SPREYDON BOROUGH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17279, 21 September 1916, Page 8

SPREYDON BOROUGH.

TEN YEARS’ PROGRESS. The report of tho clerk of the Sproydon Borough Council for the year ending March 31, 1916, was presented at the meeting of the Spreydon Borough Council last evening. It stated that, during ..he year continued good work had been done in connection with the- war funds and recruiting, Spreydon having sent 150 men to tho front. A successful house-to-houso recruiting ’ campaign had been carried out, aud about £SOO had been rai&d for the Red Cross and Lady Liverpool Funds, apart from gifts in kind and contributions to outsido funds. This from a population of just under 5000 was a position to be proud ot. During the year permission was granted by tho ratepayers to raise an electric light loan of £6OOO for street and house lighting, and the Tramway Board subscribed tho whole amount a few days after tho poll wus taken. The report contained many references to tho progress of the district during tho past ten years. It stated that in 1908 the population of Spreydon was about 1-100. At tho timo it was formed into n boron Mi the population totalled about 2200, but to-day the population was neflriy oUoiJ. opi-y----<lon, /with its 1320 acres, with four houses to the aero aud with four persons to each house, should contain homes for 21,120 persons. In 1908 there were 952 properties on tho roll, and since that time there was an increase of 964. The capital value in 1906 was £216,165, and now it was £603,805, showing an increase of £387,610- Tho unimproved value showed an increase of £131,445, tho figures in 1906 being £98,920 and at tho present time bo.r of building permits issued in the east ward since November, 1911, amounted to 204, representing a sum of £71,200, and in tho west ward for the same period 115, representing £10,050. Tho public debt now stood at £29,276 4s Id, tho original amount on March 31, 1916. being £30,830, of which £1364 4s lid had been paid oil tho principal, and £lB9 11s placed to tho credit of tho sinking fund. Of these loans £9950 were raised by debentures and the remainder through the New Zealand State Advances Office. The assets and liabilities in 1906 were £287,754 and £1047, and this year were £609,781 and £32.853 respectively. The general rate for tho year 1906 was 2|jd, and separate rates for lighting, charitable aid and small birds amounted to over 3d in tho £. To-day it was 2RI. including lighting, charitable aid and small birds. From a percentage point of view tho borough bad made a much lighter rate to-day than it had in 1906. Taken on values these figures showed £I4BO for 1906 aud £2144 for 1916. Tho total rates from all sources in 1906 were £12,158 and in 1916 £15,421. The total cash receipts from all sources in 1906 amounted to £lßl9 5s 6d and in 1916 to £6441 4s lid.

Speaking with reference to the clerk’s report, the Mayor (Mr IV. H. 33 iusor) stated that at present the borough had less than ono mile and a half (out- of about 52 miles) of channelling end footpaths yet to construct. V hen these works were taken in hand the whole of their pioneer work, with tho exception of new roads, would have been completed. In connection with drainage, they were not so fortunate, although they had had tho No. 2 drain inverted- At the conclusion of the present year, they hoped to have all other open drains concreted. At present there was little hope of having tho No. 1 drain attended to. Referring to the war system, tho Mayor said he thought it was time tho wards, as worked at present, were abolished. Something must be , done to secure equal division of representation for H The ton years of close and constant work carried out by Mr Woodfield, u.c town clerk, had assisted In no -.mall degree towards tho advancement of ’ lie borough. The low cost of their office administration (less than 6£ per cent) was greatly duo to his care and application to their interests. He could not let the opportunity pass without complimenting Mr W-oodficld on his good services.