BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIX, Issue 180, 22 July 1893, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

♦ ■ At a special meeting of the Borough Council held yesterday, there wera present ! Crs Byan. MoArtney, Dnnckley. Smale and Horton (chair). The first business was the consideration of the Arbor Day question, and on the motion of Cr MoArtney, seconded by Cr Horton, it was agreed to make Arbor Day a public holiday, complete the planting of Seymour Square, and invite donations. _ ' Ia seconding the motien, Cr Horton said that he thought it wouli be advisable to inaugurate a scheme for planting the hospital grounds, and co relieve them from their present cheerless aspect. MAXWELL BOAD. The Inspector of Works reported on Mr Leake's contract for Maxwell Boad, and was adverse to paying £30 on the contract, as voted by the Council. Cr MoArtney said that ha had asked the Town Clerk to include this matter m the epsei&l business of the day. It seemed clear thafc the contractor coali not possibly make his money at the rate he bad contracted for, and as it was a pity to see a bard working man bo placed, he suggested that he should be paid for what he had done. Cr Emale moved that be be paid at contract price, bat he considered that paying Is 6d m place of 9d as contracted for was too much. Cr Byan seconded, and said that the work was being carried out m an unsatisfactory manner. There hai been an error of judgment, and he would like to see the deposit (£7) returned. Cr Dunckley thought lbs contractor and Council were both to blame, but the ratepayers did not wish the Council to turn sweaters. He knew that the contractor bad attended to the water tables which ware an addition to bis work. He thought that Is 3d might be voted. The Inspector did not want the roads let m this way, as he could do it m his own way and more cheaply than under this Bjstem. He moved that Leaks be returned his deposit of £7 and la 3d per yard be paid, with a small extra for the water tables. Cr Horton seconded the amendment. The contract had been a misconception from the start. Ha had moved a resolution , and bis idea had been that the contractor should be allowed to bring the road up to the state of formation tha Inspector wished, but the Inspector had a different idea, and wanted to bring the road up to one stage at one leap. It was well known that out of the borough the roads war* m a firet class condition, and they wars worked on the principle ha proposed. The most glaring holes were to have been filled up, but this unfortunate man bad had to put on from 13 inches to two feet, and the vehicles weuld not uss tbe ore wa of the road, thus rendering it absolutely worse than when the man took th« contract. As far as the man was concerned he had made an honest attempt to carry out his duty, and he had pitied the man foi the stupidity of tha way the thing had been directed. Tho Inspector wished to put tha road m proper order, but his notion iraa not a proper one. He suggested that a specific Burn (£35) and his deposit returned, should be voted. Cr Byan seconded Cr McAttney said that it was tha fault of the contractor that he had not any systematic way ever since he had had the contract. No work had been done on Maxwell road for nearly tea years and the plan the contractor had adopted was quite wrong. He would however support the amendment. Cr Smale withdraw his motion and the amendment was carried. POSTPONEHEHT. Tha ordinary meeting of the Counoil falling on Arbor day it was resolved to hold it on the following Tuesday. Tha Council then adjourned.