COUNTY FINANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2068, 20 December 1907, Page 2

COUNTY FINANCE.

A LIVELY MEETING

FURTHER AD J OURNAIENT.

A 'special mooting of the County Counciy in corinoctioii with the proposal to borrow £200,000 was held last evening. Present: The Hon. Captain Tucker (in the chair), and Crs. Shcrratt-, Kenway, Boland, McDonald and AV. D. Lysnar, Air. Lysnar said time would he well occupied by going into the matter and discussing it. He had to apologise for Ci-. F. J. Lysnar, who was unavoidably absent. His sympathies are for the proposals. Ho moved as follows: “That the necessary steps be taken to place before tho ratepayers a proposal to borrow £200,000, in accordance with the schedule attached to the committee’s report with the following alterations thereon, that £3OOO shall be first deducted for the purchase of road machinery, and for the purpose of this (loan, the boundaries of the AVliataupoko riding he extended so as to include all the properties which are served by, and use exclusively, the back AA’hataupoko and Kaiti roads, and which ai c included in either the AVaimata or Tolaga ridings, and for this purpose, the Clerk to deduct the properties from the AVaimata and Tolaga Ridings so excepted, and add the same to tho AVliataupoko Riding. That in any case where tho loan money has not been apportioned by the schedule attached to tho committee’s report to all roads in each riding, the Clerk shall further apportion them in the same manner as the others have been apportioned, after making tho general deduction of £3OOO for machinery as aforesaid. Also, that a separate voto he taken authorising the raising of £27,000, to be applied for tho purpose of constructing a tram line and necessary rolling stock from Wi Pore street in AVliataupoko to the AVaihircre and Patutalii quarries, in terms of the Tramways Act and of tho third proposal of Air. AV. L. Rees’ offer of this date; also upon the other terms and conditions for leasing tbe same with power reserved to the Council to resume control of tho same upon all the other terms and conditions stated in the proposals.” This was the original motion, with the addition of the special vote for the £27,000 for the tramline. The following is All- Rees’ proposal l .: Mr. AV. L. Rees offers to enter into undertaking, guaranteed to satisfaction of Council, to tender for, and, if required by Council, to erect tramline on following conditions, and to pay the cost of any land required to be taken for the purpose of the tramline from end of College road to AVaipaoa- river crossing. Tramway to start from AVliataupoko, opposite Roebuck road bridge, following main road to AVaihirere quarry, then branch down College road, and continue straight across paddocks to Waipaoa river by suspension bridge to Patutalii at crossing at Kahunui (bridge to be capable of carrying 30 tons), then to follow most direct road-line to qu'arry. Tram-line to be 2ft 6in gauge, iron rails; 15-ton engine with trucks to carry 8 tons each, all sleepers to be white pine creosoted in tlie same manner and condition as Government sleepers are treated; line to be properly ballasted and constructed in thorough workmanlike -nianner to satisfaction of County Council. First proposal to cost £22,000, sufficient to carry metal and timber, and not other goods for charge, in terms of Tramway Act. Second proposal to cost £25,000, to put tramway under second scliedufle of Act, allowing charges to be made for carriage of passengers and goods. Third proposal to cost £27,000 to include ext fa strength, and width of sleepers and ballasting from AARiataupoko to AVaihirere, as required by Air. Alarcliant’s report for carriage of Harbor Board's material for outer harbor, and to construct to Patutalii (as proposed in No. 2. Fourth proposal to cost £32,000 to put sleepers and rails down complete to AVaihirere to suit liarbor scheme, and to Patutahi quarries for all other purposes. If lline erected on 'any of above Proposals, Air. AV. L. Rees undertakes to arrange a lease with a financially sound •'Ctnnpany oi- firm, to satisfaction of Council, for 21 years, at a rental which will pay interest and sinking fund on actual cost and 20 per cent over. Lessee to maintain everything 'as a going concern, and so deliver it up in good order, lair wear and tear excepted, and cart any stone required by the Borough Council or County Council from Patutalii to town at 2s per yard; AVaihirere to town at Is 9cl, and.any intermediate places reduced pro rata. Harbor Board to use line to AVaihirere as required with their own engines and trucks. Proviso that- County Council call take over lino a§ any time on giving three months’ notice, providing jt allows company or firm to have running right over the line for the residue of tlie term of 21. years, m which case the company to pay halt cost of maintenance and 10 per cent on original cost of construction up to £30,000. Company to provide its "own rolling stock, and not to interfere with the ordinary houns of running the tramline, aud for this purpose the company or firm are at. their own. cost- to provide sufficient sidings to facilitate working of Council s trams. - ■ ~ , , _ T The Chairman said that Or. Lysnar was bringing in something of which notice was not given, and he could not allow it to be dealt with. Cr. Lysnar agreed to abide by tbe decision, begging leave to make the slightest reference to it where it became necessary. ; . , The Chairman explained that lie had no wish to shut the Councillor s mouth. ' . • * Qr. Lysnar. speaking to Ins motion, said that the committee • was right in saving that the maintenance would be less after the expenditure of the loan. Some -of the £9OOO woulld he saved if tho £200,000 was spent. Then a jjd rate could be returned to, instead of Id. AVero they going to take a penny when Jd could he had with £200,000, and do away with the mud holes and mud tracks? If the ratepayers objected to the scheme lie would'bo satisfied, but not till then. Tlie money sliould be obtained at- 4., or not at all. The Alatawliero road had recently had two inches of metal, but it had disappeared; 10 or 12 inches should be put down. AN hen the ratepayers understood tho position, it would bo carried by a substantial majority. Cr. Macdonald said tlie Alotu roads were very good (Jr, Lysnar said that he had been informed quite recently that tlie reverse was the case. He reluseu to bd’oivo that the ratepayers were satisfied with their position. A deputation waited on linn about the m'atter. . . Cr. Macdonald stated that they were not Cook County ratepayeis, but from Opotiki. Cr. Lysnar denied this. The Alotu road could be cut out and give them no benefit, and that would not hurt the position at all. He attached importance to what was left for posterity. They could fairly face the contribution for making the roads, and it was unfair to themselves and too generous to posterity to pay for their own roads. They, would leave to posterity a good district and a well-endowed one. If the offer which had been made could bo backed up bv a proper guarantee, tlie huge costof carting metal would disappear, and tlie Council would get metal at _s where it now cost Bs. The furthest,

