MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 93, 23 April 1891, Page 5

MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

The Wellington City Council intend to; spend £8,000 within the next two years to increase the water supply fcom Waiouiomata.

The proposed Wellington Free Public Library, for which competitive designs have been invited, is to consist of ground and first floors, of which only one portion, to cost £3,750, is to be built at present. The total cost of the building, when completed, is nob to exceed £10,000. The proposed site is at the junction of Victoria and Mer-cer-streets, and the ground space occupied by the building will be 156 ft to Victoria street, and 88fb 9in to Mercer-street.

The following estimate for a general rate of one shilling in the pound to be struck at the next meeting of the City Council has been prepared by Mr Payne, treasurer: — Proposed expenditure; streets, £12,000 : streeb lighting, £700; Fire Brigade, £1,100 ; office expenses, £800; salaries, £3,000; sinking fund, £2,250; Hospital Board, £1,971; interest. £1,000 ; sundries, £3,909: Total, £26,730. Revenue: — Rents, £7,000 ; licenses and fees, £5,000 : Total, £12,000. Amount required to meet deficiency, £14,730, obtained by general rate of Is in £ on property assessed at £292,380.

A letter was read at the meeting of the City Council on April 16th from Mr D. De Castro relative to lighting the city with electricity. It was as follows :—" As arranged at my interview with you this afternoon, I write to say that the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate (Limited) purposes applying for an Act authorising it to supply the city of Auckland and neighbourhood - with electricity. The syndicate will immediately after obtaining the Act orect and equip a central station in Auckland, and within twelve months from the assent being given to the Act, will be in a position to supply electricity for lighting purposes to the corportion or other public bodies, or to private consumers by meter or by contract. The current supplied will be capable of being used for motive power. The nominal capital of the syndicate ab present ie £30,000, the whole of which has been appropriated ; bub there is a general power reserved to increase the capital according to the requirements of the Company, and further issues will be made from time to time as may become necessary upon any such further issues being made, ab least 20 per cent, of the amount offered will be reserved for subscription in .the colony. I am applying at the same time on behalf of the syndicate to Parliament for Acts authorising it to supply electricity to the cities of Wellington and Christchurch, and in each of the three Acts powers will be reserved to the respective corporations to purchase the undertakings of the syndicate ab the end of 21 years or, 42 years, or at any subsequent later period. If the corporations or either of them should elect to exercise.their right of compulsory purchase ab the end of 21 years, they would have to pay, in addition to the value of the property as a going concern, a sum—to be, ascertained, if necessary, tjy arbitration—for ttho value .of the then goodwill of the bnei- = .ness. If the Corporation should postpone^

for 42 years, or longer, they would only have to pay for the undertaking: as a going concern. I may add that I have been for some time past in negotiation with the City Councils of Wellington and Christchurch for the public lighting of their streets, and I hope before the respective Bills are introduced into the Houso to have concluded contracts with each of those corporations. I shall be glad if your City Council or your Lighting Committee will allow me to submit a scheme for lighting fcbe streets of Auckland, and if after examination ib should be approved by your Council, I ehall be prepared to enter into a contract) for carrying it out, conditionally upon the Syndicate obtaining the Acts for which we are applying.—(Signed) D. De Castko, Chairman of * the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate." A special meeting is considering bhe letter.

The following return has been made oub by the Town Clerk of Wellington, showing the receipts and expenditure of the four principal cities of New Zealand :— Receipts: Dunedin, £82,763, including £26,064 on gae account; Auckland, £63,473 3s lid ; Wellington, £60,240 0s 10d, including £4,574 11s 7d for water by meter; Christchurch, £31,418 6s 6d. The expenditure was as follows : — Wellington, £86,227 6s 4d, including £21,188 8s 6d on reclamation; Dunedin, £77,997 13a lid, including £19,410 on account of gas; Auckland, £61,155 Is 7d ; Christchurch. £31,829 Is sd, supposed to include interest on loan. Dunedin's total indebtedness on the 31sto March, 1890, was £638,678 2s 7d; Wellington's, £481.307 17s 2d ; Auckland"s, £471,393 12s 3d : Christchnrch's, £75,184 14a Id. The. total rates in Wellington amount (at that data) to 2s 9d in the £, in Dunedin to 2s 7 4-sd, in Christchurch to 2s s|d, and in Auckland to 2s OJd.