The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1869. MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 171, 4 August 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1869. MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

0 Tho adjourned meeting of the ratepayers of the town of Nelson was held last night at the Provincial Hall. Mr H. Adams was called to the chair, and having read the advertisement calling the meeting, slated that one reason for their being assembled was to take into consideration the advisability of adopting the Municipal Corporations Act in the place of the present Nelson Improvement Act. This was a question of considerable importance, and one which, if adopted, would involve large expenses. It should not therefore be decidedly hurriedly, and the ratepayers should know well what the j Act was and what its effects were likely to be. For his own part, he thought ifc was not afc all suited to our requirements, and thafc if ifc were adopted it would be found necessary to double our present rates ; these were not times when the ratepayers would wish to see their expenses increased, and they should therefore hesitate before insisting upon a change. Another portion of the Act which he considered would be prejudicial to the interests of the town was that, under it, the rates were to be levied on the annual value of the land, iusfcead of on the value to sell. Now, many portions of the land would not let for a single penny, and thus absentees and speculators would evade payment altogether. He would be glad to hoar, after the adoption of the report, any remarks thafc might be made with reference to the Municipal Corporations Act. The following report was then read : — "To the Chaikman of the Meeting of Ratepayers, Nelson. " Sir — The Auditors appointed to examine the Balance Sheet of the Board of Works for the twelve months ending June 30, have the honor to report that they have done so, and find the same correct. They would, however, take this opportunity of expressing an opinion that the arrears of rates should in future be subjected to the same audit as the rest of the accounts. It would be an additional guarantee of their correctness. " With respect to the resolution passed at the meeting of ratepayers : ' That it be an instruction to the Auditors to examine into the appropriation of the funds borrowed for special purposes, such as the construction of the Bridge-street sewer,' Sec. The Auditors have to report the following information : — "That the money was borrowed under the 26th Clause of the 'Nelson Improvement Act, 1858.' "That the amount borrowed was £1000, on the Oth July, 1 867, for five years, at ten per cent. " That the sum of £600 was expended on the Bridge-street sewer. " That the assessment, made on the property liable is £106 3s. 6*d. per annum, levied for six years. " That the rate collected for the last two years amounts to £185115., leaving an amount of £27 6s. yet to be collected. " That the ratepayers so specially rated are not charged with any interest on the said sum of £600; the total sum to be collected for the six years being only £637 Is. "That no provision has yet been made by sinking-fund or otherwise, for the repayment of the said £1000 when due, the amounts yearly collected being expended by the Board in the ordinary manner. "That the remaining part of the sum borrowed — namely, £400 — was also expended by the Board in the usual manner. " That at the time the Board borrowed the full sum above mentioned, the account at the Bank was overdrawn by upwards of £1000, bufc which said sum included the payments for the Bridge-street sewer contracts. " H. D. Jackson, \ Auditors "H. E»wabds, j- Aucmors"Nelson, August 2, I860." Mr Luckie moved the adoption of the report, which he thought gave all the necessary information. He thought many of the ratepayers were in the dark as to the manner in which the £1000 borrowed for :,t hejßridge-street sewer had been expended,

, as only £600 was necessary for that work. The Board perhaps had a legal right to do this, but it was, Le considered, a moral infringement of their duties. They had also, he considered, acted wrongly in making no provision for the repayment of the money, as the special rates levied for that purpose had boen absorbed iuto the general fund. Again, the 10 per cent, rate of interest was far higher than should be paid by a public body. He considered that with a revenue of £3,600 per annum, it was not right that the "town should be £1000 in debt. Mr. 11. Drew seconded the motion, which was unanimously adopted. Mr Sharp had fully expected that tho advocates of the Corporations Act would have addressed the meeting, but as no ono appeared disposed to do so, he would like to say a few words on the subject. The matter Iml been so clearly put before them in the Evening Mail of the previous day, and by the Chairman that evening, that it was unnecessary for him to go over the same ground again. With reference to the present working of the Town Improvement Act, there were many points which were capable of improvement,ibut ifc was an open question whether the desired advantages would be obtained under the Corporations Act. As yet, but very little was known of the working of that Act — he believed it was in operation only in Hokitika, Bleuheim, and Karapoi — and he should like to know how it worked in other places , before adopting it here. Those towns which had placed themselves under it had no Act before, and therefore oue was necessary for them. -.-It was true that the Corporations Act gave larger borrowing powers than wo possessed at present, but he was not at all sure that this would be au advantage. One feature of the Act fee approved of, in opposition to the views held by the Chairman, which was that the rates were levied on the value to let, instead of on the value to sell. He thought that the time might come when they might accept the Municipal Corporations Act with advantage, but he did not consider it advisable to do so now. He would move the following resolution : — " That, in the opinion of the ratepayers of the town of Nelson, it is inexpedient, at present, to bring the town within the operation of the ' Municipal Corporations Act, 1867.' " Mr IT. Balme seconded the resolution. Mr Webb agreed with the resolution, but while unwilling to accept the Municipal Corporations Acfcj he considered that the present one required remodelling. If the Corporations Act was adopted, they would always require a lawyer at their elbow to explain the 390 clauses. He disapproved of the system of rating, aud thought that to borrow under its provisions would inflict a hardship on those who bad already paid special rates, as the whole town would be liable for special improvements. Mr Sharp : No ; the Act provides for special rates for particular purposes. Mr Webb would wish to see the time for r&payment of loans extended to 15 or even 21 years. Mr Jackson thought thafc if so many i amendments were required in the present Act, it would be better to have a Dew one altogether, and surely this might be done without haviug the Municipal Corporations Act forced upou us. The resolution was then unanimously adopted, and after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated.