The Mayoral Address.

Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3242, 10 December 1880, Page 3

The Mayoral Address.

At the meeting of the City Council lastnight His Worship the Mayortookthe opportunity to review the operations of the Mayoral year. A3 tho matters touched upon are of Considerable local interest we give the speech in full:—" Gentlemen Councillors of thd city,—Another year has passed in our relationship aa Mayor aud Council, add as this is the last ordinary meeting at whicli I shall preside, I purpose to give a brief resume' of the matters which have received Consideration during that period, and to indicate in a general way the position of our municipal affairs. At the beginning of tho Mayoral year, the Bill authorising the consolidation of our loans had been passed, and soirlj doubt was experienced as to tho expediency of briugiug it into operation, from the fact that, in one of its clauses, the rating powers of the Corporation were curtailed. Three things, however, decided the Council to carry the Act into effect. Ist, That Hie time was favourable for tin floating of tbe loan iv the London market. 2nd. That to make the mbst of the Improvement Trust Property, it was desirable, as early as possible, to obtain tho rrioney to meet tho liability by loau, rather than By special arrungeiiient with the bank; and 3rd, that the rents from our city endowments were increasing at such a "rate as to warrant us in believing that if the maximum rate of two shillings iv the pound allowed under tlie Loan Act, were absorbed as interest under our present valuation, the rents thus sst free, together with those from tho Improvement Trust property, and the other revenues of the Corporation, would suffice lor general municipal purposes. Pending the floating of the loan, arrangements were made 'with the Bank of New Zealand to have the interest on the debt of the Improvement Commissioners reduced from 10 per cent t0,7 per cent, for one year, thus effecting a saving of £800, and evcu at this stage gtvmg proof of the soundness of one of the reasons urged for taking over that property, viz., that our superior credit would secure a lower rate of interest, and render practicable the fulfilment of the objects of the trust free from ultimate loss. The satisfactory price realised by the portion of our new loan in London is well known, and fully justifies the- steps taken, being equivalent, after deducting £ll(>5 interest accrued, on bonds, and expenses on negotiation, amounting to £2483, to obtaining, net, £103 11s 8d for each £100 debenture, or at the rate of £5 16s per cent. This is, however, subject to Hie result of the inquiry being made as to the fairness of the bank charging commission on the whole loan of £250,000 instead of £69,500, the amount actually to. be negotiated. If the difference of £900, involved thereby, is allowed, our position will then be—net price, £105 4s sd, or at tho rate of £5 14s per cent; The advantageous arrangement at present existing. with the National Bank, which allows 6^ per cent. On deposit secures to the city on the money received froni loan and awaiting employment interest in excess of that being paid. The holders of our market loau have already arranged for the conversion of their stock, while the holders of the endowment loan, alive to the great advantage they will receive by this operation, are adopting a like course. There is little reason to doubt that when the amount represented by tn'ese conversions, and the new stock issued is quoted on the London Exchange, that the holders of waterworks debentures will also embrace the opportuuity for conversion; and thus reader complete the success of this undertaking. In addition to the formation of Selwyn-street, the necessary work undertaken in Chapel-street and City Road, the streets of the various parts of the city have been kept in good repair, and the important work of channelling tbe streets and asphalting the footpaths has been steadfastly prosecuted. One of the prominent features of the year is the large number of compensation claims which were made against the Council by ratepayers iv Victoria and adjoining streets, amounting in the aggregate to £6,497 5s 6d. I think, in view of the adverse decision which had been given in our Supreme Court, and the expense experienced in one case, when the machinery of the Public Works Act was brought into operation, that tho Council acted with prudence aud wisdom in the course adopted—viz., procuring the report of two practical experls as to the cost of alterations made necessary .by cuttings, and offering the amount estimated by them. These sums, or Bomething near them, have in every case been accepted. The total amount paid v nder this head is £185815s Bd. There have been differences of opinion on this .course of action, but it is satisfactory to note that •with regard to claims subsequently mads from Hobson-street, amounting to £3900, the Council, strengthened by a favourable decision recently given by the Chief Justice at Wellington, and taking into account the surrounding circumstances, has been unanimous in deciding to resist Buch claims to the utmost. As 1 hare previously indicated, I have a strong conviction that such compensation claims have a tendency to paralyse the action of municipal bodies and pievent necessary improvements. I feel assured that the proper time for street improvements is when the properties abutting thereon are of a character to be easily moved and adjusted to the altered circumstances, and that the Legislature would be justified in' giving powers tor this purpose to new colonial cities, which might fairly be withheld in older established countries. The opening of the Free Public Library, with a collection of 5000 volumes and printed works, marks an epoch in our progress. The large number of people who visit this institution—now about 300 daily -shows that its advantages are appreciated. It only requires that judicious care be exercised in securing representative and first-class works from time to time to maintain Its efficiency and add still further to its success. On my recent visit to Australia, I have made inquiries on the subject in matters of detail, and the result thereof I shall submit to the Library Committee. The by-law for regulating the charges for water aud kiudred matters received a very lai^e aud careful consideration from the special sub-commit-tee and also from the Council, and the prices have been fixed so low as lo deprive anyone of - excuse for not using our excellent supply. Attention has also been given in framing -these to give lower rates for special applications, amongst which may be noted.the supply to bathing establishments privately owned when under the Council's supervision, thus Riving encouragement to cleanliness, comfort, and health on the part of those not otherwise favoured with bathing facilities. In accordance with the arrangement of last year, the Public Baths, opposite the foot of Hardinge-street, have been begun, and will be completed in time for the present season, and will provide a desideratum long looked forward to. The question of site for the building to accommodate the Council Offices, Free Library, and ultimately a Town Hall, has received consideration and been advanced a stage, while funds are now in hand towards the erection of the building. Considering the extent in which this accommodation is carried in Australia, il. must strike a stranger that we are deficient in this respect. The experience and example of these cities would, however, justify great care in seeing that ample Bpace is afforded in the building-that, in short, it is made of a size anticipatory of the steady and rapid growth o£ our city, it is satisfactory to know that an additional reserve will soon be received from the uovernment, adjoining Alten road. This has been rendered practicable by means of the exchange of site effected with the Hebrew congregation, and, when planted, it will doubtless enhance the beauty and nealtufulness of that part of the city.. Kecognising the importance to the citizens ota thoroughly efficient fire brigade service, the Council has ordered during the year telegraphic and telephonic signallmgjapparatus, to connect the various districts witn tne central station, and soon may hope to nave an alarum system second to none in the colonies. The charges and regulations for cabs plying for hire in the city have also received considerable attention, and the bylaw which has been framed will simplify the system, aud render the charges more in accord with those made iv other parts of the colony, and thus obviate in the future complaints of overcharge, such as hitherto have been frequent on the part of visitors. The question of tramways is now also fairly before the Council, and as Auckland is now the only one 'of the four loading cities without that accommodation, it is to be hoped she will not be long behind her neighbours. The [result of my enquiries iv the South is that tramways, in each case, have been constructed by contractors; tnat they are considered a great success, and are highly prized by the public : that while the experience of Christchurch Council is that too liberal concessions were given, involving subsequent trouble aud annoyance, tne contract of the Dunedin Corporation (copies of which I have laid on the table) gives thorough control over the contractor, and secures that a considerable portion of the roads, when the rails are laid,; shall be maintained in repair by him. With the experience of others to guide the Council no difficulty need be encountered in tins matter. Let it not be thought that by brevity of notice I undervalue the importance of such matters as the new night-soil contract and arrangements, the main sewer diversion with Government funds, tho street-naming and planting, and the read.-j

