HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 554, 8 July 1909, Page 7

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

, (From Our Special Eeporter.) 1—&- ■ PETONE RATES AND LOANS. .. THE QUESTION OF CONSOLIDATION. Petone's rates havo been increased, and some of the ratepayers aro asking "Why?" In conversation with a representative on the matter, the Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) made some interesting observations. I wish particularly to draw, attention to," he said, "is the amount of .money wo pay out of general rates for interest. There are ■ eight separate email loans, the interost on which, .£907 annually, has to bo mot out of the general account. The total amount of the loans is .£19,500, the principal being foi , recreation ground improvement, .£4OOO for the wharf, ,£7OOO for the municipal buildings, and .£IOOO for the Hutt Bridge anj Toad. I think that the time is not far distant when the question of consolidating the whole of theee loans, together with all the 5 per cent, loans of the borough (drainage, street improvement,, and sanitation), will have to be considered. Of course, the present is not an opportune time as the. money market is not favourable. I think-we could get the loans at 4} ; per cent., instead of 5 per cent., and thus relieve the gerieral rato of the large amount of money now paid in the shape of interest. This would, if carried into effect, represent a total saving of' .£262 lfls. per annum." : . Dealing with a few features of the estimates, which had not yet appeared in print,' the Mayor, said; "First of all, the reason of the additional sum required for the' Fire Board is that the board is determined to build a new fire etation next year, and they havo earmarked the sum of *£250 for this pnrpose. It is proposed to use the room known as the recreation room in the municipal buildings for the purpose • of a ladies' reading room, the necessary furniture for which is provided for I in this year's estimates. 'An additional sum of £300 has to be spent on metalling, with the best ■ class of metal, tho whole of. the side I streets of the borough. This is for the purpose of "conditioning" the streets, so that a future council may carry out tho policy of the previous council of tarring and laying down asphalt. It is proposed to spend .£29 lls. 6d. on improving the Domain. The cost of the sanitary services will .be inorcased this year by J!210, mainly in consequence "-"of additional plant being required. .' . ■...•• "In:regard to rating, there are about 300 sections unbuilt on in the borough, and these will be subject to the extra rate. Taking a vacant section, valued at .£l5O, the rate comparison is as follows:—Last year,.,£l lls. 5d.; this year, jEI 19s. 3d.; an increase of 7s. 10d. Section valued at ,£l5O, built upon—Last year, .£2-Bs. 10d.; this year, £2 3s. 2d.; a decrease of.ss. Bd. . ' ■-'■•'; "Speaking generally," concluded Mr. M'Ewan. "I think , it will be found that the proposed rates, will' , represent ho increase to th,e: cottager owning land valued at .£250, but it will certainly represent a small increase to the man owning-lend valued at XSOO, and, further, , all owners of large blocks :of _knd held for speculative or other purposes will have to contribute a larger portion of the additional revenue that is required." . ' ~;',•;. JOTTINGS. ■'• . t" At the Lower Hutt' Presbyterian Churoh, at 7.30 this evening, the induction, of the new minister, the Bev. J. M' Caw, will take place. The moderator, (the Eev. Dr. Gibb) .will preach, and the Kev. A. Thomson, the present moderator of the district, will delivor the address to the minister. Members of the Wellington Presbytery will also be present; The Petone Navftls havo been advised that the borough council has deoided. to subsidise their funds to tho extent of ,£5 for the upkeep of their cutter. _ ■.-'■/■.. At St. David's Church, ■' Petone, last night, the Eev. Dr. Porteous lectured to an interested audience on "India as a Mission Field." '