BOROUGH COUNCIL

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 228, 26 September 1913, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

Uthe ordinary meeting fcf. ii^ie BlenSheiin Borough Council was held last alight. There were present: Hie Worship the Mayor (Mr E. S. Parker), Councillors W. Carr, F. Birch, B, J. Cooke, J. H. Holdaway, W. D. Pike, A;. Curry, G. Patchett, and Graham Griffiths. BILLIARD SALOONS. - Mi- E Priddle wrote complaining that the annual license fee for billiard rooms was too high, and suggesting that it be reduced to £2 10s. It was remarked that the charge.ot £5 per table probably crept into the fey-laws through an error. .It was agreed that the fee was excessive. Councillor Carr gave notice of intern tion to move that the . by-laws be amended with a view to .fixing the charge at £5 per saloon. ■ ■ It was resolved, that the fees for next year be not collected until the motion notified had been dealt with. -• • STRAYING STOCK. " Mr W. Atwood, J impounder, wrote asking for authority to take, legal proceedings against persons who persistently failed to keep their stock from straying. .He mentioned Main. •Street particularly. • . • ~. It was resolved *° inform the im- . pounder that he already possessed that power. BUILDING BY-LAWS. Mr A. Rogers, Borough solicitor, wrote that, he could not advise the Council to proceed against \Mr W. J. Girlino- in regard to certain building work in High Street. He did not consider that "on the merits of the case the Council could hope to secure a conviction, and he could not recommend a prosecution under the by-lawsr in their present form.. i Mr W. J. Girling wrote on the j same subject, explaining that _his, omission to apply for a permit was due to a misapprehension arising out of a conversation he had with the borough surveyor, Mr O'Meagher. He pointed " out that the work had improved matters from a fire-prevention point of riew. .The Mayor said that he was not at the last meeting of the Council, but lie was fully aware of the circumstances, and he was pretty certain that the by-laws had not been infringed. .'. _ ■. . . Councillor Curry maintained that the structure erected by Mr Girling, was a. building in itself and that the by-laws regarding brick party walls had not been observed. Ha failed to see why the Borough solicitor should not follow the direction of the Council and put the position to the test. ' Councillor Griffiths moved, and Councillor Cooke seconded,' that the Borough solicitor be instructed; not to ■ take action until further advised by the Council. Councillor Carr contended that, the building did not comply with tlie bylaws. It did not have a brick wall on ■each side. The Council was simply going^ on the principle that one man could steal a horse-while another man could not look vOver the fence. Councillors were not men enough to compel Mr Girling to do what it insisted on in the case of Mr White. ' "|

Councillor Curry protested against the principle of making fish of one and flesh of the other. /

Councillor Holdaway said he understood that Mr White's.wall was on the line. Mr Girling's was-not.

The Mayor said that that was so.' "There was no comparison between the cases of Mr Girling and Mr White. ■Councillor Carr moved an amendment that the .Council inform Mr Girling that it would have no objection to granting a permit provided that he put up a 9-inch% brick party wall on the eastern side of the new structure.

Councillor Curry seconded -the amendment.

Councillor Griffiths said the view he took was that the Council should not waste public money in* fighting under defective by-laws what the Borough, solicitor told them was a doubtful case.

v The Mayor quoted the by-law, and Councillor Carr replied that the structure in question was not an old building removed, but to all intents and ' purposes a new building.

. The amendment was lost on the following division:—Ayes: Councillors Patchett, Curry, Birch, Can*. Noes: Councillors Griffiths, Pike, Holdaway, Cooke, and iihe Mayor. The motion Avas carried on similar voting

TOWN HALL

The following, tenders for the renovation of the Town Hall were opened: —Ward and Sons, £262 and £48 10s for a,wooden dado, £7 los for an oilcloth dado, or £7 5s for a calico dado; J. Fawcett, £310 12s, including a dado in rimu; W. H. Osgood, £203 16s and £38 for wooden dado.

. The tender of Mr Osgood, £203 16s, tvas accepted. Mr A. J. Dowling wrote that he would be able to carry out his contract to re-seat the Town Hall when the eastings, ordered some considerable time ago, came to hand.

THE BATHS

Mr N. R. Stone, acting on behalf of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, wrote asking for the use of the municipal baths for the swimming championships to be held on February 16th, 18th, 20th, and 23rd.—The application was granted, Mr'and Mrs F. W. Batchelor wrote offering their services for the caretaking of the municipal batEs for the ensuing season.

It was resolved to advertise for applications, and the'Baths-Committee was empowered to make the appointment -on the terms in force last seasou.

'GENERAL,

'■ Mr W. .ft. Marple wrote in reply to the Council's objection to an overflow of water from a ram on his property in Stuart Street.—Permission was granted, to Mr Marple to lay down field pipes with a view to the abatement of the nuisance, a stipulation being made that only clean water be allowed to. flow through the pipes, Messrs McCalhim. and Mills wrote intimating that Mr A. W. Lummas wns prepared to dedicate to the Council for the widening of Arthur Street a strip of land five feet "in depth on the condition that the Council would h ear all the expenses of the work of readjustine: the boundary, and erect -noshed, 10ft. by 12ft., at the rear of liis blacksmith's shop.—The offer was accepted. '

The State-Guaranteed' Advances Office wrote noting that the watersmplv and sewerage scheme had been abandoned, and asking when the unoxnendfid balance of the £5000 instal-Tro-Tt of the £65.000 water-supply and f-we'-age loon would be returned. letter was referred to the Finance C^->Tiittee.

The Foreman presented a report on tho works in progress. * ".^plications made by Mr TV. J. Girling and Mr E. Parker for perniis-

sion to c&iistruct crossings over the footpath in ' High Street were granted. Mrs^W. -Trischler wrote asking?;fcjhat th^jjeiitrance4jb her property in High Street that Had beenjdosed by 'the Gb'anjcil be •■ tre-opened,-—The matter was-referred to the Foreman, tp-re-port to the Works Committee. A letter from Miss A. Robinson regarding the supply of books to the public library was referred to the Institute Committee.

At the instance of Councillor Carr, the attention of the Foreman was directed to a hole near the Beaver Road footbridge.

On the motion of Councillor Pike, the Works Committee was asked to report on the state of Keiss arid South Streets. . ...

Accounts were passed for- palyment