Borough Affairs

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 61, 10 November 1887, Page 2

Borough Affairs

TO THE EDITOR OF THR STAR, Sib,— The burgesses of Feilding will shortly be called upon to decide a question of the "most vital importance to the settlers in and around Foilding, viz: the raising of a loan to repair the damage, caused by the late flood. I write to warn the discontents that this no trifling affair, as it concerns the future credit and prosperity of Feilding. I do hope every man, before he votes for or against the loan, will first put aside all petty spite or party feeling and honestly do that which he thinks is best for the town/ The question is not, "Shall we have a loan"; but, " How much do we require to do the works urgently needed?" It is proposed that we borrow £1500, with an increase of 2d in the £ on the loan rate. Should this be carried it will mean that the South bridge, Kiwitea bridge, and protective works only will be done, and the town left in itspresent deplorable state. I have carefully considered the matter, and am convinced that £3000 can be borrowed, and all the damage by the late flood properly .repaired, without inflicting: one penny of extra taxation. Briefly, mjf proposals are a* follows:— t That £3000 be borrowed for public works as per schedule. That £200 be taken from the loan to buy a> site and build Council Chambers ; say one long meeting room, that could bY let for other small meetings. A library, and an office room. Let the library free of charge to the present custodian if he is willing. If not, nodoubt someone could be found who> would sooner look after the roont | chancing what they could make rather | than do it for the present small pay. Thus, the Id library rate could b» added to the loan rate. By this a. saving of over £100 a year can be made, viz: librarian's salary, £25; papers and books, say £30; rent of chambers, £52 ; besides, a few pound* can be made each year by letting the* meeting roem. 2. A saving may aLso be made by amalgamating the offices of Engineer and Clerk by paying £10 extra per year to the Clerk. Of course that would not be done until the bulk of the present work is completed. , . . 3. This is the most disagreeable? task of all, as I have to complain of the work done by a hard-working; man; but I can see ao large a saving: here that I feel it my duty to show that if the work done by the maintenance van in the summer is not actually harmful, it is really uselessPicking up ihe weeds and stones fronv the sides of the roads, which in a, town liable to floods like Feilding w simply waste. We can very well dowithout a man all the summer months.' Let the Public Works Committee put on a man «r two in the winter:timewhen needed. This would save the Borough some £60 or £70 per yearThis may seem too large, but I have kept within bounds, as the pay of our permanent., man, and- th« men "whom he has with him at odd times, cannot cost less than £140 per annum, and X hold that £50 will pay for all the w ork that need be dene. The streetlamps should not be lit more than: six. months in the year, say from Apiil I to September 30. 5. The Poundkeeper is supposed to. pay the handsome sum of £4 per year for the use of the pound. I would suggest to the Council that town people be allowed to feed their cattle at s* much per head on the grass that is. now wasting, and under these regulations—l. That all such cattle be looked after by a man or boy. 2. That no cattle be allowed about th> streets after 5 p.m., Or before 6 a.m3. That no cattle be allowed to graze within 1 mile of Manchester Square, on Sundays. If the Council do this, £20 a year would be added to the revenue. The interest on £3000 at ft percent, would be £180 per annum, leaving a balance of £34 for sinking; fund. The savings I propose are :— £ b. d\. library Custodian . . .. 26 0 O Papars and Books .. .. 30 0 a Beat of Counoil Chambers . . 52 0 0 Maintenance Man .. .. 70 0 O Poundkeeper . . .. .. 16 oft Clerk and Engineer .. .. Id 00 Lamp-lighting . . . 5 0 0» Total .. £214 0 O> I am no obstructionist, and I hope the people of Feilding will stand by the Counoil in the course they may think fit to take at this critical juncture, and remember that the gentlemen who are willing to give their time for the benefit of the town are deserving of the loyal support of their fellow citizens. Hoping these pro* poaala may prove acceptable to the majority of Councillors and ratepayers, I am &c., J. 9» Feilding;, November 7, I&S7.