THE BOROUGH SALEYARDS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXVII, Issue 1547, 7 May 1901, Page 3

THE BOROUGH SALEYARDS.

TO THP. koitoi:. S;«, —In my loiter of 30th ul:., I purposely refrained from referring to the financial aspect of the matter, believing 'hat it was the dniy of the Com-cil to have fully considered (hat question before asking the ratepayers foi' authority to borrow money io erect yards; end also refraini d from giving any opinion 011 (he size of the l.wd r'-quir; 1. Mr J. W. Mitchell, however, opened up both of these questions, and renders a reply from someone j necessary. He the financial part of the ■ question, I do not iniend to citcr into a discussion, as to the number of '-lock that puss through the Balehilhti yards, but will confine myself to pointing out that six firms now sell 10 Balclnfha, all of whom, wit!; th«» exception of the New Zealand lioan >. id Mercantile Agency do., who have yards of Iheir own, pay 10s each p<T fortnight for the use of the present tumble-down yards, v; lich equals a total of 1,7K ia r annum. Nov allowing the cost (if erecting th" yards, incl iding land to . be, say, Ij7oo. i,:>V 10s w ill be .ujnired to pay interest at 5 pe: cent, per annum, leaving!, 10 10s to pay cost of earc'ak r and repairs. The amount is of course too small to show- a profit, but, with care and. 1 conony, would cover expenses, and preveni actual loss. jsut taking the Mayor's cstiuniio, and I do not think lie is far astray, the income derivable 011 the basis of the ch r : ;es suggested would largely increase tilt income. The J»nrn-=iile Yards Coniptu:y, wh'eh is a private one been a great r.nec.-<; :>t h-ast I understand that the original LIOO debentures cannot now be purchased tuna r L4OO, which speaks volumes, lie the size of the laud required for yards, I think I am correct in stating that the yards at B.Miside do not cover more than two and a-half acres, and I know that from SOCIO to 10.009 sheep can be penned on an acre, so that e.vo and a-half acres will be suliieient for the wants of Da!elutha for some considerable time to come. Personally, T have no interest where theyards are erected, hut I recognise that (he ratepayers, in agreeing to the Con.ieil borrowing money lo erect them, are doing so, not as a financial inves-tnn nt. but because they believe it will benefit, tlie town by h.higing people 11 to it, and. in consequence, want the yards as near the c litre as possible. -I am, etc. .Tajiks Wn.sox Wn.sox.