BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15331, 14 June 1910, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

LYTTELTON. ' Tho Lyttc-llon Borough Council met last ovening; present—the Mayer (Mr M. J. Miller), and Councillors F. J. Pago, W. KaUoliffo; C. Cook, W. T. Foster, J. 11. Webb, F. W. Anderson, J. H. Collins, I\. C. Schumacher and S. 11. Webb. The estimates for tho year had been referred to tho Finance Committee, which submitted a report oil tho subject. The total expenditure in tho general accounts amounted to £7600 Us 2d, including £470 for a house at tho tary conveniences, and £7lO 13s 2d, the first yearly payment of interest and sinking fund on tho drainage loan of £20,000. After allowing for an increased rate of threepence in tho pound, and for revenue from other i U/urces, the total receipts on. the ! general account were shown as £5812 0.5, (id, £1783 lesss than tho estimated j expenditure. This deficiency, however, I would probably bo reduced by the gas and water-supply account balances and in. other ways to practically nothing, and the estimated overdraft at March 31, 1911, would be £8243. It was recommended that, instead of striking a rate of sixpence to cover the drainago loan' interest and reducing the general rate by threepence, a general rate od ? Is 9d should bo struck to cover all purposes. A report was also presented on the financial -aspect of the drainage loan account. Tho total liability under this head was £20,474, and "the annual charge for interest and : sinking fund at 3A per cent was £717. I Under the old sewage system the | annual receipts were £l5O for services | net paid for out of rate, but new such services would pay about £BS, showi?ig a loss of revenue of £65. The old system cost £2BB per annum in wages and other expenses. The net estimated saving in expenditure was £323, available towards the yearly .interest, and to that was to he added £SO, previously paid to tho Harbour Board for dredging silt ■ deposited by* the old sowers. ~ Tho proposed threepence increase of rate would produce £375, making a total of £7-18, equal to £3l more than the interest ar.d sinking fund. Instead of making a rate of threepence it was proposed to strike a drainage rate of sixpence and to reduce tlio general rate by threepence. But in order to cave complication it was recommended in tho report that the payment of the loan interest out of the general account should be authorised, and a general rat© of Is Rd levied, which would produce just the same result. The committee's report upon tho estimates and tho estimates were adopted. The special report upon the drainage account was received. Councillor Foster gave notice to move at the meeting of the Council to be held on July 11 that the general rate of Is 9d, as proposed in tho report, should be struck. Ho also crave notice to move that the Council should pay the interest on the drainage loan out of tho general rate.