away from Patutalii was Bs, and the cheapest 4s. Ample security was offered—otherwise he would not waste time. That would bo good business which tho Council could not treat in a light-hearted manner. Mr. Rees said bo would find a guarantee to give the Council, but he, tho speaker, could not give it as this juncture, owing to the chairman’s ruling. Tlie borough would equally profit, and they would ho asked to help in the arrangements. If the bond was forthcoming the Council ran absolutely no risks, and that might, seem too good to be true, but it was in black and whits. He would suggest that any person wishing to speak should do so. They could not tako a vote now. The Council could take what position they liked to tho Ratepayers, but they should have a free hand. AVith a depleted exchequer and the had roads, they had a simple duty before them. The Chairman said he could not close his eyes to the fact that half the committee were away. There was no reason for haste, and it would be much wiser to let the discussion stand over until they had a fuller meeting. Cr. Lysnar explained that ono councillor had received a telegram about the previous meeting, which followed him about. Another was not well, but he promised to bo present.

Cr. AlcDonald said there was no great urgency for the loan. He admitted that the roads were anything but perfect. He had been asked to vote against the proposal, .but ho had no objection to the other ridings securing a loan. Cr. Boland seconded the motion. Cr. Kenway took up the question of maintenance at some length. He held that it would not be reduced as a .result of the Joan, but be doubled or quadrupled. The £<l estimate was rid iculously low. Tlie question of the diffusion of tho money would have to be settled. One thing the committee lost sight of was in the fact that the apportionment- of the money was on tfio valuation.

The Chairman said the committee did not promulgate that. Cr. Kenway said that Air. Lysnar’s schedule did. Tho other ridings would have to contribute to the Gisborne riding, because its .roads were greatly used. They might not be able to get the money at 4) per cent., as the market was tight, and financiers were sliy of such loans. He pointed out that the councillors were not there to adopt a motion tentatively and throw the onus on the ratepayers. He took it that members administered things' for the County in trust, and they could not go to the ratepayers anil say, “AVhat do you think of this?” Cr. Shorratt said that before he supported the proposition lie wanted to know how the money was going to bo divided up. ; The Chairman thought the motion absolutely premature and ill-digested. He also thought the cost of maintenance would be increased. Tlie committee could arrive at no unanimity. If there was anything in tlie tramway scheme, that was another reason why they shoulld hesitate ill putting the. scheme before the ratepayers. Referring to the apportionments, lie said that the Engineer should see to that. AA’hen the Council secured unanimity on that point, it could go before the ratepayers. Cr. Kenway wanted to know howtlie schedule appeared in print, apparently as part of the report. This was without . the authority of the Council. The Chairman said he did not know. Cr. Lysnar said the schedule was not private, and no doubt tno reporters got it as it was read :n open Council. He 6aid that it could go out to the public for -'i-sri: lion, ai.cl it- was agreed to. Cr. Kenway objected, because lie said it was not worth the paper it was printed on; it misled people as it looked 'as if it came from the Council.

The discussion proceeded at length on various issues, and it was finally decided to adjourn until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, January lltli. Cr. Lysnar then gave notice of motion, for tho additional paragraphs.