NEWTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 302, 22 December 1898, Page 2

NEWTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the members of the above Council was held last evening for the purpose of installing the Mayor. Mr .1. \V. Shackelford. There were also present Councillors Davenport. Donald. Smith. Warnock. lirinsi]en and Sexton. Mr John Wisdom Shaekelfonl. having made the statutory declaration, said (here was satisfaction in reviewing the amount of permanent work done during1 the year. Owing to the opening up of other parts of the Surrey Hills [--state the Borough had made greater progress than in many of the preceding years as over 00 dwellings had been erected which, however, entailed increased expenditure on roads, etc. Jt had been also found necessary to extend the water supply and it was gratifying to find till! liberal support nnd confidence in the Council's, labours as shown by the unanimous vote in favour of the loan for waterworks extension. Attention had also been given to drainage, and had funds permitted more would have been accomplished. So far an extension of the gully drain had been made in one ward, a further extension would shortly be commenced in another ward. Considerable addition had been made to the street drainage and a largo number of properties connected to the main drains. The Council had also paid attention to the fire brigade department, the services of additional men having1 been j secured and very considerable addi-1 tions made to the plant and appliances. The charging1 of a direct charitable aid rate had not pressed heavily on the ratepayer but enabled ordinary rates to be applied to legitimate* work, nnd at the present the Council had a small credit balance; but if must not ; he forgotten that nearly the whole of; the income had been received and j considerable expenditure on drainage,, streets and ordinary work would hi* required before more funds would be available. He must congratulate the Council on the inception and commencing of a thorough system of drain-! age in the past which so far wa.s satisfactory, but in looking to the future it was impossible in ''iew of recent building on new streets nnd urgent demands for roads, footpaths, etc., to continue the past, rate of expenditure on drainage-. Considering the vital importance to any borough of carrying out and completing a thorough! system of drainage it was advisable r that the matter be faced at once and ! rather than consider a loan for the purpose it was his intention to submit to the Council and a Ist) to the ralepayers a proposal for ■! fiirthcr rate of. say, 3d in the C to be expended entirely on drainage >vith additions] to same from Borough funds. A pub- j lie meeting mijfht he enll-d to discuss ' the question. In conclusion the. Mayor expressed his hearty -ippreciation of the support and assistance afforded ' him by the Councillors; and town clerk-, ' also to the press for 'he kindly notice, taken of the Council's efforts to pro- ■ mote the health, safety and comfort of the residents in the Borough. j Cr. Warnock spoke •'ulogistic.allv of' the impartial, painstaking and withal pleasant manner in which the Mayor; 'had fulfilled the duties of his office. | Cr. Davenport spoke in a similar strain and on his motion, seconded by Cr. Donald, and supported by Cr. Sexton, a hearty voto of thanks was accorded the Mayor for past services.