BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 156, 3 December 1874, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

KAIAPOI. Tuesday, December 1. A special meeting of this Council called by circular, was held on Tuesday evening. Present —The Mayor, Crs Blackwell, M’Donald, Funston, and Miisom. Cr Funston,for Cr Wearing moved—" That the Council by special order, make and levy a separate rate of 6d in the £ equally upon all rateable property situated within the northern portion of the borough, as hereafter described, such rate to be expended in the erection of embankments and protective works on the said northern side o? the borough, viz, commencing at the junction of the western continuation of the Beach road and Waimakariri, running thence easterly along the said Beach road to the boundary of section 1393, thence to the north branch of the Waimakariri, along the western boundary of section 1393, then following the north bank of the Waimakariri up to the starting point,” Cr M'Donald seconded the motion, which was carried. The ordinary meeting of which the same members were present was then held. Letters were read ; From Mr W. Taylor resigning his seat in the Council. Accepted. From manager Bank of New Zealand, and Mr Langdown, asking leave to transfer Revell and Co’s interest in a river reserve to Birch and Co, Agreed to. From the Secretary for Public Works, acknowledging receipt of letter from the Council informing the Government that the necessary measures had been taken . for levying a special rate of 6d in the £1 upon the rateable property of all persons likely to be benefited by the proposed river protective works, and stating that the Government grant in aid of £SOO had been forwarded to the Provincial Treasury, as requested in the letter now under reply. Cr Blackwell considered that all the ratepayers would not be benefited unless the amount was expended equally in both districts of the borough, and the Government should only have handed over the £SOO on that condition, whereas it had all been as it were appropriated for the North side. The Mayor drew attention to clause 204 of the Act under which the Council were given power to make a separate rate on one portion of a borough upon the request of not less than one-third of the number of ratepayers of such portion. Although a general request might be made to levy a special rate on the whole of the borough, the Council had not the power to accede to it, and special rates could only be made to pay interest or sinking fund of loans. Being aware that the Government would only hand over the vote of £SOO on condition of a separate rate, the inhabitants of tha north side ha 1 petitioned to be rated, BO as to have the grant expended on the works intended. He informed the Government of this. They were well aware that the north side would be benefitted, and works were not so much required on the south side. Cr Blackwell said it appeared to him that the spirit [of the resolution had not been communicated to the Government, and stating he would move a resolution to that effect. The Mayor ruled Cr Blackwell’s resolution out of order unless notice was given, and the discussion ceased. ‘ The cash-book showed the receipts to be— From rates, £42 4s 6 I, and transfer fees, £1 Is; the balance to credit of the general account, was £255 7s Accounts—labor and carting, £l4 3s 6d; town clerk, £7 2s 3d; and foreman, £4; total, £25 5s 9d, were passed for payment. Cr Blackwell presented the following petition “We the undersigned ratepayers request that the Council will take the necessary steps towards striking a special or separate rate of sixpence in the £ upon all the rateable property situate on the south side of the river under section No 204 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867. Such rate, with a fair proportion of the Government grant of £SOO, to be expended in protective works on the south side of the borough.” Signed by Isaac Wilson and sixty-two otherratepayersof the south portion of the borough, being over one-third of the ratepayers of that part. The Mayor informed the Council that no motion could be made in reference to the petition unless the motion of last meeting was rescinded. Cr Blackwell might adopt this course. Cr Blackwell admitted the difficulty of receiving the petition, and thought a motion to revoke the previous motion might not be adopted. The Council then adjourned.