NELSON BOARD OF WORKS. ANNUAL ASSESSMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 6, 8 January 1869, Page 2

NELSON BOARD OF WORKS. ANNUAL ASSESSMENT.

A special meeting of this Board was held yesterday evening, for the purpose of taking iuto consideration the annual assessment. Present : Messrs E. Burn, Webb, D. Burns, Hooper, and Percy. Mr li. Burn in the chair. The Secretary reported that there had been no appeal against the assessment, and that the ratepayers had examined the roll, and hel expressed themselves satisfied with the assessment. The Chairman said that as there was no appeal to discuss, the next business of the Beard would be to declare the rate for the year. A return was placed on the table showing that, although some £12,000 worth of new property had been added to the roll for the current year in Trafalgar-street alone, tbere had been a large reduction in the amount of the total assessment. This showed the following figures: — Valuation of the City property for the year 1867-68 £647,311 Ditto 1868-69 .. 602,974 Decrease ... £44,337 The valne of the new buildings erected during the year added to this decrease would raise it very considerably. The rate of assessment last year has been ld. in the pound. Mr Webb moved: 'That in consequence of tbe depressed state of business in the city, the exorbitant rate ; charged for water supply, and the fact that Bridge-street is charged a special rate, the, rate for the current year be three farthings in the pound on the assessment.' He said he moved (his, because he, was quite satisfied j that very material reductions could be \

! made in our expenditure. Mr Webb pointed out bow material reductions could | be made in two items — horses and carts (and the mauiier of using them) and in. labor. Mr D. Burns seconded the motion. The town a number of years back was better able to pay a higher rate than it was now, aud next year, lie believed, it would be less • able to pay three farthings in the pound than it is even uow. Mr Webb said there must be a very large amount of arrears of rate now due, and contended that the Board should not levy new rates until proper means were adopted to collect the arrears. Mr Hooper feared that, if they reduced the rate, tiie Provincial Government would reduce the amounts with which they had hitherto assisted the Board. Mr Webb thought the expenditure of the Board should be reduced to suit tbe means of the people who felt the burdens imposed on them very much. Mr Percy said that if the .Provincial Government were changed or modified, there would be less money to vote for the Board, and that fact of itself showed that it w>'S a mistake to reduce the rate. He believed that altogether the reductions in this year's valuation of property amounted at least to £100,000. Mr Hooper said that the fact of no appeals haviug been made against the assessment spoke loudly in favor of maintaining the present rate. Much good had been done by the Board, and there was yet much to do, which could not be done if the rate were reduced. After some desultory conversation, Mr Percy said that in consequence of the abscence of the Chairman (Mr Bentley) and Mr Field, the motion should be adjourned. The meeting was consequently adjourned till this day Friday, at 5 o'clock.