CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13109, 7 May 1908, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH.

The statutory meeting of the Cli.ristchurch City Council to instaJ the Mayor for tho year was hold last uight. Present —Tho Mayor (Mr G. Payling), Crs. W. H. Cooper, T. Gapes.. J. D. Hall, 11. H. Loughnan, T. N. Horslpy. C. Taylor. J. Forrester, G. J. W. Parsons, A. Williams, C. Allison, 0. D. Morris. Ex-Mayors A. x<. G. Rhodes, Frodk. Hobhs, H. J. Boswick and the Hon. H. F. Wigram, Mr A. Marshall, reprcseutiiiG; tho Sinking Fund Commissioners. Mr J. 13. Fisher, City Solicitor, and several ladies, were also present. i RF7TIRIXG MAYORS ADDRESS. His Worship the Mayor said that it had been his privilege to.push forward a stage on the read to a practical completion the scheme for a high presouro water supply for tho city devised by Mr Dobson, the City Surveyor. This was a work which all his predecessors in office on taking their seat for tho first time had made a cardinal point in their municipal policy, but which .they were for various .reasons unable- to carry out. 'lhe main reason which induced him to accede to. tho request of the majority of tho members of the Council to come forward again -was that ho desired to see tho high pressure water supply completed. Tho establishment of municipal baths was another work _in which he had taken a warm interest, and this also he had had tho pleasure of seeing ho~ como aii accomplished fact during his tenure of office. The question of an increased supply of electricity to eiiublo tho city to meet tho great demand for light and power which they h:id experienced was another work in which he had taken, groat interest. The opposition offered by tho Ashley Water Supply Board to their obtaining power from the Waimakariri had prevented this from being advanced, but he- hoped iiis successor would not lose sight, of tho very great importance oif the matter. With tho ability mi tho part of tne city to supply cheap electric power would come greatly increased prosperity to tho city, wnicii offered advantages unequalled by any other otty in the Dominion, for the establishment of factories and industries of various kinds. If they were oblo to supply power cheaply and in quantity, Christchurch would at onco tako her proper position ac the .manufacturing centre of the Dominion. Tho estimated amount of receipts on general account was £61.044 7s. This, however, was not realised, the actual receipts being £59,343 0s 2d, or a shortage on the estimated receipts of the yeair of £nOl 6s lOd. One of the points attempted to be made against >hi.m by his opponents had been that he had been an extravagant Mayor. Now tho figures ho would quote would show that this was altogether erroneous. Tho estimated expenditure for the year was £60,002 16s 9d, but tho actual wxpendituro was £06,493, or £4,400 16s 9d less than estimated. Deducting the shortage on receipts, this meant that during the year there was a net saving on tho estimates of £2,708 9s lid. That was a complete reply to any allegations of extravagance, and, further, there had been no deficiency iv the efficiency of what had been reeded for the different parts of tho city. The rates levied for this year had amounted to £40.331 19* 4d, including tho sum of £450 9e lOd- foi interest on loans, as compared with £35,721 and £695 19s lid respectively for the preceding year. Tho debit balance on general account for last .■year was £22,402 <3s Bd, and for this year £19,552 6s 6d, or less than last year by £2,8.50 0s 2d. The total revenue for last year was £75,851 10s Id, and for this year £9££67 7s 7d. Comparing tho general rates levied last year and this year in the several wards, hofonnd tho following:—

1906-7 1907-8 Central Ward ... 2 73-9-(kl 3 9-BOcl Linwood 2 23-32 d 3 l-16d .St. Albans . ... 2 23-32 d 3 l-l(sd Sydenham ... 2 Cl-G4d 3 l-16d

Street lighting cost for 1906-7,, £'2.087 12s od, and expenditure on lamps £2&5 4s 10d. and for 1907-8, £2,&33 2s Id and £253 Sβ Id respectively. The total result of the year's work was that he concluded his year of office with a surplus on expenditure for tho period of nearly £2800. Thus enabled him to take, tho credit, he believed, of being the first Mayor who had gone out of office for many years without a deficit.

