THE PLATS ON THE PLAT.

Evening Star, Issue 4234, 21 September 1876, Page 3

THE PLATS ON THE PLAT.

To the Editor Sir,—-As a ratepayer and a resident in this unhappy township, known as South Dunedin, I would much like to ask the new Council, through your columns, what great benefit are the ratepayers, or as I may more properly put it, the few stragglers on the Flat to gain by the last change made by them, viz., renting a house &t LI per week, furnishing tbe same at a cost of about L3O, keeping it cleansed and lighted at an extra cost of 5s per week ! This, with L33s 6d per week to the Town Clerk, and L 4 4s per week to two surface men, will amount in one year to L 478. Then there are legal advice, stationery, and advertisements, which, if we take the figures of the last six months for our guide, will amount to about L2OO more, and give a total of L 678 for one year's working expenses. Now, sir, I would ask the Ceuncil how do they propose to pay this L 678 and interest on L 5,000 of a loan when last year's rates only amounted to L 475 ? But his Worship tells us that the place is improving, houses are building every day, and people coming to settle on the Flat. I leave this to the ratepayers themselves to see, and only ask what will be the result in a year or two, when all the money is spent, and we will have to pay interest to the amount of L 350, which will swell our expenses to L 1,028 per annum ? His Worship also tells us that there are L4O per annum for publicans' licenses and LSO for dog taxes to be added to our receipts. In answer to the former, I will only say that I am of opinion the public-houses on the Flat will soon become fewer in number, unless . they are supported from some other source. Then, as to the dog tax, I would like to ask hia Worship how it is that up to the present time there have been only L 3 out of the fifty e;>llected. It cannot be for want of an efficient officer, for that the municipality possesses. This is only one instance of the many grievances that exist in tbe Flat. I would like to ask the flats on the Flat how long they are going to stand such buncome ? 1 would suggest that the flats should hold round meetings and square up matters a bit. —•I am, &c, A Swamp Hen. South Dunedin, September 19,