MUNICIPALITIES AND ENDOWMENTS.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2680, 10 March 1874, Page 5 (Supplement)

MUNICIPALITIES AND ENDOWMENTS.

TO THB EDITOB OF THE PBBSS. Sib,—As a general rule, one colony follows fast-6n the etepdof another, and a*-subject legislated on in one is often a reminder to the rest. Canterbury in its land regulations stands foremost, and with slight modifications, has maintained its original laws, at least as far as the Belling price. But in the matter of municipalities and endowments, Otago stands pre-eminently . first, ever watohfal, not to. call in to existence any municipal or other corporate body without giving mbsfc liberal means to carry out its functions. See its large grants for the daiise of> education, and for the endowments of municipalities, wherever they may arise. Canterbury has been tolerably liberal in providing for the future for education and schools; I say advisedly for the future, for the present generation a large .sum. of money should be invested" ~iifoi against the rainy day. But with regard to endowments the EBUnicipalities, ;Ganterburyis the last among all the the Qovernment'notcatingJhow many may arise, but in every case doling out a miserable pittance. I have endeavored to find out the estates of the corporation of Christchurch, but find it a blank,with the exception of a few hundred pounds yearly from buildings let at present, but which will soon come to an end.

There can-be little. T d£ubt in the minds of the first Canterbury settlers that the Christchurch town reseryes/were intended, at some future time to be ah ebdowment for the effy. The word? may npt have, been written, and un-' f OTtutiately v f or the interest of the citizenß were; not; so that when money was required the most convenient thing to sell was these 1 I corporation lands. They were sold or sacrificed, and brought*~to the Government in I round numbers about thirty thousand; pounds (£30,000.) When tbe Christchurch City Council was called in existence; it of waste land, but the first Council had no means to i begin making-ihe streets and other 1 sanitary improvements called for on every side? and | under the pressure of necessity, it was con-: sidered the best thing to do waa to give up the land chosen for the sum of £20,000, to, ,be paid by instalments year after year. Some persons may and do say what a pity to ha re sold tbe estate. To look at it from the present point'of view it does appear bo, but on looking through the public journals of that time I am certain it could not be avoided. Now, this £20,000 was given as an equivalent for the estate sold by the Provincial Government, which estate, as I | mentioned, would and should have been vested in the Corporation for the benefit of the city, and wouldJbave been the means of enabling the City Council fo carry on the j improvements necessary, and keep pace with the growing:importance of the capital city. I The' ahnualassessment of these reserves as furnished to mc by the Town Clerk amounts i in round figures to. £25.000 a year.

The Corporation of Dunedin were in difficulties for some time after taking its position as an institution, but the members of the Council saw that their financial embarassments would soon cease, and when the city increased in its population, and the first leases dropped out, matters would turn in their favor. And it has proved as anticipated. That body is now drawing beyond £8000 a year head rents ; and in the course of three or four years the revenue from this source will be nearer £10,000 or more. The Provincial Government of Canterbury in the early days of the Christchurch Corporation gave them a grant towards the maintenance of the main thoroughfares,'but after a few short years it got tired of this, and said " No; we cannot give you any more," and the Municipal Council submitted, the Government forgetting that their property was not Bubjectto municipal rates, and that the streets in front of all the several properties occupied by the Government and other public institutions, should be kept in order.

I find the Otago Provincial Council passed an Act for the general benefit of all boroughs and counties, stating that when a main road was completed its management and maintenance should .be■ undertaken by the CorpenttiQn, lad provided ample rCYfpu^fasJJb*

additional trouble and expense thrown upon them. Take for example the city of Dunedin. The maintenance of the main thoroughfares cost about £1500 a year, and therevenue handed over amounts to about £4000. The revenue is obtained from the following

" Licenses :—Auctioneers, publicans, kc, carriages, hawkers, theatres, dogs." Now what I submit the several municipal bodies in this province should bear in mind is, that they are a " force " in the state, and as the general elections for the Provincial Council are coming on, I think they should work unitedly, for in unity is strength : and before a candidate is welcomed to represent them in the Provincial Council, his views on the Subject of endowments to municipalities should be known, and if against reject him. If yottfail the first time take fresh courage and agitate the question, recollecting how reform in anything is made successful, not by spasmodic action, but by never ceasing to press the matter in the proper quarter until the object is attained. I am told it has often been said, if the publicans' and auctioneers' licenses are given to the municipalities, they must take over the police. To this I can reply Dunedin and other municipal bodies in the Province of Otago, have these sources of revenue and have nothing to do with the police. I have endeavoured to bring the matter before the several municipal bodies in this province, through the means of your journal. It is for tbem to unite, and at once. Let the different Mayors meet, and 1 believe they would in a very short time be in a position to insist on their fair and reasonable claims being attended to, and tbe Provincial Council would see the justice of granting liberally towards the endowment of the present and future municipalities. I am, &c, E.G. Christchurch, sth March r 1874.