On the maintenance account of the electric supply, the- receipts for tho year were estimated at £10.000, and the amount actually received was I £9,813 12s Sd. or a shortage of £184 7s 4d. Tho expenditure was estimated at £7.317. but reached £3G98 7s Gd. so that they spent £781 7s 6d more than was estimated. They made, however, a profit on this account of £1717 os 2<l. On the plant account they estimated the expenditure to bo £4.389, but the actual net expenditure amounted to £6129 9s fld, or £1230 9» v ßd more than they expected. The -actual increase in electrical account debit for the year amounted to £4412 4c> 7d. The capital cost of plant was £40.499 7s, and the total debt oil the plant was £34,106 17s lid. During the year they had purchased new electiical plant to tho amount of £6171 16s lid, and the overdraft on clectricf.l account at the end of the municipal ! year was £15,313 8s 10tl. He would ! desire to impress on the Works and Lighting Committee the necessity of pushing forward the completion of' the three wire system at the earliest possible moment. The large block of buildings, ivhkli were to be erected on tho scene of the late fire would require a largo amount of-power, added to wliicu there was a greatly increased demand. ,' ttr Payßng then outlined tW

oiis wards during the past year, giving tho amounts of metal used in each ward and the length of kerbing put in and of streets metalk<l. The wtrk done in St. Atbara Park, Linwocd Park an<l Sydenham Park was a'so referral to. 'During file year, i>s contracts were let, chief amongst which were tho following :-r-Undorground conveniences: Tooling pons, etc., and concreting yard at abattoir; ttisborn bay and lino at destructor; caretaker'a cottage- at .Sydenham Park; new iron gates and fencing, St. Atbans Park: cattlo fencing and now pen* at abattoir. . Work in connection with tlio higli pressure water supply had boon pushed on as rapidly as possible. Wells had l>eeii sunk in the grave! pit near the Ileafhcctp bridge. Cc!o;nbo street, ♦Sydenham, from which aai ample supply of water waii obtained, and tho work of putting down the pump rag sump and valve wells was now in hand. Tho following contracts had , !>een let: —Spirai steel pipes, Central Ward, £1(3,101 0s 8d: cast iron pipes and specials. £9-439 18s sd; service reservoir. Caslrmwo Hills, £4700; pumping'plant. £33(30. The Special Committee appointed with regard to the city organ had arranged for it-.» roni'nval from the Exhibition b'-s-iklinj; and re-ore rtiim in His Majesty's Theatre. It w«.s now nearly co-ru-plrttd, and a meeting of ihv ecramittee was held that day. at which arrangements werr* mode for its opening. Ho trusted that thj> Council and the citizens would take stops nl: i:o distant date to erect a Town Hall worthy of tho city in which thus ir.<ignliicent insirunir-nt could be placed. Ho frit that the citizens generally should not place theintselvon , 'njiri«T\l a"n' obligation <o a few public-spn to provide hoiwing for tlit^O'rgan. He thought the Iwst tbe Council cuukl do was to provide a building of a st:ital>k> character in which to plaeo the magniiiceni ortion, which, he was tod. was one of tho liuc&t in A)istralasia.

