BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XVI, Issue 155, 6 July 1881, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Borough Council met Jast evening. Present : The Mayor (Mr Farmar), and Councillors Sinclair, Houldaworth, Riley, Litchfield, Wemyas. Rogers, and Jas. Robinson.

Tenderß were opened for metalling Southstreet, and that of John Burton, at 16s per chain accepted. Four tenders were received for the supply of eight iron lampposts, and that of Mr Fairweather at £5 each accepted. Cr Robinson moved and Cr Litchfield seconded that Mr Fairweather be inatracted to supply four more lamps. Cr Honldsworth did not think that having called for tenders for ODly eight lamps, they had a right to order twelve lamps without previously calling for tenders foe that number. He did not object to having twelve lamps, ia fact he was favourable to the proposal. The motion was carried.

A telegram was received from Mr Stephen Hntcheaon stating that gasworks would be shortly commenced and the gasworks completed some months before the term allowed him by tl - e Conucil would expire, Chapman and Strode wrote as follows :— "VV9 are instructed by Mr S. S. Hutchesou to communicate with you on the subject of his gas contract with the Town of Blenheim. Mr Hutcheson has heard that a Company is now m course of formation, having for its object the supply of gas to the town. In order that the Council may nut ba placed m a false position, Mr Hutcheson instructs us to say that the whole of the plant and material for the Blenheim pfmvnrks has been ordered, and that part ■■! a s now lying m Dunedin. The me™ wsfrnotion of the works and laying of thw ii.iiba i a m.'tter of a few weeks, and Mr Hutcheton can, on arrival of the whole of his plant, complete the works long before his contract time has expired. The real cause of the delay which has occurred, is the faot the Council did not return 'lie ('raft nsreement to Mr Hutcheson for some iuui..ks „'tor ifc was forwarded.

Mr Hutcheson intends to be m Blenheim m a few daya, when he will, if necessary, appear before the Council, and verify the state meats now made.

Mr Hutcheson, we may say, lias no intention of abanding his contract with the Council, and should there be any infringement of his rights, he must enforce them m the usual manner."

It was resolved to let the consideration of these letters stand over till next meeting, Tht Mayor stated, m reply to Cr Houldsworth, that Mr Hutoheson's agreement was that the works were to he commenced before July Ist, 1881. He pointed out that the work neei not necessarily be commenced here.

Cr Werryss remarked that the manufacture of piles for a building was deemed a commencement of the construction of building.

iVli T. 11. Huslwick wrote drawing attention

to the state of the drains m Wynen-street, near hi* premises, and requesting the Council ) to remove the nuisance there existing. Cr Houldsworth said that it would take very little trouble to carry off the water m the hollow complained of by Mr Hustwick. He moved that the Inspector of Works lie instructed to have the water tables cleaned out on the north side of Wynen-street. The motion was put and carried. Edward Oliver, Manager of the Marlborough Gas Company, wrote applying for permission to open up the streets of the Borough for the purpose of laying down gas pipes. It was resolved to defer the consideration of this communication till next meeting. A trade circular was received from the Brush Electrick Light Company. Cr Houldsworth moved that Sutherland Terrace be formed and metalled. The street m question was almost impassable, m bad weather. Cr Rogers seconded the motion, considering the work was necessary. The motion was put and carried. Cr Litchfield moved that tenders be 'called for filling up the Arthur-street ditch, from Percy-street to the western end. Cr Houldsworth seconded. He was astonished that action had not been taken m the matter earlier. Why the ditch had been made there originally he could not conceive. The Mayor was under the impression that the ditch was cut m order to form the bank which was erected alongside it as a protection I agatnst the Taylor overflows. The Mayor movei that a rate of Is be levied from ths Ist April, 1881, to 31st March, 1882, to be payable on lit August next. Cr Houldsworth seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr Houldsworth presented a petition from ratepayers m Park Terrace and Main-street praying tbe Council to take measures for the proper drainage of Main-street. He moved that the prayer of the petitioners be acceded to, and tenders called for the necessary works. Cr Kpgeis seconded the motion. Cr litchfield opposed it. Cr Wemyss moved as an amendment that the Inspector of Works report on the matter at next meeting. Cr Parker seconded the amendment. A division took place on the amendment. The ayes were (4) Crs Robinson, Parker, Litchfield, and Wemyss ; and tbe noes (4) the Mayor, Crs Houldsworth, Riley, and Rogers. Cr Sinclair declined to rote, as the works might have a tendency to affect property belonging to his brother, Mr James Sinclair. The Mayor gave his casting vote with the noe.», Cr Litchfield moved as a further amendment that Stuart-street and Keith-street be formed from Main-street to Kiuross-street. Tbe motion was seconded and carried. The Inspector of Works was instructed to fill up a hole m the road on the other side of Nelson-street bridge. The following accounts were passed for payment :— W. Compton £3 2s 6d, J. Turner £2 19a, Mahon £9 2a, Earll and McKenzie £9 19a, Crook £10. Leary £7 16s, Town Clerk £25, Inspector of Works £18 15s, Returning Officer £1 Is, Inspector of .Nuisances L5. The following notices of motion for next meeting were given : —

Cr LitchSeld : That tenders be called for raising Maxwell Road from the Masonic Hotel to the Maxwell Bridge ; also Charles-street from Maxwell Road to Riley's stables. Cr Litchfield : That specifications be prepared and tenders called for extending the culvert at the junction of Whitney-street and Maxwell Road to the full width of Whitneystreet.

The Council then adjourned,