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Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81873, 24 October 1906, Page 3

(Jr. (Jolbs asked how nn'i'h there dut to tin 1 drainage lund from water cunnedions maue in eonjuncuon with sewago connections. It was di-timllv understood 'his money \\a* to be pfa«vd t<» the < P'dil of the di«iaccount. Tlm- Mayor (1 ill.tl evidently the "di-iinci understanding ' w;i» not r«dueed to writing. Tile report was passed. CAK.NKGLK LIMKARV, £2^o. Tiio Carnegie Libiary Conmiiiiee lu-onunnuled that a proposal be submilled to the to raise a loan <>t" /.2300 lo acquire Mr \V. V. .[•rooking'* pn-p'ny. section* 094. and pait. for thw purpose of a library and town hail site. Cr. Hdliinger moved the adoption oi the report, and submitted iiguies to prove ihis wa> a profitable investment. Tin- estimated income was: Rent of house on the properly, ,£SO per annum; r<m of hall now used for library ant! reading-room, ,£39; rein of section* adjoining Town Hal!. /J 1 2ft; r.iies on sanu\ /*i2. Kxpnulikirc totalled £125 per year, made up oi inn-rrs, on £2300 at 5 per cent /.* 115* and loss of rates on Mr Krookmg's propuiy £lO. This showed a profit of ,£125 to the borough. Kven )i the were unk't then: would be gain, lie .mated the Government valuaiion of the property was ,£1725. Cr. JJiowne

Cr. Monteaih opposed the motion. II;' said he could not quite underhand 1111' id l a of all this borrowing, bm d it must b l, infectious. The electi if light loan wa» justified because \\ was sought to make the sys;»m nr>re productive, but 'he ratewere not by an'y means anxiou- for nvre borrowing than was af>M'lufeJy mressaiy. lore-eeing an inevitable increase in the lates. lie -■aid ihc Council, when Mr Canities ofV-r was acc<'pted, had no idea of I buying a Mte. The figures supplied by the committer were totalv mis'•adiag. I'or instance, the rent of the Town Mall rooms would not be obtained l/y Cic purchase of this bind, but by the munificence of Mr Carnegie in providing another room ff.r the library c.:e. The whole thing was figured out to show what a big profit would be obtained, but no alto/ance was made for repairs^naint-

rates, £lO, was too small, or it ought to ]>[_' luo "small on properly valued at

Cr Hutchen considered the business ability of the Council had bjen tested and found lacking. The Council

I .vas totally unfit to cai;ry on inu ratc--1 payers' business, and should resign. •'Wo have been made the laughing alock of the town, and why?'' he ask•d. lie moved as an amendment that Ik- library be erected on the section next the Town Hall. Cr. Wilson seconded. It seemed

him a number of councillors were determined to shirk their responsibility, and to leave nilh the ratepayers .he selection of the *ue. If the latepayers were dissati.stied with <he Council's choice, they had their remedy. Cr. Brooking, replying to Cr. Hutchen, said he had always opposed the j'v.un Hall siiCj but was anything but anxious to sell his property. He had submitted it for sale only after frequent requests, and even then had asked the committee to put his offer aside. He considered the Town llali site could be made to earn a good deal more money than by using it for

a library.. Cr. Collis would vote against the amendment, as he desired to Bee municipal buildings, museum, and municipal theatre all in one block. It

was impossible on the present reserves. If he had this opportunity as a private citizen he "would jump at it."

Tho Town Clerk said the commitee had been awarfi of Cr. Brooking's )eculiar position, but it would be easy or him to temporarily resign wlnlst. natters were fixed up.

In answer to the Ma'yor, the Town Clerk said the committee was also aware they could not purchase a town hall she as long as the present one existed. The land might be obtained "for the benefit and improvement of the borough.'' The motion was amended so fhat the money would be raised for the purchase of a site for "municipal purposes, including a library." The amendment was lost. Ayes: Crs. Monteathj Wilson, and Hutchen. Noes: Crs. Bellringer, Collis, Webster Browne, and the Mayor. Cr. Brooking did not vole. Cr. Webster urged the necessity for hurrying a little, or else the .£2500 would be lost. The motion was carried, on the following division: Ayes—His Worship the Mayor and Crs, Bellringer, Coliis, Brownej Webster; noes—Crs. Montcath, Wilson, and liutchen. Cr. Brooking did not vote.