PETONE BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2916, 31 October 1916, Page 8

PETONE BOROUGH AFFAIRS

MELTING OP THE COUNCIL. Tho fortnightly meeting of tbo Petono Borough Council was held last evening, tho Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) presiding. Tho following wero also present:— Councillors Forsyth, Gaynor, Cox, Brocklebank, Anderson, M'Kenzie, Jones, '.LVuoman, and M'Dougal. A deputation from tho Petone Municipal Brass Band applied.for a rotunda to bo erected on tho Esplanade. Councillors, commented favourably on tho scheme, hut tho general question was would the finances stand tho expenditure? After discussion it was resolved to leave tho matter in tho hands of the executive ofiicors of the council to deal with.

On account of bad weather tho new croquet lawn, ■ which tho Ngaroiua; Ladies' Croquet Club had been promised would ho ready for play this season, has not been completed. A deputation from the club asked permission to use the tennis courts for three months. During.discussion councillors expressed the opinion that it would not be fair, to tho tennis club to allow tho Ngaroma Club solo uso of the courts. It was suggosted that they bo allowed tho uso of the municipal croquet lawn s, and that the engineer he instructed to push ahead with the now croquet lawn meantime. A motion was carried to tho latter offec't.

The usual donation was granted to tho Pctone Technical School.

A letter was received from the Minister of Railways stating that lio was again looking into the matter .of tho AVairara-pa mail train stopping at Pctone. •

Tho Wellington Harbour Board wrote agreeing to accept cash payment for tho weighbridge, and to grant tho council a fourteen years' lease of tho: site at a. nominal' rental of 20s. per yoar. • ■ . . . '

Speaking on tlio subject of gasworks 'finance the Mayor stated that the sa.les of gas had practically doubled since 1908. Tho position, disclosed by the balance-sheet for the year ending March 31, 1908, showed that the concern could not pay 20s. in tho £.. For tho business doing the works were over capitalised. ' The position in 1916 showed a marked improvement, notwith-' | standing the increased ' cost of coal from 20s. lOd. .to 255. lOd. per ton.; Wages had also increased, and tho number of street lamps had increased from 60 to 125. Depreciation of plant values absorbed the sum of £6052, the rate of depreciation being 4 per cent. There were also reductions in the price of gas from 7s. 6d. for lighting, 6s. Bd. cooking, 6s. Bd. power, to 6s. Bd. for cooking and lighting, and os: lOd. power per 1000 cubic feet. In addition cast iron mains, fittings, oxide, cement,' etc., had increased considerably incost. On March 31, 1916, the liabilities amounted to £30,540 included in which were outstanding accounts and coal amounting to £1006. Tho overdraft was £950, while the surplus amounted' to £7232 6s. lOd. On the assets side of the -balance-sheet, the gasworks plant, mains, etc. (loss 4 per cent, depreciation amounting to £1017) were valued at £24,406 16s. '' 10(1. After quoting several other items the Mayor said that the position disclosed by the figures must be considered satisfactory. Actually the figures showed an improvement of £8781 12s. ■ lOd. since 1908. Tliis, ho contended, was amplo endorsement of the wisdom of the policy adopted in paying for all additions and improvements out of revenue, instead of increasing the permanent debt upon works. The proportion of the total receipts—£ll,4Bl 12s. lid—absorbed by interest, sinking fund, 'and depreciation now stood at' 18}. per cent, as compared with 27- per cent, in 1908. In conclusion Mr.' M'Ewan said that the results of the half-yearly-bal-ance (September ,30, 1916), indicated that the results for the year ending March 31, 1917, would be oven moTe satisfactory than any of the years.