LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 308, 30 December 1891, Page 5

LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.

Mr K. D. Bell was installed as Mayor of Wellington on December 16. A high compliment was paid at the proceedings to the outgoing Mayor Mi- A. W. Brown, who was described as"having the host grasp of municipal affairs of any man in the cifcy.

Mr S. Brooking, Returning Officer, has received the following nominations for the East Ward vacancy in the City Council :— James Butcher, nominated by R. Walker and W. S. Lawry; Alfred Kidd, nominated by A. Wright and W. Buchanan. The election will take place on January 7th.

Mr A. W. Brown, the retiring Mayor o* Wellington, in his valedictory address on Dec. 10 deplored the failure of the drainage loan, and said they must go to Parliament for special powers. There had been 400 cases of typhoid last year, and nearly aa many this. Still there was no doubt Wellington had greatly improved upon its former condition.

Afc Onehunga on the 16th December Mr M. Yates.was installed as Mayor for the fourth term. In \m annual address he said the borough had reduced its gas account from about £180 to £65. Iv spite of all opposition they could now boast that Onehunga possessed a cemetery second to none in the Colony, and what was better still, free from debt. They have expended about £1,500 on road repairing, nearly £2,000 on the waterworks department, and the Fire Brigade; beeides making tho pathways of the borough durable and respectable by kerbing and tarring, etc. They had also paid off £200 Sinking Fund.

TheOamaru Borough Councilhavcdecidod to oiier the English bond-holders 4 per cent, for the remainder of the currency of the municipal debentures and instructions have been given to pay on this basis, the coupon falling due on lOch January. This rate of interest is based on the revenue received from tho securities pledged to bond-holders which, owing to the depression and heavy rates, has steadily fallen for years. , The "Mail" states that 4 per cent, does not exhaust the Council's ability to pay, and questions the wisdom and honesty of the proceeding. The decision has since been reversed, and the 4 per cent, will only be part payment.

On Dec. 17, tho annual statutory meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council for the installation of the re-elecf.ed Mayor, Mr G. Kent, waR held in the Council Chambers, Manukftu Road. Prior to tho business meeting, the Mayor entertained the Councillors and several others at a dinner in the Public Hall. Mr Hogg presided. Subsequently the Mayor made the usualstatutory declaration and took hi 3 seat, Our debit balance on the general account, he said, although not entirely wiped out, is diminishing slowly, but surely. On tho 30th September, 1890, it stood at £120 5s 2d. At the same period of this year ie was £76 10s. The water works account now shows a credit which is very satisfactory. Tho water loan of £4,000 has been further reduced during past year by a redemption of another debenture (£100). The loan now stands at £3,700."

On December 16 the adjourned statutory meeting of the Devonporb Borough Council for the purpose of formally installing; the re-elected Mayor, Mr E. W. Alison, was held in the Council Chambers, North Shore. There were present: Messrs E. VV. Alison, M. Nicnol, J. Glenny, 11. Cameron, W. H. Brown, W. Bond,R. Duder, andG. Lankhatn. Mr M. Niccol presided, and congratulated the Mayor on his unopposed re-election for a second term of office. Ho felb that he expressed the sentiments of the Council when ho paid that Mr Alison had conducted the business of the Council in a moat satisfactory and oapabla-manner. The cordial feeling which had existed in the Council was evidence of the confidence felt by the Councillors in their Mayor. The usual statutory declaration was then made by the Mayor, who then took his seat in the chair. Tho Mayor thanked the Council most sincerely for the kind and complimentary references which had been made to him in his capacity as Mayor, and returned his thanks for the uniform courtesy and assistance they had always extended towards him. He then briefly addressed the Council on matters of local linance and public works.

The ordinary meeting of tho Kewton Borough Council was held on December 16, when there were present: Messrs S. C. Brown (Mayor) presiding, Webley, Donald, Holder), Porter, J. McMaster, Shaukelford, VVarnoek. Mr S. C. Brown, re-elected Mayor of the borough, made tho usual declaration. He said remarks having been made in disparagement of tho borough, he thought a fitting time to refer to the work of the past few years. In addition to ordinary maintenance of roads, footpaths, etc., they had spent £2,583 on water supply, £2,500 of this amount being raised by loan from the Auckland Savings Bank for 50 years at 6 per cent. Tlioy had already taken up two £100 debentures, and had reduced tho loan and interest accordingly. Tho sinking fund was provided by a special 'id rate, levied in the wards supplied with wabor. The Council building and Fire Brigade station co3t £600 and were paid for, and they had a very complete fire brigade plant at a coat of £200. They had done -I,Booft of drainage at a cost of about £600, and on tho whole he regarded the condition of the borough as most satisfactory. They had nothing whatever in Iho shape" of an overdraft except the water supply loan.

