CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 245, 17 October 1888, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the " Evening Mail, " Sir,—" He would like to impress upon he Council that there was no money avail- j able for works of improvement." t-uch were the words uttered by Or Webster. I hope to remove the impression that the statement may have made on the minds of a few. (Having .published the state of the account on the previous Friday, I intended to move in precisely the same direction as Or Harley, aa I thought the information would be of interest to citizens.) This pnblicatioa will keep cDat,t"re procninenfly before the ratepayers, and is at ouce useful in removing the bad impression created by the thoughtless Btatement above noted. Briefly reverting to the statement made that at the moment I spoke at our last meeting bat one that the General Account, was £2184 16s 7d in debit, I bave now vo note thai the Bank statement of Friday last; was £1572 11s 6d, and the previous fortnight £1788 6s 10d,and the Ganeril Account) po.siiively improved by £215 15a sd, the balnnoo on all accounts fceiug in credit £G3O 3a 4d, .->r>d consequently again no interest, to jiav. . Now deduct the payments ord<-r;>d, £215 7s 9J, and we still have £414 5s 7d 10 «.e.ii\ Bit there is to add 10 this cash ia band. Kow considering no further payments on be made till we meet »gain, aud thao iho Gas aooouctß of the 20 '.h, and new rates coming " in for genoral aud water, ifc is not at all unlikely than when *ye meet again the Account will be nearly £1000 iv cred.t. It was also otated by Or Webster taat the Council might at any momont be called upon to pay the sum of £400 for Charitable Aid. We cannot, be called a pon at any moment. If he intends by that that we have to pay any moment, it cannot happen at the earliest till next meeting when a con eiderable amount will have been paid in towards it, aod as regards the interest for "Gas and Water" ddtieniures, cay £1100, that will not affect the "General Account " aathe united balances of Gas and Wat.r accounts are, after deducting accounts ordered to be paid £1165 13s 6d, to which is to-be added* oash in hand and the fortnights receipts, and' it must be understood that though transferred the general balance of all accounts is only disturbed as the payments are made which are due at variable dates. I take a very hopeful view of city matters which I shall summarize in a few words. First there is just now healthy differences of opinion putting Crß on their metal. Next a rery substantial reduction of over £1300 Binoethe end of March last; further, the footpaths and streets with few exceptions are in very goad order, large drainage works have recently been carried out, and more are in contemplation. There is also a fair prospect of a reduction in gas and perhaps in water, and there need not fee any increase in rates. It is a matter ot satisfaction to others as well as the orriter that the prediction of a bird of ill •omen (or I should say a " bug ") has not been verified. The statement was that the J6720 6b 3d would be turned to £1,247 14s Id . {mark the penny) in the opposite direction. Citizens can now see on which side the fallacy is. In conclusion I must note a peculiarity which strongly bears on the point in two lines of this letter. Cr Webster, after stating as noted, " that he hoped the Council Would consider this application favorably, as it differed from others as the* applicants would assist, &c. " This would cost money, and he says there is none. To the latter part I take exception. I believe that, considering the times, ail tbe citizens are taxed enough, and it ifl not only unfair to take from them what they kindly offer ; but it is unfair to j those who have an equal or possibly a preferable claim, and are too 2 )oor ty .offer suoh assistance. I tbink the Council j ehould take a more dignified stand and aetiline any such offers. They have been elected by the people to be the judges of What is best to do, regardless of persons or offers of money, &0., and I have no doubt but that the Council as at present constituted will take that view, or. at any rate, a large majority of them ; and that the " • eneral account" wiil not again reach the single figures in debit that has hitherto obtained. I intended to have stated in Council much of what appears above, but foresaw, if so, a very long sitting, and the impossibility of making public my view within the limits of your ffeport. Trusting the foregoing has removed doubts in regard to the ability of the Council jto««rj out works of improvement. I am &0., W. Akebsten.