HUNTLY BOROUGH COUNCIL

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume XV, 2 April 1931, Page 2

HUNTLY BOROUGH COUNCIL

MAYOR’S REPORT. At the first rneeting of the Huntly ) Borough Council held on Tuesday ? evening last the following brief re- - port of activities in the town district - for the period Ist April, 1930, to 24th - March, 1931, was submitted by the - Mayor, Mr. W. C. E. George:— Durin" the period under review 5 there were several works executed of t a special nature including the agree- ? ment made between the Board and Mr ) G. Calder. 1 The result of this arrangement is . made manifest by the results, not- , withstanding the period of depression ? that we are passing through, and will be more apparent when the mines re- - sume full time work. Rates. , The total rate levied was id in the £ less than in the previous year. The r general rate being reduced by id and the Hall Rate (of id the previous I year), was not levied. The Hospital I Rate and Lighting Rate was increased > to meet these special charges. PUBLIC WORKS. Great South Road. Approximately 12 miles of the road was sealed prior to Christmas. The cost of this work was met out of 5 revenue and cost £470. > Footpaths. ; The sealing of the asphalt paths was put in hand and the whole of the . existing sealed paths was treated. All crossings were built up to the proper 1 level and the work generally was of . good standard. The maintenance of ■ streets and footpaths received con- : stant attention. Town Plan and Civic Survey, Etc. The preparation of a town plan and r the fixing of permanent levels was ' considered of paramount importance, and Mr E. V. Blake, tow r n planner, t was entrusted with the carrying out j{ this work. An amount of £l6O has been paid for the town plan, which is lodged in the Borough office. Town Hall. The addition of a Lodge Room was found necessary and tenders were invited for the work which cost approximately £2BO. Unemployment Relief. * Advantage has been taken of the Mo. 5 Scheme to relieve unemployed in the district, and w’ork has been found for approximately 90 men, some of whom have been placed on forming a footpath on the west side of the Main Road as far north as the cemetery. Another group has been employed levelling the Domain, where good work is being done. Wages paid to date amount to £235. Finance. The Board commenced the year with a credit balance of £Bl4, and it is estimated that the account will be in credit approximately £740 at the 31st March. Constitution of Borough. The* elevation of the Town District to the status of a borough is an important event in the history of Huntly, and one of which every person should be proud. It is pleasing to nofLte that the change of status involved the Board in very little expense. Water Supply. The Town Board was aware of the necessity of installing a suitable and certain supply for the needs of the district, as the present method of supply is both insanitary and obsolete. The Board therefore deemed it necessary to obtain a report and estimate, from competent engineers, which have been filed for reference and action by this Council. Improved Lighting. This matter came before the Board some time ago but was left to the incoming Council. It is necessary that this work should be inquired into at an early date. Incinerator. The question of a refuse collection and the building of an incinerator requires considerat on as during a recent inspection of the town quite a number of unsightly and insanitary rubbish dumps w’ere in evidence. Economy. While there is quite a lot of work to be done, due regard will have to be paid to the financial difficulties through which the country is passing and the interests of the ratepayers must be steadily kept in view by keeping rates and expenditure within reasonable limits.