ST. KILDA COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 15137, 19 March 1913, Page 9

ST. KILDA COUNCIL.

■The fortnightly meeting of tho St; Kilda 'Borough Council, held last night, was attended by the Mayor (Mr S. B. Macdonald), and Crs M'Farlane, Harris, Thompson Tamblyn, Sutherland, and Hellyer. —Reports.— On the recommendation of the Finance Committee accounts totalling £422 Is 4d were passed for payment. . The Works Committee reported in regard to Mr J. Brownie's application for a refund of £6 5s paid by him towards water reticulation of Plunket street that a reply be sent to Mr Brownie to the effect that the work was done on condition that this amount was paid by him, and therefore the refund could not be granted. The committee had given instructions for the purchase of 10 casks of tar.—Crs Sutherland and Hellyer questioned whether, in view of the new proposals to be brought before the council, it.would be wise to purchase the tar mentioned, but the Mayor replied that it was necessary Mr complete certain asphalting works .which were already started.—Ur Heliyer said the council s'hould "go slow," as their overdraft at the bank bad reached £2,534 and the limit was £4,500, while it would bo eight or nine months before the revenue would be coming in. He thought the tar question should have been referred to the Finance Committee.—The Mayor expressed the opinion that the overdraft question I,a " hecome a bugbear in the council. It would have to be remembered that provision had been made by the council for an extra £I,OOO in revenue this year, and that being so there was nothing to cry out about.—Cr Hellyer said he was not crying out, and had every confidence in the progress and prosperity of the borough, but he wanted tho council to be careful. He was satisfied with the explanation that the tar was required.—The report was adopted. —The Auckland Exhibition.— A letter was read from the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr Wilson) asking for a "contribution of £l7 8s 9d towards the establishment of an Otago court at the Auckland Exhibition. Tn introducing the matter, the 'Mayor (Mr Macdonald) said that he was opposed to the proposition, because he was of opinion that the funds of the .council were collected from the ratepayers for the sole purpose of keeping the streets and roads in the borough in good Order, and not to be spent on an exhibition or anything of that description. When Otago was to be advertised those who got the benefit of the advertisement should pav tor it. He thought this matter should have been put before the manufacturers of Dunedin, and not before the local authorities. The City of Dunedin probably had a right to help in advertising Otago', a f 'V VaS a ma »uiac'turing centre, and if the City Council desired to do anything the matter was in their hands. So "far as susburban local authorities were concerned ho could not see that the proposal came within their province at all. He thought the Mayor of Dunedin would have been better advised to have called a meeting of manufacturers for the purpose of gaining their support in regard to establishing the court. It was going to cost £BOO lor a three-months' advertisement for Otago. Cr Thompson moved that the amount asked ior by the .Mayor of Dunedin towards the Otago court at the, Exhibition be granted. He. dissented entirely from the Mayor; holding that it was desirable that the borough should contribute its quota. Although a separate municipal body, St. Kilda was an appendage of Dunedin, and was intensely interested in the City's welfare, and should contribute the quota (£l7 8s 9d) asked for. Otago generally, and Dunedin in particular, had been backward in matters of this kind The whole trouble with Dunedin had been that it had been too backward in bringing betore the public the resources and the advantages it possessed. He thought this was an excellent opportunity. It would riot mean altogether an advertisement for three months. The court would be written up and accounts of the industries in Dunedin would extend beyond "NW Zealand's shores. It would be a great mistake if all the other centres in the Dominion should be represented at the Exhibition and Otago left Out, He felt confident that their real object was not confined to spending monev on roads and -footpaths, but it was also their dut-v to let the outside public know that generally and fit. Kilda in particular were desirable places to live in. He was certain that the ratepayers would nob begrudge the money. Cr .Sutherland, in seconding the motion, said he was thoroughly in accord with the remarks made by Cr Thompson. Thev wanted t„ enennragp people to settle iii the district, and this could only hr done bv advertising if. This was a good opopportunity f.n do so. Or Hellyer also expressed himself in favor ol the proposal, hut suggested that the matter should go before the Finance Committee for their recommendation. Ihia was agreed to, and the motion was withdrawn, the Mayor remarking that, he was one of those who believed 'in advertising Otago all "the time, but he thought that those who got the benefit from it should pay for the advertisement.