BOROUGH COUNCIL

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 160, 9 July 1920, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of the Blenheim Borough Council was held las* iiight. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. JCorry), Councillors Mrs Fred Redwood, W. E. Gascoigne, A. O'uvy, B. J. Cooke, M. McKenzie, J. A. Leslie, F. Birch, and T. Mwselev. HYDRO-ELECTRICS. The Town Clerk presented a report on the hydro-electric conference held at Blenheim recently by representatives of the MaTlhorough, Nelson, and Buller districts. The Council confirmed the action of its delegates in agreeing to the issue in the districts of the various local bodies of petitions to the Governor-General requesting the right to form an Electric Power Board. It was moved that the Town Clerk take the necessary steps in this connection so far as| the borougn ot Blenheim is concerned, and that he have the -authority to employ a canvasser to secure the required signatures if necessary. Councillor McKenzie said that, feeling, as lie did, that there had already been .too much unnecessary expense in this direction, he could not see his way to vote for the pro-: ceeding now proposed until he knew how much expenditure would be involved—who was going to bo appointed to do the canvassing/what he was to be paid, and so on. Councillor Leslie supported the. motion. The expenditure that would be involved was not worth quibbling about. The motion was carried. ADVANCE MARL-BOROUGH. A letter from the Maryborough Chamber of Commerce enclosed the circular appeal it had issued to the local authorities and organisations of the province for financial assistance for its progress campaign. The communication suggested a donation of £100 from the Council. The Mayor moved that the Council agree to make a donation, and that the matter "bs referred to the Finance Committee for! an indication as to the amount that it would be practicable for the Council to contribute. He confessed that, as the unauthorised expenditure would be exhausted by the end of the year, he could not see what resources the Council could draw on for a substantial donation, but perhaps 'that difficulty could be cleared up later on. What he wanted to do now was to affirm the Council's recognition of the valuable work being done by the Chamber of Commerce an dits willingness- -to assist ii?in a practical way as far as it could. Councillor Curry (chairman of the Finance Committee) seconded the motion, and Councillor Gascoign© supported it. Councillor McKenzie said that the local bodies -whose interests would receive the most benefit from the work being done' by the Chamber had been showing their gratitude to the extent of two-guinea donations. The Borough Council was being asked for £100. The Council'^ income was small enough for the treatment of the recognised calls on it, and lie was not at all sure that any big donation of the kind now isuggested would be fully consonant with the true functions of the Council. He' suggested that a better principle would be' to leave such calls to jhe generosity of the members of, the Council individually. Councillor Moseley did not see eye to eye with those wlio favored the proposition." The Council had little enough money for its 'recognised requirements. The Waterlea Park project would have his hearty support; but, \inless it wa.s shown that the Council had something that it could well spare, he would not feel like supporting .a large vote for a separate organisation. Councillor Birch said he would rather subscribe personally than see the rates used for the purpose now suggested. The rates were required . for the roads, footpaths, bridges, etc. —not for contributions to other organisations at the- rate of £100 a time. Councillor Curry said he believed in'the principle of subsidising such work as was being done by the Chamber of Commerce, but that was not to say that lie would go to the length of voting £100. It wns high time that someone tried to "boost" the place. He did not know that the town reflected very much credit on the Council. Another "fire" would not be an unmixed evil. He would not like to see any obstacle thrown in' the way of the Chamber's progress campaign. Councillor Leslie thought that the Chamber should be given all possible encouragement. It had already done a lot of good work, and was opening up a fine record for the future. The Council might do worse than tnke a lenf out of the Chamber's book. Vfhit the Chamber was doing was distinctly to the advantage of the Council's ratepayer^, and in helping the Chamber the Council would be promoting the interests of its ratepayers. The Mayor said he had to admit that on present appearances £100 would be rath or beyond the resources of the Council. But that