MIRAMAR BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1347, 26 January 1912, Page 9

MIRAMAR BOROUGH COUNCIL.

RECREATION GKOT.-NDS. RATIN'G OX UXI.MPIiOYED VALUE. A mooting- of llie Minimal- Borough (.'ouueil was held last night ill the new Town Hull. The Mayor (Mr. .1. Brodie) presided, anil then- wore also present:— Councillors l.aurcnsou, Telford, Howie, Kit-hards, ami Stone. The Brooklyn School Committee was granted the use of Seatoun Park for u day specified on the usual terms. Tho_Town Hull Committee reported that >fr. Martin hail lwcn appointed caretaker. A loiter was received from the Tramways Department regarding damage to lamps connected with the tram service. The letter suggested that the damage was apparently caused by stone-throwing. It was limited to refer the matter to the Police Department. In connection with the construction of the Minimal- Avenue Tramway, the borough engineer reported Hint the work is now practically completed, and as soon as the Harbour Board till in the tracks wilh metal, the lino will bo ready for inspection by tlie Public Works Department. The rails were short ordered as it was expected that the special layouts would be sent out complete. This was not done, &o that, it was necessary to cut rails to connect up the special work. The borough engineer also reported that alt the water connections applied for are in lumd, and will bo completed in a few days. Arrangements have been made to use the lUn. pipe at tho city boundary, whero it served as a temporary connection for the supply 011 Bereb a veil track. The lUn. water meter will be used at the Defence Reserve for the supply of Port Dorset. A report regarding rating on unimproved value stated that the value of improvements in the borough is ,£193,849, i.e., about one-third of tho value of unimproved land, so that for a whole district rate 2d. in tho X 011 tho unimproved value is equivalent to a rate of 11<1. in the X 011 capital value. The water rata will, however, only bo levied on properties which can bo supplied. The unimproved rateable value of these properties is estimated at .£200,000, and tho rateable value of improvements at ,£150,000, so that a rate on the unimproved value would produce -l-Tths of the amount produced by tho same rato 011 the capital value. 'By changing from the annual value basis to tho unimproved value basis, rates 011 improved properties generally would be reduced by nearly one-half and tho rates 011 vacant*tedious will be increased about 50 per cent. The alteration in the basis of rating for the water rate would have considerably moro effect than the previous alteration from capital value to unimproved value, as in the former case the value of improvements as compared to tho unimproved value of tho whole district was relatively small.—On the motion of Councillor Bowie, seconded by Councillor Telford, it was derided that at tho earliest pcssible moment the _ necessary proceedings be taken for having a poll on the question. Tho Recreation Grounds Committee reported that it was resolved to recommend to the council that the question of the land companies giving land fer recreation grounds in lieu of street formation bo considered. The Mayo- said lie thought this question of recreation grounds was one that needed thf> immediate attention of the council. He referred to Seatoun Park, aivl remarked upon its usefulness to llic population. He had a scheme to suggest for acquiring recreation grounds for Miratnar. In 'the past thousands of pou.ids had bren wasted in road construction oil the flat. Some :of these roads had been constructed long before they were required, and had grown into disrepair. so that later on the council would have to spend nearly as much money in putting them right as it would cost to construct them. If the land companies instead of constructing these roads had given the .council four or five acres oi land at cost price, and allowed the council to undertake the construction of (lie streets when occasion required it, it 1 would bare been n great saving to all concerned. He thought tliat the council should take the matter in hand. Tho council must have the right to say v.-lien I the right time had arrived to make the streets and in some cases they may not necessary for several years. His Worship thought this must be an_ economical means of dealing with an important question. He moved_ that the van- ' ons latvl companies be written to with 11 ! view to making suitable arrangements if possible. . „ , , In the discussion that followed councillors were ogreo-l that negotiations miir.it with advantage lw filtered into, provided that the council was net bound down to purchase the land, ami that each ease would be dealt with 011 iN merits. The motion was oventunllv carried. Th" sum of .OS IS.--, fid. was parsed to the district fund account, ami ,C 253 ITs. Od. to tiiC improvements loan account.