BLENHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 169, 18 July 1908, Page 5

BLENHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Blenheim Borough Council was held last evening. There were " present: The Mayor (Mr A. McCalluirt), Councillors Ching, Carr, Birch, Macey, Patchett, Brown, McKinley, White.

WATER TANK

Councillor Carr's notice of motion, given at last meeting, "That a 3000----gallon water tank be erected at the gas works, with mains along Wynen Street to Market Place, to supply the water-cart," was provocative of considerable discussion, a suggestion being made that he alter the motion referring the matter to a^committee.

i Councillor McKihley suggested that he leave the matter over till next 1 meeting, and bring down an estimate' iof. the cost. s, ' . Councillor Carr was at >jfirst not I willing to do this, but afterwards he i nominated Councillors Brown, Birch, and himself as a committee to-con-sider the question and report as soon pas possible. ~\ I s WIDENING HIGH STREET.

Councillor McKinley's notice of motion in respect \to the widening of High Street came up for consideration.

The Town Clerk-read a legal opinion from Mr Martin in respect to the Council's powers in the matter, stating that the Council had power to legally widen or diminish the size of a footpath, and that powers capable of being exercised from time to time might be so exercised.

,A committee was set ut> fro apwroaolj tie property-owners iii High Street in regard tfr tie ''matter.

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION

A memo.' was received ir%i the Municipal Association , of Netif Zealand asking the Council to send^delegates to the annual meeting which would be held on 3rd August next at Wellington.—Received. - ; The Omaka Road Board wrote calling the attention of the Council to the number of small birds within -the Borough, and asking them to take steps to destroy1! them;— Received. A BOROUGH INSPECTION. Several residents of Nelson Street west wrote drawing the - attention of the Council to the footpath and watertables in that part of the Borough, and asking the Council to make ! a decent footpath and clean the watertables. •' It was resolved that the Councillors make a tour of the Borough,, to investigate places where repairs wer,e necessary ;' the time fixed was 2 p.m. on Wednesday next.' - PUBLIC WEIGHBRIDGE. A letter was received from the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, asking to be , advised as' to the present position with regard to the subject of a public weighbridge. They wefce aware that?-the matter had vbeen before the Council before. ', - '. ■ The Marijborou'gh Farmers' Union also^wrote asking the Council to provide.a public weighbridge^ as< they were of opinion that it would Tbe selfsupporting, and. they strongly urged on the Council to supply one. Councillor Macey said that there' had been a negotiation to purchase a weighbridge some time ago, but,ffo r tunately for the Council, he considered, nothing had been done definitely. He had heard from men who ought to know, that it would be a very bad "spec" for the Council. The Mayor agreed with this view. • Councillor Carr .said that if the bodies requiring the bridge would supply it the* Council would stamp the tickets. That would mean that1 the Council would give its sanction to the scheme. ■ \ Councillor Ching said that the would be of no great "benefit to the ratepayers. \But if the mercantile people wanted a weighbridge, let them put one up and pay a man, and he would be under the control of the Council. They would lose half the man's wages by the scheme. What were a few loads "of stuff at 4d a load?. . The. Mayor moved that the Chamber of Commerce be written to and informed that no action had yet, been taken, but if they could show itwoujd' be no burden on' the' ratepayers the Council would further, consider the question. OVERFLOW WATER. Mr and Mrs Falkner wrote drawing the Council's attention to the water lying on (their property in 'Munro Street, from the overflow of the Corporation Drain.—Resolved, to inspect. i > LEITRIM STREET. Messrs McLauchlan and Co., wrote requesting the Council to take over Leitrim Street, as it had now been completed to the Foreman's satisfaction.—The taking over of the road was held over for the time being. , v TAYLORRIVER. Mr ; D. Broughan wrote drawing the attention of the Council to the state of the Taylor River on the western bank. The protection had been washed away, and under present conditions whenever a fresh came the water came in at that point to the great danger of his property. He wished to point out that a few years ago the Council > acquired 16 acres of land on the understanding that both sides of the rivef. would be equally protected, and t .that agreement had not been fulfilled. * He,hoped that the Council ? would give the matter their consideration.—Referred to a committee to report on at the next meeting. '>~.'. HORTON STREET. The District Engineer of the New Zealand Railways wrote that he would be willing to supply the necessary, § ravel for the repairing of Horton treet if the1 Council would undertake to form the road and maintain it afterwards. . Messrs Levin and Co.' wrote ii». regard to the same matter, saying that as soon as the Council took the street over they would proceed to place that portion of their leasehold property, which- had been damaged through the extra traffic thrown on it in consequence of the state of Horton Street, in order, and make the whole complete. Councillors Macey and Birch were appointed, a. committee to go into the matter. DELEGATE TO DEPUTATION. The Marlborough Land and Railway League wrote inviting the Council to nominate .a delegate to go with the .proposed monster deputation to Wellington in regard to the South Island Main Trunk Railway. ; The Mayor was appointed as delegate. OVERHANGING TREES. D. Girdwood wrote again complaining that Councillor Macey had ignored their instructions in regard to having the trees on his section in Stephenson Street out. - .The matter was left in Councillor Macey's hands to attend to.

DAMAGED PROPERTY. jMr A. Rogers, solicitor, wrote on behalf of the owners of the property known as "Griffin's Store ; " drawing the attention of the Council to the injury occasioned to the building and wharf by reason to the construction of the eastern approach to the Nelson Street bridge.

Resolved that the Council meet the property owners next Wednesday. A QUESTION OF COMPENSATION.

Councillor Ching moved his motion: "That the, Government be to donate £1000 as compensation for the Borough Council Chambers and Town Clerk's office." The loss referred to was sustained when the Council were asked to leave the present Government Buildings. In speaking to the motion, Councillor Ching said that it was not a niotion they were, likely to fall out about. They were all cognisant of the facts of their having gone out of the old chambers, and he therefore moved the motion. Councillor McEinley seconded the motion. .Councillor White thought that if the Government were approached and all the circumstances explained they would respond. . . ■ ' Councillor Macey said that he was in sympathy with the idea of endeavouring to get compensation, but he was doubtful if that was the right way to go about it. He thought that there was a probability of the Prime Minister's coming over shortly, and that would be the right time to take action. Councillors Carr and Patchett were diffident about approaching the Government on the matter. The motion was carried, as was also another, moved by the Mayor, that a committee consisting of Councillors White and Ghing be appointed to consider tho bests method of approaching the Government in regard to the matter. . WESTERN BRANCH OF THE TAYLOR. - '', Councillor White- moved the motion standing *in his name: "That the Council visit the western branch of the Taylor River, this being the site suggested for a dam. and reservoir for supplying the town witli water, and also at the same" time inspect the quarry 6i hardstone in that locality with " the view x>f supplying more suitable metal for the roads than is at present available." Councillor White) set forth concisely the advantage to be gained by having better metal for the roads, and emphasised the necessity of having a water supply- > Councillor Brown seconded, and Councillor Patchett -supported. Councillor Macey said itiwas nowise paying engineers and inspecting sites if they were not prepared to go on with the work. They should be prepared to go to the ratepd&3rs and ask for a loan to carry out tne work. It was just a question ot whether the time', had yet arrived. He thought the motion should 'have be«n brought on in another form, and that was, was the Council of opinion that the time had yet arrived to go to the ratepayers and ask for a loan? > The Mayor supported the motion. Councillor Carr said the time was "?* y^uript f? r BettinS a water supply. Iney had a good artesian water supply. - The motion was carried., , The Council then rose. -