The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). WEDNESDA, DECEMBER 24, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5846, 24 December 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). WEDNESDA, DECEMBER 24, 1879.

Tiieke is a marked contrast between the inaugural addresses delivered by the respective Mayors of Auckland and Wei lingtou, on th.o occasion of the commencement of the new municipal year. In each instance- the gentleman occupying the position ol Mayor does so by virtue of re-election, but there the similitude ceases. In one case the Mayor is able to refer to the past term of office as a period during which the re has been substantial advance in civic matters ; in the other, there is a practical admission that the time has been wast ed in personal conflict between the Mayor and Councillors. The Mayor of Auckland expressed his thanks to the Council for 'courtesy experienced, and his gratification at the moderate and conciliatory spirit exhibited by the Council ; the Mayor of Wellington complains of the “incompatability of temper” on the part of his advisers, and modestly lectures a dozen gentlemen elected by the ratepayers as to their duties. The Council j of the city of Auckland eulogises the Mayor on his return to office, while the

Wellington Council charges its president with regaining his seat by wilfully making statements which he know to be untrue. .Such a contrast must he exceedingly painful, as well as damaging, to Wellington ; and for the credit of our city let us hope that at tho cud of the current municipal year a bettor state of tilings will prevail. Mr. Hutchison has publicly and privately announced that he will not again seek re-election, and we should be glad to see him in this last term of office resume that conciliatory course of conduct which rendered him so popular during the first year he occupied the position of Mayor of Wellington. No man has a better knowledge of what are his proper functions as Chief Magistrate of the city; perhaps few can discharge them more agreeably or make the municipal machinery work more smoothly ; but on the other hand, speaking with a knowledge of his career for the last five or six years, we have no hesitation in saying that no man more often loses sight of the public good in currying favor with a particular section of the community with a view to his own political advancement. The Mayor of Auckland, on his installation to office, was able to make a financial statement which must excite the envy of the over-taxed ratepayers of Wellington, as witness the following :—“Payments to the extent of “ £14,000 have been made for permanent “ works, and these have, as was expected, “ absorbed tho credit balance of various “ accounts, and necessitated an overdraft “ from the bank of over £3OOO. But “ tho fact that the unsold debentures of “ tho endowment loan are sufficient to “ meet these deficiencies, and leave a “ respectable balance to tho general ac- “ count, shows the finances of the city “ are in a sound and healthy condition, “ and tire quotation of 109 for our watsr- “ works debentures in London exhibits “the confidence which is reposed in our “ securities. The rates show a slight “increase on the previous year. But, “ from the large number of new buildings “ which have been erected since tho last “ valuation, we may safely reckon on a “ further addition to the rateable value “of city property of £IO,OOO. The rents “ received by the Council from the properties re-loased daring the year show “ an increase of over £2OOO per annum, “ while many more leases will terminate “ in 1880, and, on being re-let, will add “ considerably to the rental. In addi- “ tion to tho increased revenues thus “ secured and anticipated, a largo annual “ sum will be realised from the new allot- “ ments to be cut up and leased imtnedi- “ ately, between Hepburn and Proton “ streets, and also from those on the “ reclamation in Freeman's Bay. It “ will thus bo seen that our revenues are “growing in such a manner as to point “either to a reduction of taxation, or “ to our being able, should it bo ueces- “ sary, to pursue our progress without “ extraneous aid from tho Government. Mr., Peacock could also refer to a reduction in the price of water during the year, and inform the council of definite arrangements having been made to erect public baths, to establish a public library, and to the transfer to the corporation of the important properties and duties hitherto administered by tho Improvement Commissioners. Lot us glaoos at the position of Wellington. The burgesses must, in any case, face increased taxation, while the withdrawal of the Government subsidy will render the burden almost intolerably heavy. The debt has been materially increased during the year ; the profits of the Te Aro reclamation, which were relied upon as an asset to balance some of our liabilities, have been so tied up by the Legislature as to be of no value for such a purpose ; the water supply is bad in quality, and so insufficient in quantity that had the season not been exceptionally rainy the utmost inconvenience would have prevailed before even this period of the summer had been reached, while the loan for extension purposes has been indefinitely hung up ; and as for the vital question of drainage, it not only remains unsettled, but tho Council, for financial reasons, dare not approach it. The picture is not a pleasant one to dwell upon, especially in view of the apparently rosy condition of affairs in Auckland ; but nevertheless the Mayor and Councillors should not lose sight of it. The city has many assets, it is true, but the major part will not attain a large value for many years to come, and therefore it is necessary that there should be some little care for the present. However, it is hopeless to expect reasonably good administration while the Mayor is fighting the Council for supremacy. The contest is mildly exciting, and might be amusing, wore it not so disastrous to the interests of the city.