ONSLOW BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1095, 6 April 1911, Page 8

ONSLOW BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. A meeting of the Onslow Borough Council was held last uight. The deputyMayor (Mr. B. Lynucherg) presided, and thero were also present Councillors \V. R. Plimmer, E. S. Stafford, C. Aplin, jim., 1). A. Bannister, l\ Kicrnan, and U. \V. Darvall. Outstanding rates for 1907-8 (£1 18s, Gd.) and for 190S-9 (£3 ISs. Id.) were written off, the deputy-Mayor explaining that these rates should never have been on. the books, as they had been struck on land taken by tlio Government for railway purposes. Tho deputy-Mayor reported that the sub-committee (the deputy-Mayor, Councillors Plimmer, DarVall,' and Bowdcn) appointed to make inquiries as to electric light had waited on tho City Engineer (Mr. S. Kichardson), and had 'had a long conversation with him regarding electric light. The position seemed to he very satisfactory, as the City Council were quite willing to continue tho supply, I'rivato lights would be at city rates, and, in regard to street lighting, the City would bo satisfied so long as eight lamps per mile were erected; their exact positions being immaterial. There would be no difficulty in getting a hew agreement, and, if the lights were extinguished by midnight, the price would be from £3 10s. to £'<! per lamp. A. statement of principal borough accounts was placed before the riicetirig by tho deputy-Mayor, who Stated that it was tho first tiin'o in his experience as councillor that tho balance-sheet had been so well forward as to enable the figures to be brought before councillors at that stage of the year. Tho overdraft this year stood at .£IOO9 9>. 2d., as against .£997 for the previous year. The amount to the debit of the district fund was ■£1338* as against ,£1505, which represented a saving of over <£IGO. This was accounted for by £\"<o saved on road maintenance and .£lO on interest. This year the outstanding, rates amounted to '.£165 2s. 9d., whereas, last year, they were only .£59 6s. 3d. The speaker reminded the councillors, however, that the difference in the finances was really due to the fact that tho roads had been starved to reduce the overdraft.