HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1925, Page 1

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

.FRIDAY, AIR. 28th. The Council met at 7.-10 p.tn. Present: -Mesrs G. A. Perry (Mayor), H. -M. Coulson, J. King, A. ft. Eleoek, W. Jeffries. G. 11. Blank, G. Heinz and F. Orr. Apologies were made for tii.; absence <d' .Messrs Parry and Evans. The minutes were, confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWA'IM) COB B KSI'ON HENCIf. From Valuation Department in reference to list of exemptions of valuation list.- Received. From Westland Suh-Fnion applying for use of Cass Square, with right to charge for admission on Wednesday. Sept. 10 1 1 1 . on the occasion ol tlie South Canterbury-West (‘oast football match.—Received and request grantee on the usual conditions. From E. Bade asking fur permission to place a gate across eastern Tudor Street, and complaining of tlie dumping of rubbish in the vicinity.—Received ; the Council to offer no objection subject to approval of Overseer. From W. W. Goodfellmv and other Brittnn St. residents asking for continuation of footpath on west side of Brittnn Street. between Hampden and Park street crossing.—Received. Mr Heinz urged the formation 'if the footpath he given effect to. Mr Coulson urged consideration with the estimates for the year. Every care would have to he given to coming expenditure. Mr Heinz said the condition of most of the footpaths were in a .shocking condition, and required urgent attention. Mr Heinz moved that the Overseer report as to the cost at next meeting. Seconded hy Mr King. Mr Blank objected to the statement by Mr Heinz that nothing had been spent on the footpaths. The whole trouble was that the old Council had spent too much, and left no lunds for expenditure at present. Air Heinz rose to reply and was ruled out of order. The motion was then agreed to. From Cr. Evans, telegram, suggesting inclusion in estimates of £IOO for representation at Dunedin Exhibition. Received. Afr Blank moved that in view of the non-action of other local bodies that no action he taken. The Afayor said the Council were to confer with the Cniinly Council on the maflcr and consideration must he held over till that meeting took place. From AVestland Sub-Union enclosing Co IPs Oil. percentage of gate receipts for period (£7O los fid) —Received. REPORTS. From Treasurer reporting receipts £IOO 8s lOd. payments £Rll Us Id. debit balance £BO7 Os <l. Bonn a/e credit balance £787 I ts -Id. Received. THE ESTIMATES. The Town Clerk submitted a stateincut showing the estimated expenditi:r< for the year was £3877. made up l.e salaries. £178; street maintenance. £1.000; drainage maintenance. £1000: reserves. C 100: lire prevention, £27)0; printing and advertising £<.i; Free Public Library. £BS2: Hokitika river combined bridge, £00; AVestland County Council (first instalment of £.700 for South Hokitika) £100; water supply expenses. £200; grants in aid. £7O; miscellaneous £IOO. The estimated receipts were general rates arrears. C 227 : licenses, .£< ->0; ilcM'i"-. yJ7i i; llokilika Beautifying .Society. £B7; Hokitika Eire Board. £7(1; registration of dogs. £117; fees ami funds, £7O; miscellaneous, £100; total £1717. Balance to lie met by general rate, in the C. £2:!2S. Street lighting—(ost of lighting sit nets, £2OO : separate rate of 1 1 in (lie £. £278. Westland Hospital Board levy tor year. £lO 1 ; rate of I pi in £. £l3l. Special rates annual recurring. No lRl; No I. :ld; No 7, gd ; No 7, -d. Hokitika ilarlmur spe; ial rate of 2d in the £; sanitary fee of IB.s per Total rates on unimproved value, i- 2d in C. I beg In submit herewith' for your i. ou.siifera l ion a -lalemenl slowing rates and sanitary fee required to lie struck and levied for the year ending In connection therewith I desire to bring under your notice the billowing eonqiarisoii between the valuation just completed and tlie previous one, tin former, of course, being the one upon which my estimates are based, viz: Capital Baleahle Aalue of tlie Borough £871,11H (11)2*7) ; £2(l-1,(102 (1021). Fninipmved Rateable Value £82,50l > I £27). £llO.Blll (11)211. You will nolo hy the above figures that idle values of the Borough have been increased as follows by the new valuation :—Capital Rateable \alue £117.8(12, Fuimproved Rateable Aalue £2l. bill. General Rate.—l recommend that a rate of G<l in the £ he struck. Ibis rale on the new valuation represents the sum of £2.1128. The amount of £P;:I7 on (P.d rate (the maximum that could he struck last year) is exceeded this year hv about £7(!U. I may slate that the General Rate is struck to (over the deficiency between the estimated receipts and expenditure of the General Account and that this Account on the .’list March last showed a deficit of £l7O. as against a credit of .£Blll for the previous year. The Special Rates and Separate Bate- and the Sanitary Fee are struck and levied on the amounts necessary to meet the charges against them. Hokitika Harbour Rate.—The new valuation will result in this rate being decreased from ltd to 2d in the C. The total ol the rates on the unitnnroved value recommended at Is 2d in L\ representing £t.B;fi). I.n-t year rate oil the old valuation at 1« id in the £'. represented t'l.dot. —Received. AR Coulson moved that the Estimates as submitted lie received and adopted. Hi doing so he urged that the greatest care he used in the expenditure for the year, pointing out the difficult position of tlie financial position of the Council. Afr Jeffries seconded the motion. He supported the remarks of the Chairman of the Finance Committee in regard to the ne-ee-sity of care in the administration of the funds. Ho was glad to find that the recent valuation had shown a substantial increase on the previous one. Fie thought the estimates submitted were verv fair and equitable. The Afayor said lie was of opinion that the valuer had made a very fair end equitable valuation of the town. He thought they could take it that

the valuation was a satisfactory one. Dealing with tlie Council’s expenditure lie thought every care should be taken, and only urgent works lx- attended to. If this were done then the Council's finances should prove satisfactory at tlie end of the year. The motion was then agreed to. Ti; reply to M r Jeffries the Alayor stated he had interviewed the Alnnngrr of the Kanieri Electric Ltd, in connection with 'the lighting of the town, and he bad stated that arrangements were being made for improvements. AA'hen the new plant was completed lie thought a decided improvement would result-. Air Jeffries said lie did not think tip- results were satisfactory at present. The lights that night were far from satisfactory. It was resolved to write to the Company urging attention being given to make an improvement in present conditions. In connection with the rule of the road, Afr Coulson urged that some ‘•silent policemen” ho obtained for placing at the intersection of streets as a warning to drivers and help to avoid accidents. Air Blank protested at anv expenditure on tlie matter, A discussion then arose on parking places for motor cars. Air Orr urging that additional parking places be arranged for. AH Heinz seconded the motion of AH Coulson, supported hy Air Eleoek. who stated the Revell-Hamillon street corner was a very dangerous one. Tt was resolved to obtain three “silent policemen.” Air Eleoek urged attention to the Weld St. railway crossing. Air Onstated the crossing was a disgrace to the town. He moved that the Railway Department he written to and asked to give immediate attention to the improvement of the crossing. -Seconded hy Mr Heinz and carried. The Council rose at 8.30 p.m.