MANGAPAPA TOWN BOARD

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4655, 4 September 1917, Page 6

MANGAPAPA TOWN BOARD

MEETING LAST EVENING. The usual meeting of the Mangapapa Town Board was held last evening. Present: Messrs. W. J. McCliskio (chairman), W. H. Sharpin, E. Grundy, C. Matthews, and T. Howartli. The Highland Land League wrote stating that they were deeply grateful for the help sent from New Zealand towards alleviating distress caused or increased by war conditions in tho Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Altogether £2160 12s had been received from New Zealand, which had also raised £645,000 for the Belgian Belief Fund. —Received. The Town Clerk forwarded a copy of the report relative to the supply of electric light to Mangapapa and the Hospital. The committee's report stated that it had agreed to recommend that the Mangapapa and Hospital Boards be supplied with current in terms of the engineer’s report, tho Boards to pay the whole cost of the scheme from the power-house, including necessary within-the-Bor-ougli work, and to be charged by meter at 9d per unit, less discount if paid within the 21st of the month of 3ad, making the net price 54d. This was based on current prices, and should any further advances take place charges would be increased accordingly. The Council could not givo any guarantee as to the time when the current would be turned on owing to the uncertainty of obtaining supplies, which could not he ordered until the money for the complete installation from the power-house for the scheme adopted is guaranteed by tlie bodies interested. After a very lengthy discussion, it was decided to place tho matter before the ratepayers’ annual meeting to test public feeling. The report was held over in the meantime to get expert advice. The Valuation Department wrote in answer to inquiries, stating that, according to- sub-section 4 of section 9 of the Appropriation Act, 1916, no subsidy shall bo payable on any amount exceeding the sum which would be recoverable on a three-farthings in the £1 rate on 'tlie capital value of the rateable property in the district. As the Board’s rate was greater than £-d in tho £l, namely, 1 10-21 d, tho amount collected had to be reduced to what it would have been bad tlie rate been £d. The rates collected by the Board totalled for the year ended June 30, 1917, £IOBB 2s 7d. but subsidy was payable on £552 16s 9d only. —-Received. The audited balance-sheet was received from the Auditor-General.— Received. The. clerk was instructed to write a further letter to the owner of a hedge notifying him to cut it within seven days, failing which proceedings will be taken. Accounts amounting to £42 were passed for payment.