The installation of Mr S. T. George, the new Mayor of Parnoll, took place on Monday, December 21 sit. There were j present :—The Mayor (li. B. Scaly), Messrs Gay, McCabe, Savage, Kissing, Thornes, land the Mayor-elect (Mr S. T. Gcorgo). Mi , iSealy, on his retirement, thanked rhe Coiinciilors for their ■ unifor.n courtesy I and co-operation in the conducting of business, and in (.his expression of (.hanks included the otiicers of tho borough. Mr Seymour T. George snado tho customary declaration, and took hi? seat, previously making a few remarks on the pleasure it afforded hi:n to again till that' place. He would endeavour to keep attention to tha business in hand lor the quick despatch of fchoaiiairs of the borough. With regard to the finances of tho borough, he said they hud greatly improved sinco he last, took part in their There was clion a dobifc balance of £1,200. Under tho careful management of hia predecessor ; lliafc was all wiped oft, and there wa? now a ! credit balance of some £340 to the general account, and credit alsoto drainage account. The water account he found was, however, a blot on' the finances. From a memo, furnished by the Town Clerk, he made out that they wero going fco the bad over the water account at tho rate ot about £75 a year. Well, this must bo put a stop to, .and some means devised to place the water account on a more satisfactory basis. Mr McCabe moved, "That the Council tender a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor." This was seconded by Mr Gay, and carried with acclamation. Mr Scaly bowed hia thanks, and the Council rose while he retired.

The annual ineoting , o f Auckland City Council was held on December 15th, when there were present : His Worship the Mayor, retiring (Mr J. H. Upton), the Mayor-elect (Mr Win. Crovvther). and Crs. Garratb, Warren, Farrell, Grey, Holland, Dignan. Swales, Luks, Cooper, Atkin, Wright, Paterson, Howson, Layer. Julian, Trenvvith, and Dr. VYaiker. Mr A. E. Devore, ex-Mayor, and several others wore also present. The retiring Mayor, Mr J. H. Upton, said he thought it appropriate on this occasion to refer to the doings of the Council during

the past year. On the 14fch December, 1890. their general account overdraft at the bank was £15,007, to-day it was £10,368, less £620 outstanding rates, or £9,748, bo that on their operations for the year fche general account showed a credit of £5,259. Now came tho disturbing element of interest. The balance of interest account on December 14fch, 1890, was £1,821, aud this year, less difference of outstanding rates, it was £4,313 ; so that on interest account they had gone to the bad £2492. The neb credit on the year's operations was £2767, and he thoughb he could congratulate the Council upon tins result. The credit was nob altogether due to the Council, certainly not to himself, the fine winter this year having helped materially to lighten their burdens. The result was also satisfactory from another point of view. During his termof office therateshadreached the lowesb point for many years, and he hoped that from this time forward the' valuations would steadily increase. During the year 1890-91 the total rates of the city were £28,008, and during the present year they totalled £28,270; so that for the two years of his Mayoralty the ratea of the city had been practically the same. In the previous year they amounted to £31,694, and the year before that they were £34,554. Had the rates been sustained afc those figuree they would now probably have no overdraft whatever. His Worship the Mayor - elect, Mr Wm. • Crowther, then took the chair, and received at the hands of Mr Upton the Mayoral chain. Mr Crowther thought it his first duty bo propose the following resolution: "That we, the Mayor and Councillors of the city of Auckland, accord bo J. H. Upton, Esq., our sincere thanks for the very able and efficient manner in which he has conducted the businece of the Council during the past two years." He thought all present) would agree with the terms of the resolution. Mr E. Cooper seconded the motion moved by tho Mayor, and in doing so testified to the zeal and ability displayed by the retiring Mayor, Mr J. 11. Upton. He also congratulated His Worship on his elevation to the chair. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Edward Cooper, as senior Councillor, handed to Mr Upton a handsome silver salver, biscuib case, and coffee pot, inscribed: " Presented, by the Auckland City Councillors to His Worship the Mayor, J. H. Uoton, Esq., on his retirement from office on the 16fch December, 1591." At the Mayor's invitation those present bhen adjourned for some light refreshment, when " Success to the cifcy of Auckland " and the health of His Worship was drunk in bumpers of champagne.