Council Valedictory.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7795, 11 April 1905, Page 2

Council Valedictory.

1 -8- ■ THE MA>OR ON THE YEAA'B WOHK. Before tho Borough Council dispersed on Monday evening, the Mayor (Mr 11. Cpck) referred at length to the yooi-'s work, and brief valedictory remarks were made by several councillors. The Mayor congratulated the Town Clerk on having the balance-sheet J laid on tho table that evening right up to time, and on his achievement in getting in practically all tho rates, only £47 •!» 2d remaining outstanding, and of that amount £37 15s bviiig~rlue by one ratepayer, who hud promised to pay up. There had been a good deal of comment one way and another as to whether the Council had done good work or not. When the Council took over the municipal works two years ago, these were practically thrown on their hands, and they had to carry out tho works to the best of their abiliey. One notable work had been the llenui bridge, which was a good substantial structure that would, he predicted, last after they had passed away. Some had argued that .ft should have been wider and higher, but he held 'that it was quite up, to requirement)*. Last year the Coun cil had estimated that the receipts for tho twleve months would amount to £10,029, and the balance-sheet now showed that this amount had not been reached by £IB7. This shortage, however, could very easily bo explained. There was a disQUbed account of £79, due by the Government for water supplied. The Council had estimated tho receipts for the extraordinary supply of water to amount to £9OO, but their actual receipts were only £766, thus leaving a shortage of £ll2. This result had also been contributed to by the Gas Company using less water than formerly, owing to having put down a well. In another item tho Council had anticipated a revenue of £",00 from the abattoir, but this also had not been received. That evening a formal resolution had been earnest which would enable them to receive £SOO from the Uovermncnt as a loan to repay the advance of that to abattoir account. The estimates committee would be

able to bring that u mount forward into the next year's accounts. Had the .Council received the reveuue enumerated above, as it was reasonable to anticipate, the revenue would have been £3OO in excess of the expenditure. Therefore ho thought the ratepayers would have nothing to grumble at with regard to the teceipts and expenditure. (Heur, hoar.) Dealing with the expenditure side, he announced that the Council, he considered, would have no need to impose any extra taxation next year, as had been suggested in the pi-ess. Thort would be no necessity whatever for an additional rate, as a study of 'the accounts would show. On the expenditure side, he proceeded to explain in detail, there were accounts totalling £2236, some of which, having ones been provided for, would not be recurring expenditure, and others in which there would be a big suvlng In the future. Included under the items enumerated were £591 for pipes and fittings, £296 expended on new Are stations, £194 purchase (part) of Western Park, deficiency on -the abattoir and baths accounts, and many other items, which the Mayor 'explained. He also Indicated the additional sources of revenue. Prom Carrington Road alone he anticipated a water revenue of at loast £SO. He claimed that in giving water to outsiders nt only flvo percent, beyond the usual charge to ratepayers the Council had been very reasonable indeed. (Applause.) 'Hie Council had last

t year estimated £I4OO to be spent -' in day labour, whereas £1682 had been so expended. A very largo o--2 mount hud been spent in improving - the streets and roads, and he s thought the ratepayers' would agree 1 that these were now really in as J good condition as they had boon - for many years. Occasionally sotno--0 one "squeaked," but he was satisfied i that tho Council had taken great 1 pains to look round and see the i wants of the ratepayers. When anvi one complained, the Council had ali ways looked into the matter to see i" what could best be done. When the - now Council came in hp would with some gratification hand over the flgt ures before them, and show where > they could effect saving to tho rato- ■ payers during the ensuing year. With - regard to rates, the amount payable > on the rate struck wne £TBOB fig r«l, ■ with £l6 13» 10d arrears from tho 3 previous year, a total of £7319 l»s • Id. The total actually collected was r £7272 14s lid, leaving only £l7 4s • 2d outstanding. Thus 99 per cent, of the total rates had been collected. f which was a marvellously good re- ( ' cord. (Hear, hoar.) The loon ac--1 counts had not been all floated, and 1 at the present time the Council was ! paying interest to the Bank of New ' Zealand at tho rate of Qi per cent. 1 If they had aU the loans floated ; they wautf bo able to get along \ very nicely. They would not in any case bo called upon to tax tho peo--1 pie with any extra rotes. Tho sewerage oouW not bo called a now I rate as at present householders were I paying the sanitary contractor 5Jd per week, or about 25s per annum. Say tho Council charged £1 per an--1 num, the ratepayers would lie gct- ' ting an up-to-date service nt a cheaper rate. The Council would fall short in the loans for the waterworks, for tho electric light, and on tho sewage account. With regard to the last the Council would have to please themselves. If they stopped' where they were, they would have a sum of £2OOO unexpended on that vote, which could be applied probably to other branches of tho loan but if they spent that £2OOO in continuing the work, the Council would be in the position that they would have to raise the balance to complete tho electric ligh\ scheme, for which the ratepayer* had not voted sufficient, at the time. The fault was with the engineer, who hud advised thorn as to the cost. The waterworks would also exceed the vote by some £8»25, including the erection of the cottage nt the reservoir, estimated at £«H>.* On the electric light schema the Council hud voted £6OOO, and up to the present a swum o» £7«55 had been Incurred in liabilities, and further material was required. The amount authorised for drainage was £IO,OOO, and Ihey ul ready had spent £BO3I, so that there was no doubt the whole amount would be required. In conclusion the Mayor took it thut on the whole the Council had not done bad work. Speaking of the in-coming Council he hoped to see as many of them as possible coming forwatd again j', only for twelve months. They wr,/ acquainted with alt the detail- of thfi works now drawing to A wu elusion, and in difficult auction, that might crop up new to mcillo™ hIT ".he *»**"«•s* In condu! Mon, the Mayo? I«id a tribute to the valuable work or the engineer who had admirably carried ™t Ms DmZ" t£ U0 * ■" the last >«'" duties in town than while the big nlso kc P l U» Council supplied with every detail, and groat credit was due to him' for K*R •IW UR t0 lh « '»«»*■ The ' town Ucrk was wry sound on mu- I nicipul law, ain» hj« hopo.l the new ' Council appoint him legal ad- " ,vi*r, as he haa ahrays f in his opinions on legal matters, £ n » lo ° k Ule °l , t""-««'"t.v to r tnank the Mayor «iu) ofllews for the ,; ssvirs* ihvy had cil, "• |< •• , n, "|{

-fe Ahl £L supported. u„.so remarks, especially thanking the Mayor for his tact, patience, and courtesy in the conduct of the ineetlngn tr Kraser having added a word as The "coif of the Council, the vote was curried, and the proceedings terminated. 'l*o Mayor thanked the Council for [ho gift of a group photograph n» bout Christmas time, and Intimated that it was his intention to present the Council with hr* own photograph.