Ho had thought it necessary to go- scmcv.-hn-t fully into matters con-roft(-tl with tlio mtMiici]>.i] work of the city, lx>caiiw lioVes row retiring after serving the citizen.-; for 17 yoais. During tliat period, whether ss -Mayor or Councillor, he had always eiultrnvvoured to advance Iho best interests of iho city. He would retire with the fpi'linj: of having tried i<) the utmc«t to discharge the d'utir-s oi' thn office of -Waver to tlie host of his n.biiity, aji;i with th? simple dewire to s-ee ClirisU church n-dvanco. To the mcmlwirs o£ the- Council lie desired to tender thanks ior tho courtesy with which they had, always treated him. and the loyal support they had J afforded him on a.l'l occasions. To tlfc-staff, also, particularly -Mr .Smith, the Town Clerk, and Mr Dob-.s-on, tlu* City Surveyor, he tendered his tlianiks for tho ready assistance which they had on every occasion rendered. There was ono work which he limped the Council would tako in hand' as early as possible. That was tho increase of tlie accommodation for tho public and the officers. At present, the accommodation was quite inadequate, awl an extension of the- municipal buildings was urgently required. I Loud applause.) SPEECH BY THE SfEW MAYOR. Tho Mayor-elect, Cr Allison, having signed the- declaration, the Mayer int'.aJkd iliiim in tho chair, md ijirestfd .him with the robes and chain of office. Tho new .Mayor said that his friends contended that his elevation to the Mayoral chair was a proper reward for faithful and intelligent services in tho Council. Tho duty of a Mayor was, ho took itj to rule the Council fairly and justly, and not to become a partisan in any way. Ho was therefore not going to make what might be called a Budget speech, but ho hoped to receive the assistance of the Council in doing what was possible for the benefit of tho city. The retiring Mayor had given them a full account of the works of tho year and the financial position, but as tho balance-sheet.-was not yet available, he would' not discuss finance matter? then. Thero was no disputing the fact that • tho retiring Mayor whilst in. offico had instituted and carried- out moro works than any other Mayor that had sat in the chair. He gavo the ex-Mayor credit fox his push, though at. times he Lad taken exception to it in tho Council. Hcrecognised that his work'during the year would bo to consolidate and push forward the works begun by the ex-Mayor, so that they might be carried out as effectively as possible. Ho had had a difference of opinion with others in the Council as to the Municipal Baths—not that he did not consider they would be a groat benefit, but tho Council having got authority to raiso £5000, should not have spent more. He would like to see the scheme for numbering the houses i>ushed forward- to completion, and also felt very strongly that tho Council should obtain power to borrow the necessary , money to enable them to give assistance to those ratepayers who desired it to connect with tho sower, spreading the repayment over a number of years. Tho work' should b*o dorio by tho Council by day labour, and they 6honld also buy tho materials. Tho ex-Mayor had referred to the saving in expenditure, but he (tho Mayor) was afraid that the saving had bec.il at the expense of tho streets. Ho was a member of tho Worhs Committee, so that if this was tho case he took a certain amount of blame, but the fact was that they had not been able to get the metal fast enough. With regard to futuro improvement of the streets, lie held tho opinion that laying down ordinary asphalt would be found to bo the best. He was strongly cf opinion that the Drainage Board- should bo abolished. He held the opinion that a body like tho Metropolitan Board of Works would b? tho best thing for »the city oi Christchurch, leaving the- making of the roads and the lighting cf tlw streets in tho hands of the ward reprcsentat.ivf.ts. As to the electrical supply question, the Council would foe neglecting its duty if it did not push iton ao rapidly trs possible. They wc.ro unfortunately now no further forward than they were some years ag:>. •From all lie could see, he thought it was doubtful if tl:o ratepayers would agree, to a. loan for sd large a sum fer the Weimakariri scheme. He had therefore come to the conclusion th-it they e-houkl at once got a report from an impartial electrician and engineer a-* to what was th<» best method—apartfrom the rivers—for providing the power. It would be, he took it, either sU'a.in cr producer gas-. A twelve hundred lit.-rse power installation of producer {Wi. n<'"a-r the railway line Mould supply Jill the power tlit-y required in the extension of their electrical supply, and if successful, they could enlarge th? plant as it became necessary. If ultimately they set power from the Waimakariri cr Lake Coleridge, the plant would not be wasted, other districts would be glad to obtain it. They would be able to get the benefit of the system within tl;? year, and be able to supply electricity at the same voltage as if tho power was obtained 'from a distance. Later en he would bring , his ideas on the subject 'before the committee, and he hoped no delay would ensue in getting increased electrical power. What he had said was the indication of his own opinion, and he hoped that tho consultations of the Council and himself would result in tho right course being followed. He trusted that when he retired from offico he would have increased the number of his friends in. the Council, and that tliose who differed from him now would agree that his efforts had. been in the direction of benefiting the city. (Applause.)

At tho invitation cf tlw? Mayer, the .uicmiicrs of the Council and gueete ■ adjpurncil; to the Librarj, vvliej© a

number of toasts were proposed", cad dulY honoured.