HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 845, 17 June 1910, Page 3

HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. . A special meoting- of' the Hutt Borough Council was held , last evening to consider the estimates of ' expenditures for the ensuing year. The Mayor {Mr. E. P. Bunny) presided, all the councillors being present except Councillor Pearce. Before proceeding with the main business of the order paper, the council received a deputation consisting of Jfessrs. Roots, Piercey," and Carlyle,' who represented the interests of Alicetown ratepayers. tyr. Eoots, for the deputation, drew attention to the complaint of Alice-, town that a fair proportion of the rates were not expended on the western side of the Hutt Kiver. ,He also spoke strongly on the subject of the condition of the footpaths and drains in that portion of the district, which did not receive enough attention froir. the borough. They contended that at least <£1000 should be expended out.of" 1 annual revenue upon works in Alicetown. In reply, the Mayor (Mr. Bunny) pointed out that the total amount available for maintenance. works over , the whole borough was only XI7OO, and reminded the deputation that' nearly the whole of the ,£52,000 loan had been spent in Alicetown and Hutt—diversions of Fitzherbert's and Everest's Creeks, drainage works, etc. Many of the matters complained of could not be attended to out of revenue; the only way to remedy their grievance, said the Mayor, was to get the sanction of the ratepayers for a loan for street improvement works. That might bo done, but tho result rested entirely with the ratepayers. It was certainly impossible to spend .£IOOO out of revenue, as had been suggested. Tho estimates were to be considered that evening,' and the representation of tho deputation carefully considered. file deputation then withdrew, and the council proceeded to the estimates. Several reductions wore made in the amounts set out, but as the council was unable to get through in one sitting, further consHleratfon of the items was deferred till Monday next. On the question of dedications and street improvements, the general view taken was these, if carried out at all could bo paid for out of loan, and not out of revenue.