jiistment of the office departments, each of which has been dealt with by the Council. As was anticipated, t?>.e ratable property of the city has largely increased during the year, and this increase will materially add to the, rates to bo collected. At the time when the rates were struck, it was found that a large portion of the year ■would lapse before our new loan would be fairly floated, and consequently a special rate of Is 3d and a special rate of 9d were struck. But in future it is evident that the whole of the 2s allowed by Act will have to be struck as a special rate for interest and sinking fund, leaving tho Endowment and Improvement Uommiaaion rents to be used for general purposes, together with the licenses, fees, aud other revenues or the Corporation. It will be in the recollection of the Council, that on the understanding that the unraised portion of tne endowment £50,000 loau amounted to £15,000, aud thut one of the streets, viz., Picton-street— specially mentioned in the Act as to be made—was still untouched . that a sum of £500 was to be held for that purpose, and that the balance of £14,500 expended in odvance wai to bs considered as borrowed from general account, jib in printed statement, altlioughpractically it came from other account?. Jtiut as the whole unraised balance was found to be £14,500, it follows that when debentures to that amount are sold as converted stock, which will be very soon, the money to bo repaid to these accounts will bo £14,000. When this readjustment takes place, the balance at credit of general account will bo about, £350. While speaking of the printed statement of accounts I desire to point out that the repairs to the Free Library building have been charged against rate notwithstanding the resolution of the Council that it should be charged against tho building. I would suggest that at next balance an account be opened for the old Mechanic's property, and the cost of repairs be advanced to it from general account until the property t be realised. In estimating tho financial position of the corporation it must be borne in mind that by the consolidation of our loans tho sura of £10,967, balance and accumulated sinking fund to the credit of the old £20,000 loan, is set free. If to this is added profit on loau £2,490, and general account balance £350, there will bo available for general expenditure £13,807. I estimate the probable revenue for next year, outside of rates an<J waterworks revenue, at £14 000, or, including the latter, at £18,0U0. We have still a very large number of excellent allotments in various parts of the city for lease, and these will continue to add to our revenue as they are taken up. It will thus be seen that our financial position is a good one, but it is unnecessary for nic to point out the fact that, our borrowing powers having t been fully exorcised, the balance which will be at our disposal for general purposes should be judiciously husbanded. It now only remains, in view of my approaching severance from you, that I agniu express my gratification at the manner iv which the business of the Council has beeu carried on, and my sincere thanks for the support which i have received from you all. I trust that in the future your deliberations will be marked by similar considerateiioss, and your work by like diligonco ; and that tho various measures which it hiis been our lot to unite in furthering shall have a true fruition in the welfare arid happiness of the citizens, and the advancement and prosperity of our higlily favoured city.