was a matter for further consideration. The motion was enrripH. BY-LAWS COMMITTEE. The following report from the ByLaws Committee was adopted • — A report from the ratiger for the month of June revealed that were 1.9 J-iTeaohe* of the Al-*. T 1 ■(»■*> were I"1 jwjpoundings. The driving fees »mounted to £1 Is, the lines, to £i JOs. Inspector Patehett is now operatina; as poundkeeper. His return fof tho month of Juno disclosed that 25 animals were impounded and released. The pound fees thereon were £3 0,-r 6d. Such sum had been paid tc the Boroufih Treasurer. An application foj- permission to construct, a. smoke curing house in the brick area, had been referred hark io the applicant for compliance with the by-laws. Wharos in South Street:— Tho Committee- was awaiting a further reiiort from Inspector Johnfcton on this subicct. The. Committee had directed that notice be served upon land owners calling for the removal of stagnant water. The Committee had asked the Waterworks Committee to meet specially for consideration of draft waterworks by-laws. An application from Mesprss Profidbenfc to construct an electric £.i<iti on their Market Street South premises projecting over the footpath had been permitted at the pleasure of the Council. The Committee had agreed to permit McPhail's Pharmacy to exhibit a sun blind secured to the front of Sound sleep, warmth, cosy comfort with a "UNIQUE" HOT WATER BOTTLE in your bed. P:rt«nt stopper cannot leak. Obtainable everywhere. When buying look for tlio brfU'.d. --Advt,

the verandah on Market Street North at the pleasure of the Council. A report of the Sanitary inspector for the month of June had been received. FIRE BRIGADE. The Fire Brigade Committee re ported: — Motor Fire Plant:—Tho Committee luid received a number of tenders and it had referred Ihem to Councillors Curry, Leslie, and Redwood lor consideration and a report. A communication from the Fire Brigade dated February, 1919, asking- for a motor plant to be provided, and a communication dated the 2lst June, 1920, asking rhfft a motor plant be not provided were submitted. The Mayor evpressod the hope that the Committee would be able to deal with the tenders one way or the other promptly. It was not a good idea to hold tenders over. After considerable discussion the report wns adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. Tne Council adopted tbe following report:— The Committee had directed that the solicitor for the Carter Estate be informed that repairs to the Burieigh bank were effected without prejudice and that such repairs were t iiol'ough 1 y effected. Bank Section ; Taylor Footbridge; New Streets:—The Committee had decided to deal with other matters in tho Foreman's report by a, \iah of inspection. Works Staff :— Tho Committee recommended that tho application of the works staff for an increase in wages due to the high cost of living be met by the offer of a bonus at the rate of 1M per hour Avorked. Steeet Works : —The Committee had directed that wherever practicable tho foreman report on projected works, giving estimates of cost. Walter Street Metalling:—The Committee had directed that the load surface be prepared for metalling and that tenders be called for the metalling thereof when weather conditions aire favorable. . A request for the provision of a footpath on the school bridge for the j use of school children had been. rei ferred to the foreman for report and estimate. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The Reserves Committee reported: j The five years' lease of 2a Omaka having expired on the. 30th ultimo, it was recommended that the tenancy be continued from year to year on the same terms and renditions as heretofore except as to period •Town Clock:—lt being reported that the automatic lighting of the itown clock was not satisfactory, and j that- the caretaker of the' Courthouse vas now prepared to undertake the lighting of the clock on the same terms and conditions as heretofore, the Committee had directed that the clock be lit by hand until otherwise ordered. j The report was adopted. ABATTOIRS STAFF. Th Abattoirs Committee reported that consideration of an application made-by the abattoirs staff for an increase *in wages was adjourned until next meeting. WATER AND DRAINAGE. This Committee presented the following report, which wa!3 adopted: — Consideration of the waterworks j hy-laAvs has been adjourned until Wednesday next. The Committee had decided to adjourn consideration- of the applications for the position of Clerk of Works until next meeting. The Committee, had directed the Town Clerk to give the Spiral Pipe Company notice that the penal provisions under the contract would be enforced if the whole of the pipe supplies had not been delivered at the due date.