BLENHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 139, 18 June 1904, Page 4

BLENHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL

The fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. H. Macey), Councillors Penny, Carr, Ching, Priddle, James, White, Green, Canoliy and Shaw. Messrs J. B. Green and J. Conolly, the newly elected Councillors, made their declaration on taking their seat.

GENERAL.

H. Eccles applied for the statutory refund of rates on two sets of offices In High Street unoccupied for a period of six months.-A refund was granted in one case, and the other case, in which a portion of the bnilding »»ad been refund could legally be made under Committee drew the attention of the Council to the bad Itlte of the streets and footpaths in Vicinity of the schools.-The matter was referred to the Inspector. A request from the Fire Brigade that the top portion of the Grove Road bell tower be renewed was referred to the Inspector. Mrs Tnrnbull wrote calling attention to the footpath in front of her house in Maxwell Road.—The letter was referred to the Inspector with power to act. Mrs Brewer wrote asking that the bridge over a ditch in Eltham Road be attended to.—Matter referred to the Inspector with power to act. At the instance of Or White, the Inspector was instructed to asphalt the footpath from Alfred Street to John Street. R. MoArtney was granted a refund of rates on unoccupied shops in Grove Road. The Impomnder (J. C, Johnson) wrote again asking for compensation in con sideration of the fact that no pound was in existence for some time.—lt was stated that a new pound had been provided. —No action waa taken. The Borough Inspector reported that he had authorised Mr R. Simmonds. the contractor in the matter, to bill rabbits and fill in burrows in the Taylor River banking. Certain work in connection with, the new pound was authorised. The Engineer reported that the contractor had abandoned the work of cleaning ditches in the Borough.—lt was resolved that fresh tenders be invited. _ , ~, The trustees of the Church of the Nativity asked that a lamp be placed at the corner of Alfred and St. Andrew's Streets,—The request was referred to the Gas Committee, which has yet to make its report on the general system of street lighting. Permission was granted to the Bank of New South Wales to place an iron pipe at the approach to the rear of its premises in Charles Street to the satisfaction of tbe Inspector. The Health Officer forwarded recommendations with regard to an insanitary building.—lt was resolved to notify the owner accordingly. A communication was received from the Agricultural Department in reference to the Council's desire to have fennel (a weed growing profusely in the vicinity of the Opawa railway bridge) declared a noxious weed. The letter stated that the Department had already informed the Borough Council that fennel had been added to the second schedule of "The Noxious Weeds Act 1900," and that the Council could declare this growth a noxious weed within the Borough as provided under section 5 of the Act.—lt was remarked that it would be less expensive to have the fennel eradicated than to make a declaration in accordance with the forms of the Act; and a resolution was passed instructing the Inspector to cut down the growth. FOOTBALL AND ASTHETIOISM, The Rival Football Club asked for the use of the lighting in Seymour Square for a few nights a week, and promised that no damage would be done to the property. — Councillors White and Cbing oppo>ed any attempt being made to foster football at the expense of the public attractions of the town. Cr. Shaw suggested that a light be placed on the vacant reserve adjoining the Square for the purposes of. footballers. The Mayor remarked that gas lamps and football did not go well together A motion by Cr. Carr that the use of the reserve be offered to the footballers was carried. CO OPERATIVE DRAIN, Mr R. J. Bell wrote as to the necea sity of cleaning? out the Co-operative Drain below the white bridge, and asked the Councillors to mees the mem bers of the Omaka Road Board and property-owners and make a thorough inspection of the Drain. T«e Mayor explained that the Ooun oil had recbghised its liability as extending only to the white bridge. He was quite willing to have a general inspection, but he thought it would not be wise to accept any further liability. After discussion, it was resolved to reply that the Council would be willing to take part in a visit of inspection. THE RECLAMATION SCHEME. The Mayor reported that the survey plans of Collie's Hollow and Lock up Creek were about completed. He moved that a special meeting of the Council be held on Friday, the 24th instant, to pass a resolution by wayot * special order providing for the acquiring of C »llie's Hollow and Lock-up Creek under section 351 of the Munici 1 pal Corporations Act, 190i>, and any * amendments thereof, and the Public Works Act, 1894, and any amendments thereof, for the purpose of th<i improve tnent of these insanitary portions of the Borough. Cr Carr asked what the position was in regard to compensation. The Mayor said tliat a Compensation Court would be set; up if necessary; He did not think there would be any claims for compensation. Cr Oarr said that he himself would claim about £6000. The Mayor asked if Cr Carr had seen the plans. Cr Carr said that he had not. : Toe Mayor handed the plans to Cr Carr. The motion was carried. The Borough Engineer referred to the question of manufacturing concrete pipes for the reclamation of Collie's 3 Hollow and Lock~up Creek. It would i take some four months to manufacture the pipes, and the sooner the work was undertaken the better. He advocated day labor. The Mayor thought it would be unwise to make arrangements for the manufacture of pipes until tbe negotiations for the loan authorised for the * reclamation work had been completed. The question was held over. ' PROPOSED FOULTRY STATION. The Mayor reported on behalf of the Committee set up by the Council to examine the Taylor River reserve as the suggested site of the poultry station the Marlborough Poultry Association is asking the Government to > establish in this district. They found that the reserve would be useless for ' the purposes of a poultry station, and it would not be wise to offer it to the Government. _. ~ ,Cr Shaw moved that the Council recommend tlie Agricultural Department to send an expert to report oo a Bite.—Carried* OPAWA BAILWAY BRIDGE. The Mayor reported that he at" tended the sitting of the Government Commission which fixed the respective Interetts of the local bodi©» In the

