MELRG^E AND CITY COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 120, 17 November 1909, Page 10

MELRG^E AND CITY COUNCIL

TO THn EDITOR. Sir,— Will you please peruse a copy of the agreement. oi amalgamation oi the borough of Melrose with the city ol •Wellington, made ea.ly in 1903, and g)ve other ratepayers and mysell your opinion as to whether the borough o t Meh-ose, having been brought into union with the city of Wellington and under the control of the whole council of the city, can now be treated and named as an "outlying district," and placed under the control of a "committee" of five— a part only of the City Council— thus narrowing the interest m parts of Greater Wellington ? Si* years have passed since amalgamation. During that period we in Melrose and district have not had a fair share of expenditure on roads and streets; no tramway or drainage have been provided ; there has been no lighting extension. In the circumstances, what is our liability or that of our lands? Other parts of the district get money spent on them from loans or but this part derives no benefit, and 1 consider that, in equity, we ought not to pay rates until we do receive benefits. The case recently settled by the Privy Council as to expenditure of rates in different wards should be of service to Wellington City authorities as a guide to expenditure. — I am, etc., j RATEPAYER. ! Wellington, 12th November, 1909. The Town Clerk replies that Melrose Ward has its interests looked after by the City Council just as much as other parts of the city do; but to ensme this it was found very desirable that districts lying away from the centre of the city should have a special committee to watch their interests, and see that they were' not overlooked. The committee always brings its recommendations to the full council, and the full council finally decides upon all matters affecting the outside districts. The statement that no tramway and no drainage have been provided may, says the Town Clerk, be refuted by reference to any dweller in RoseneUh, Island Bay, Biooklyn, or Kilbirnie, where drainage systems aie either completed or approaching completion, and to which tramways have been running for a long period. Stieet lighting, too, is being attended to rapidly. As to roads and streets, the complainant's attention is directed to Ohiroroad and Constable-street, which have been widened and levelled in terms of the agreement of amalgamation. As to the amount of rates the piopeities are liable for, that can be ascertained by reference Ao the lecoipt forms ior rates, or by personal application to the Town Clerk or City Tieasurer.