The Globe. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 975, 10 August 1877, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1877.

On the strength of a telegram from Wellington, which stated that the Municipal Conference had passed a resolution " recommending that boroughs (including Dunedin) shall have powers to levy a 2s. rate," we felt it our duty, in the interests of the ratepayers, to condemn the supposed action of the Municipal Conference in the strongest possible terms. We are glad, however, to lind that the telegram was incorrect. It should have read the conference passed a resolution recommending that the boroughs in Otago (including Dunedin) are to have the power of levying a 2s. rate; and the limit of Is. in the £ will still remain in force in all municipalities outside Otago. Mr Hobbs, in a letter to the " Press" to-day, explains that this subject was first brought under the notice of the Conference by telegram from Invercargill, and was strenuously opposed by almost every member. himself among the number, but on the arrival of Mr lteeves, the Dunedin delegate, he got the question reconsidered. He explained that the Otago municipalities are working- under a Provincial Ordinance, in which no distinctions are made between general, special, and separate rates. They now wish, however, to work under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, but they cannot do so unless they have the power of levying one general rate. It was therefore agreed, Mr Hobbs explains, to recommend the following addition to clause 108 of the Municipal Corporations Act of 1876 • •' Except in the case of municipalities within the Provincial District' of Otago, where the amount shall be extended to 2s in the pound." We can quite understand the necessity of this recommendation. Were only one rate struck in Christchureh a similar power would, no doubt, have to be granted. At the present time we have a general rate of Is in the pound, and the Council can,further, levy a drainage loan rate up to Is if required. It is true th&iiihis year, owing to the increase in the val&e of property, it has not been found necessary ,to do so, the balance on hand from last &eing sufficient to pay the charges on our Municipal lc#a. But even as it is, the ?#te.-i payer*) #f- the City are quite heavily enough taxed at the present'momcut. There is a general i s ate of Is. in the £>; the Drainage Board have ..trnek one of &d., and" then there is the Waimakariyi rate ox gd., and had it been

of the loan, our rales would nave readied 2s. in Hie C. The publication of the telegram from Wellington naturally created some alarm in the minds of the ratepayers here. As we ■have said, however, Mr. Hobbs's explanation this morning is quite satisfactory, and Ave have to thank him for the prompt manner in which he has corrected the mistake.