CITY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

UNIFORM RATE STRUCK.

STATUTORY ACCOUNTS PASSED.

The Auckland City Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr. G. Baildon) presiding.

The town clerk reported that the statutory accounts and statements for the year ended March 31, 1927, had been returned to the city treasurer after examination by the Audit Office and were certified correct, subject to exceptions as follow:— IVaiatarua Park trust account not a separate account within the meaning of the Act; no statutory authority for the establishment of a sinking fund for restoring the amount advanced to the abattoir in respect to law costs; provision made for writing off tramway track renewals inadequate; travelling expenses in regard to municipal conference and municipal association, exceed the statutory limit. The Audit Office, 6tated the clerk, was not called upon to take further action, adjustments where necessary having been made. It was agreed by formal resolutions that the system of rating for the Orakei and Tamaki districts should be the same as in force in the city—on the annual value.

A uniform rate of 1/3 in the £ for all districts united with the city was struck to replace the several special rates hitherto operating, the Mayor explaining it was purely a formal matter.

Street Excavations.—Difficulties in the way of co-ordinating the work of street excavation in Auckland were referred to in a report by the city engineer (Mr. W. E. Bush), who said that the matter had been considered from the point of view of the council, the Post and Telegraph Department, the Power Board and the Gas Company. Mr. Bush said that an effort was at present being made to avoid undue disturbance of streets.

Loans For Drainage.—The Works Committee was instructed to report on a suggestion made by the city engineer that the council should take into consideration the raising of loans for the improvement of the drainage system in the older portions of the city and at Tainaki.

Waiatarua Park.—ln regard to Waiatarua Park the city engineer, in reply to the Remuera East Ratepayers' Association, stated that formation work for a carriageway and culverts would absorb £11,000. The report was referred to the Parks" Committee.

Work For Ex-Soldiers—The Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association wrote offering £300 from Poppy Day funds to be subsidised by the council aud used tor the employment of ex-soldiers. The city engineer's recommendation that the men should be employed on excayatiou work in connection with tennis courts in the Domain, was accepted. Town Hail Alterations.—lt was decided to authorise alterations to the interior*; of the Town Hall building at the exit* from the galleries.