RICCARTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17740, 17 April 1923, Page 12

RICCARTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The present Council of the Kiccarton Borough met for the last time last right. There were present tlio Mayor (Mr A. D. Ford), and Councillors 0. Rankin, A. E. Steere, A. F. Fisher, T. M. Ford, T. Snoll, J. Munnings, and H. W. Wise. The Electricity Committee reported that by connecting the district ri'>eo:iU;. r tukon over from Wuimairi, an olomeiti; of unreliability had been introduced into the eystom. Nothing could fca done to eradicate this until a valuation of the reticulation was agreed upon and accepted by the. Waimairi County Council. The Works Committee reported that work had begun on the new area. The channels had been cleaned up and tho roads attended to as far as possible. The committee recommended that rubbish collection in this new area should be undertaken on alternate Mondays j in Rata, Straven, and- Kauri streets blocks, and on alternate Tuesdays in the remainder of the new area. The collection to begin on April 23rd and 24th. The reports were adopted. The Christclmrch Tramway Board wrote asking that the Council should frame a by-law similar to one in operation iu the city, which made it necessary for drivers of vehicles to pass at a walking pace only tramcars stopped for the purpose of putting down oc taking up passengers. It was decided to frame a by-law in accordance with the request. The Assistant Under-Secretary of tho Department of Internal Affairs wroto forwarding the extract from the "New Zealand Gazette" including a portion of the Waimairi County in the borough of Kiccarton as on and from April Ist. 'He also forwarded the Order-in-Council directing that the Riccarton Borough Council should defray the costs incurred in connexion with the taking of the polls on the proposal to include tho area in the borough. The letter was received. The Postmaster-General wrote stating that the Council's request that the name "Kiccarton Post and Telegraph Oifico" should be painted on a prominent part of tho Post Office building, would receive his consideration. Tlio C]iri3tehurch Domains Board* wrote asking what measure of support the Council would give towards the proposal to light the track in North Hagley Park from Armagh street to Fendalton road, and the branch track to Kiccarton road (opposite the Kiccarton Hotel), at an estimated■ cost of £4OO. Tho matter was referred to the Electricity Committee. The Mayor, in his annual report, stated that the year had been an unusual one as far as finance went, the recent amendmont in tho Municipal Corporations Act making it compulsory for all local bodies to live within their income. This was, in his opinion, one of the finest Acts yet introduced. The Council had no antecedent liability at the boginning of the year, but had to liquidate £843 outstanding debit at that time on the goneral account. Tt'was jexcedingly satisfactory to note that, on March 3rd last, when the books closed, there was a credit on the general account of £BO 10s 7d. There was £193 4s 8d due yet in rates outstanding, while accounts owing by the Council were £ll2 14s Id. This position reflected credit on tho Council and its Financial Committee. Tho new Council would be able to start ■without any liabilities whatever, and all rate income in future would be available for expenditure. The recent amalgamation of a part of Waimairi County v/ith the borough would prove a great advantage to the part concerned. It would bo : necessary fop the next Council to give this area immediate attention, and to bring it up to the standard of the rest of the borough. The cutting out of the Metropolitan Trotting Ground was not justifiable, and at some future date steps should be taken to get this area into the borough, making the boundaries of the borough more uniform than they were at the present time. The Council had done everything possible to expedite the laying of the sewerage. All that remained now was to get the Drainage Board to get the loan poll earned and the work started. The introduction of firo protection for the borough 3:ml 'given great satisfaction, and though it had only been instituted for a short time, a considerable amount of property had been saved. Tlio Mayor concluded the report by "thanking the councillors and the staff for assistance they had been to him during his period of office. The report was adopted. The Town Clerk, in his annual report On the finances of the borough for the year ended March 31st, 1923, stated that the district fund account, which embraced all receipts and expenditure other than special loans, began the year with a credit balance in tho bank of £775 6s 2d. The j'ear's receipts wero £11,530 13s 7d, and expenditure £10,243 8s Od, leaving a credi: balance of £2062 lis 3d. The electricity supply account began the ,year with a credit of £867 13s id, and finished with a credit of £1215 6s Bd. The receipts from consumers were £2684 17s 7d, other receipts being: Street lighting £4OO, trading account £SOO 14s 3d. The rate account-show-ed that rates outstanding on April Ist, 1922, were £54 2s lid. Rates levied were £7389 19s lid, paid £7189 10s 4d, and remitted £7 4s lid. Tho report was received and adopted.

It was. decided to write to the Christchurch Firo Board -asking that protection bo given to the area just taken over by the Council.