maintenance of the Opawa railway and road bridge. The Picton K°a. d n Bo?™ strongly opposed their inclusion, but the Railway Department brought tor ward information collected by a m»n who was stationed at the bridge for a fortnight and took the names of all ; and the following allocation was made: _Snrine Creek Road Board, &<2O a year- Picton Road Board, £9 a year ; Blenheim Borough Council, £29 ayear. The Blenheim Council offered no objection.

COMMITTEES.

The following Committees were appointed for the year :—Works—Crs Ching, Carr, Green. Gas—Crs Priddle, White, Ohing. Literary Institute —Crs Oonolly, James, Green. Bylaws—Crs Conolly, Priddle, James,

Shaw. Sanitary and Abattoirs—Crs Shaw, Priddle, Penny. Finance—Crs Penny, Priddle, Conolly, White. Rivers—Crs Ching, James, Green, Heavy Haulage—The Mayor, Crs Conolly, Carr. Harbor Board—The Mayor, Crs Ching, Penny. The Mayor to be ex officio member of each Committee ; first-named Councillor in each case to be Chairman of the Committee, except the Heavy Haulage and Harbor Committee, of which the Mayor is Chairman.

SANITARY.

A report was received from the Sanitary Inspector, Mr Johnston. No infectious diseases were reported during the month of May. A number of nuis mces had been abated He pre rented details of a house to house inspection in the inner atea. The report was referred to the Sanitary Committee.

THE GASWORKS.

The Borough Engineer reported that plans for the new office at the Gasworks were being completed. Before calling for tenders he would ask the Council to consider the financial position of the Gasworks, which was entirely different at the present time to what it was when the plans were ordered. He coal > not see how the Council was justified in erecting offices to cost, say, £135 and at the same time refnse provision for the extension of the mains. The position had also been altered by the return to the Gasworks Account of the £4000 transferred some years ago to the General Account. This trans action had not been effected when tbe plans for new offices were ordered. He suggested that £10 spent on the old office would be sufficient under existing conditions.

Or. White urged that the first consideration was the extension of mains for fresh business.

Or. Priddle said that it was the appointment of a clerk that enabled the Worka to make their recovery, and proper accommodation should be made for that official. Referring to the finances, he quoted figures showing that on the last two months' business a profit of £79 had been made. He anticipated that after the erection of new offices the Works would be able to provide for the gradual extension of the mains. The Mayor and other Councillors thought that new offices should be erected for not only bhe'convenienee of the Gas Clerk, but also that of the Borough Engineer. „. # Cr. Conolly moved and Cr. White seconded that the work of erecting offices be proceeded with, half the cost to be borne by the General Account and half by the Gas Account Cr. Penny moved an amendment and Cr. Ching seconded that the whole cost of tie work be borne by the Gas Account. The amendment was lost on the following division :—Ayes, Crs. Penny, Carr, Ching. Noes: Crs, James, White, Conolly, Green, Shaw, Priddle, and the Mayor. Cr. Ching moved a further amend ment that, in view of the state of the roads, the erection of new offices be deferred.

The amendment was lost, and the original motion was carried, Crs. Ching and Carr voting against it.

THE NEW KATE.

The Town Clerk explained that, owing: to the revision of the valuation figures, it had been necessary to revise the estimates of the current year's requirements. A rate of 2£d on the un improved value would be required to bring in £1604. A resolution waa passed providing for the levying of a general rate of 2M.