TOWN CLERK’S ANNUAL REPORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 15 April 1909, Page 3

TOWN CLERK’S ANNUAL REPORT.

The ninth annual report of the Town Clerk was presented at last Tuesday night’s Borough Council meeting. On Ist April the Council consisted of B. G. Gower, Esq. (Mayor), and Crs S. H. Baker, G. C. Coley, F. W. Franklaud, G. A. Gray, P. J. Hennessy, F. E. Jenks, A. E. Shadbolt, G. H. Stiles, and L. W. Wilson ; on the 23rd April B. G. Gower Esq., was re - elected Mayor for the third year in succession ; in October last Cr E. W. Wilson resigned his seat as a councillor, and Mr W. J. White was duly elected to the vacancy.

During the year there were 28 meetings of the Council. On the 13th July, 1908, the Council for the second time commenced proceedings to raise a loan to defray the one-third share due by this Council for re-building a portion of Wirokino Bridge destroyed by floods, and after many delays, the money has now been paid over by the Treasury. On August 31st, 1908, a poll of the ratepayers was taken and carried on a proposal to borrow to form and metal certain streets of the borough, and this loan, though through all its stages has not yet been received from the Treasury, but should be paid before the end of the present month.

The system of rating on the unimproved values came into force on the first April, 1908, in this borough, the change of systems causing a deal of work and worry in order to get Government Roll into something approaching correctness. The rates were struck on the Bth June, 'I9OB, and the whole of them collected by the 13th February, 1909, this being the seventh year in succession in which every penny of the rates has been collected, and during that period the Council have not written off one penny of same On the 9th October last the Foxton Gas Proprietary made their first lighting with coal gas, and the Council made a contract for three and a-half years from that date for the street lighting ; there are now 23 lamps so lit. The question of a water supply has occupied the attention of the Council several times during the past year, and in December last the Council accepted the tender of Mr Chrystall to put down a trial bore at the top of Main Street for an artesian flow in order to see if it is possible to instal a supply in this borough similar to that of the Hutt borough. One result of the adoption of the system of rating on the unimproved values is an effort made by Cr S. H. Baker to have the area of the borough still further reduced ; an objection by the Council has been , lodged against any further loss of area, and a petition has also been lodged against it, and the matter now awaits the decision of the Governor.

The introduction of gas lighting in reading-room and library has been greatly appreciated. In November last Mr S, Wilson, the caretaker and librarian, resigned, and the Council appointed Mr J. Thorpe to fill the vacancy, and he has given every satisfaction. One hundred new books were added to the library during the past year, and funds are now available for the purchase of another 100 volumes.

In conclusion, although no work of any magnitude has been undertaken during the past year, the Council has made steady progress in street lighting, street making, and in paving the way for a water supply.