome sent in his account for repairing flooring and footpath on the Omaka bridge • also for preparing the valuation.—The Mayor said the first part of the account was work authorised by him to be done when there was no other means of getting it done. He proposed to' pay it without in any way interfering with the duties of the Government relative thereto, especially now that they had taken the bridge off our hands. As to the valuation it was not completed, as there was' some forms to be complied with, and the appeals to be dealt with ; further it had always been an understanding that it should be paid out of the current rates. The motion was carried.

Cattle Trespassing. —The Mayor reported that the bye-laws relative to the trespassing of cattle on the streets of the town, and the licensing of slaughter-houses,* had been gazetted, and had now the full force of law in the Borough.—Or Robinson asked what form would have to be gone’ through in case of animals found straying in the streets. In Nelson the police summoned the owners where known, and in other cases impounded the cattle.—The' Mayor thought that for the present it was 1 not desirable for the Council to interfere,’ especially as they had no pound of their own, but of course private persons might set the law in motion whenever they saw fit.—Or Hudson thought there should be as little delay as possible in enforcing: the bye-law, as the cattle were doing grea injury to the ditches, and it was no use trying to clean them out, therefore their overflowing was damaging to the roads.’ He would not, however, object to a fortnight’s delay.—- Or Nos worthy recommended that public notice should be given by advertisement that the regulations were in force.-—The Mayor ordered this to be done.

The Assessment. —The Mayor pointed out that at their last meeting the Council adjourned without the Committee reporting, consequently the motion lapsed* and as ho fresh notice had been given it was not competent to resume their consideration that night. He recommended chat a Select Committee should be appointed to 5 go over the assessment, and report to an early meeting of the Council, thus avoiding the recurrence ,of the unpleasantness"' of a former meeting. Such Committee" could have the services both of the Town Clerk and the Valuer.-—Cr Hutcheson thought it should be a large committee,' but a small one would do very well if the" officers named were present.—-Cr Robinson* said he would object to either being there"' except for purposes of reference, bub not' bn the Committee. He' then proposed as* a'Committee, Crs IST os worthy, M ‘Lauchlan/ Far mar, the" Mayor, and the mover 1 / as a" Select Committee to revise the assessment/ and to report to an adjourned meeting.—• Gr Hutcheson seconded, and' it?' w?Jp’ darriedr

Maxwell Road. —Cr Hos worthy moved that the Council go into Committee on the specifications for the Maxwell Road Contract, the Mayor in the chair.—The Mayor said although the system had not Worked well in the past, yet it would be ■well to do something temporarily at this toad, which was getting very bad at places, by putting down a few loads on the worst places.—Cr Hodson objected to patching the road, which did very little good, if it Was likely to have something done shortly. More efficient drainage was necessary to prevent the water lodging on and destroying the roads.—The Council then went into Committee, and considered the various clauses, after which it adjourned till Tuesday evening next.