BRUNNER BOROUGH

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1926, Page 4

BRUNNER BOROUGH

PETITION TO JOIN COUNTY. A Commission of Enquiry ihto the I petition for the abolition of the Brunner Borough was opened this morning before a Commission consisting of Messrs W. Meldruin' S’.M. (Chairman),. W. T. Morpeth', Commissioner of Crown Lands, Hokitika,, and L. J. Carmichael, Government Valuator for the West Coast. The Chairman read the Order in Cduncil appointing the Commission, and stated, that proceedings would be ulhLpr the Magistrate’s Courts’ Act, the Ordinary rules of, evidence, would apply. Messrs F. F- Boustndge and W. H. Carse appeared in support of the petitioners for merging into the County. The Borough of Brunner was represented by tito Mayor. (Mr F. Williams) and’ Councillors/, The Grey County was represented byMessrs W. J. Joyce, County-Solicitor, J. Higgins, County Engineer, and M. Keating, County Clerk. The petitioners’.case, was opened.by ‘ Mr F. F. Bdustridge, a former Mayor of Brunner, who stated that there were no points of difference between the petitioners and the; members' of the, Brunner- Borough Council:. f ,The total rates received by the Borough for two years ended March 31, 1926, were £l5ll. The amount spent; on maintenance of roads was . £6OB (or 44 per cent of the revenue),‘office expenses £4lO/ administration , £250, the balance ’ represented the Amount lost by defalcations. The’ ’administration of the Grey County 'was £1117 : for' 1925-26, and the. revenue £24,000.. The'Brunner Borough was one of me largest in' New Zealand, ffiavlrig nineteen miles of roads to maintain, of Which' 4A ‘miles were really main highway., The ' grant made by the Highways Board, £52 per mile,. was inadequate for upkeep of the highway, while the Grey County received £.lOO per mile for main-,, taining the highway at either end of the Borough road. The public debt of Brunner Borough was £lOOO, and the capital value £2400,0 (an did valuation). The Grey 1 County had a debt of £13,000, with a Capital value of £683,000. The revenue of the Brunner Borough was totally, inadequate to permit of the roads being kept up to the same standard as the County roads —it was not possible .to keep one man employed continuously on the roads. The Borough had no machinery for road making, its tools and office furniture, were worth, .altogether, only £2O, While the Grey ;oiinty had implements and road making machinery .worth £ 5,150. The rates paid in the Bbfough were muck higher than those in the County, (a comparison of rates on properties ini the Borough and .County was made ,to support the contention). .. . To Mr Williams: The public debt of Brunner (£1000)" consisted of £720 on the Taylorville Bridge, the balance being outstanding debts. To Mr Joycei' When’the Borough is merged into the . County, license fees; will be reduced by £9O. The’income was inadequate for the maintenance of the roads as it was impossible to buy a proper outfit of appliances. .He thought that if the Botough had merged into the County, and wished to secede at any future time, the..area inerted should be the area jn its' entirety, of any new Borough so formed. 'Williani Henry Carse supported, the previous witness. He added that there were still about two miles of road in Ae Borough unformed. The Borough was not in a position to make these roads, which were.oh the Harbour Board’s endowments at Dobson. ■ * ■; To Mr Joyce: The County would have to make the two miles of streets at Dobsoif if it takes over the Brunner Borough. John Smeaton said that he was not in. favour of the abolition, but was, ill favour of a poll being taken on the question. The figures .quoted by Mr Boustridge were' those of a, slump period; He considered the prospects of the Borough were very much improved owing to developments in the Dobson and Wallsend Mines. .More houses were being’ erected' fir Dobson, also a new hotel, shops and' bakery. This was due to. tfie mine. He considered the* Dobson Mine had fifty yeai'js coal production in sight,rand the’ Wallsend would have the same. Under the recent valuation,. he’estimated the revenue, of,.the., ’Borough would .be £l7OO, and/it should I , go on increasing. He- expected the’ population of the Brunner -‘.Borough to double in yeats. ■, I|'.,ylas estimated at 600 odd at present. Rethought with thO.pfobable increase of revenue, the' Borough could cope with' the expenditure that woyld be necessary to maintain the rdads. Owing to the . improved prospects in the Dobson and, Wallsend Mines, property in. Wallsiehd, Taylorville, and Brunner was appreciating in 'value. He was a member of the Bofbugh Council and considered., the Brunner , Borough would ba able tp pay. its way. To,. Mr Joyce:' He’was willing to pay 'higher rates to the Borough if necessary, rather than see the Borough merge into the County The increased rates, following an increase of population would come from Dobson, Wallsend and Taylorville, where about four miles of road-were used. (Proceeding.) .