MASTERTON BOROUGH ESTIMATES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8524, 30 August 1907, Page 5

MASTERTON BOROUGH ESTIMATES.

CONSIDERED uY THE COUNCIL. THIS YEAR'S RATES. A special meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held, last evening, to consider the Estimates for the current year, as recommended by the Works Committee. There were present—The Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine), and Crs J. Yarr, J. Prentice, J. C. Evvington, W. Pragnell, W. Morris, F. W. Temple, and J. Elliott. An apology for absence was received from Cr J. H. Pauling. The Mayor reminded the Council that there were only about seven months of the year to run, and already about £2,000 had been spent this year. He mentioned this because he did not want the Council to decide unon works which could not be carried out during the remainder of the financial year. There was no doubt that the Works Committee's recommendations would have to bej cut down, and the Ccur.cil would have to consider what were important works and what were not. The whole of the estimates, including the Works Committee's recommendations, amounted to about £IO,OOO. A 2d rate would produce a revenue of £7,115 17s 2d, which would be nearly £3,000 short of the estimates as they stood at present. He thought the best thing the Council could do would be to strike the rate for the current year, and then they could see what revenue they had. Cr Pragnell moved, and Cr Morris J seconded, that a general rate of 2d in the £ be struck. ,

Cr Temple said he supported the motion because he thought that be • fore the end of the year the Council would have to strike an additional rate of £d to cover works already carried out in respect of the £25,000 loan.

The motion was carried unanimously. The rates for the waterworks, drainage, library, and Bannister Street were struck the same as last year. A rate of 5-32 din the £ was struck to provide this year's interest on the £25,000 loan. The Council then dealt with the items of the estimates seriatim. The items for street lighting and labour were passed unaltered. Scavenging (£330) was reduced to £300; drainage upkeep (£600) was reduced to £500; new culvert in Montgomery's South Road (£4O) was struck out; connecting Pownall and Villa Streets, culvert, forming and gravelling and i er)ing(£loo) was reduced by £SO; new underground drain High Street (£100) was struck out; protection Wafpoua River (£SO) and repairs to first Waipoua Bridge (£SO) were struck out; widening Makora Street (£165) was struck out; erection of new yards, stables, etc., and implement sheds (£600) was reduced by half; altering manholes, iron taps (£100) was struck out; footpath Dixon Street South (£75) was struck out; two mud carts (£9O) was struck out; grading Queen Street from Qusen's Hotel to School (first payment £500) was struck out; grading Lincoln Road, 35 chains (£725) was struck out; grading Hall Street, 15 chains (£300) was struck out; footpath Cornwall St., 40 chains (£100) was held over: contingencies (£300) was struck out; street maintenance (£2,000) was reduced by £365. The sum of £3OO was allocated for the Park.

The estimates as amended totalled £7,284 17s, and were adopted.