BOROUGH COUNCILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8386, 14 October 1890, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

PARNELL. TnK regular meeting of the Parnell Borough Council was held last evening, when there were present :Mr. H. B. Sealev (Mayor), Messrs. Gay, McConnell, Coleman, Augur, Savage, Gilmour, and Thorno.

Rates on* Native Reserves.—Mr. W. Corbett wrote in reference to the rates on the native reserve in Conquoet Place, of which he had been lessee, that on the 12th November, 1888, he surrendered his lease, and forwarded the document to the secretary, but owing to some legal technicality it had not been cancelled. He asked the Borough to liberate him from the payment of rates. Decided to reply that the Council had no power to remit the rates. Municipal Insurance.—A circular was received from the Sydenham Borough Council in reference to municipal insurance, and suggesting that a fund should bo provided to offer prizes for the best scheme to be submitted to Parliament. They asked the Borough to subscribe £5 towards this fund. It was decided to reply declining to contribute to the fund.

Purging the Rolls.—Mr. Ewington, secretary of tho Auckland Employers' Union, forwarded a circular asking the Council to exercise their iufluonco to got the roll for tho district purged, as other bodies were doing elsewhere. The circular stated that " there was reason to fear that numbers of mere adventurers, who have not got the wolfare of the country at heart, would in the coming election oxerciso powers they were not entitled to, in a way which would prejudice the bona fide settler and taxpayer, unless care was exercised." Tho Town Clerk explained that Mr. Littlejohn, the turncock, who had a good knowledge of the borough, had gone through the list and struck out a number of names.

Hai.k-Yearly Balance Sheet. — The audited balance-shoot for tho half-year ending 30th September, approved by the Inspector and forwarded to the AuditorGeneral, was submitted. Tho receipts on general account are : —General rate, 189091, £430 9s ; arrears of previous year, £323 l(3s Ud ; Government subsidy on general rate, £4(3 17s (3d ; license, dog registration, etc., £13G 15s Id ; contribution, £18 (is 8d ; discount, 16s 8d ; balance, £135 4s 9d : total, £1092 6s sd. Expenditure : Balance Ist April, 1890, £18G Ss ; salaries, office oxpenses, and stationery, £101 7s (id ; streets construction, £168 6* 8d ; maintenance, £274 8s lOd; lighting, £72 16s; scavengering, £11 4s Oil; lire prevention, £24 7s 2d ; wages, 10s ; Hospital and Charitable Aid, £70 ; rent and insurance, £2 16s 3d ; drainage, £156 8s 4d ; interest on overdraft, £11 10s 2d; dog registration expenses, £11 'Js; license expenses, £1 Is ; total, £1092 (is sd. Water supply account : Receipts, £468 19s ; expenditure, £440 6s; balance, £28 13*. Water loan account: Receipts, £246 4s 3d ; expenditure, £180; balance, £06 4s 3d. Drainage account: Receipts, £406 4s 10(1 ; expenditure, £210 ; balance, £166 4s lOd. Akreaks of Rates.—On the motion of Mr. Thornos it was resolved "That in the opinion of this Council the amount of arrears of rates is far too large, and that immediate steps be taken to secure payment of rates in arrear."

DEVONPORT. Tho ordinary meeting of the Dcvonport Borough Council was held Inst evening, when there was a full attendance of tho members, the Mayor (Mr. M. Niccol) presiding. A memo, from the Treasury Department was read announcing that the subsidy of £140 12s 6d had been paid to | the borough's account. A circular was re- | ceived from the town clerk of Sydenham ; suggesting that lire insurance in boroughs should be placed under municipal control, and asking that Dcvonport should contribute a portion of tho cost towards a premium for the best scheme for effecting the project. The request was declined. Tho Acting Property Tax Commissioner wrote stating that no further payment of rates on Crown lands were to be made. The Government Auditor returned the half-yoarly accounts duly audited, and remarked upon the clear and correct manner in which they were kept. The Mayor stated that tho borough's contribution to the Charitable Aid Board (£1 MS) had been paid. Ho also informed the Council that a sinking fund for the cemetery had been opened by the Town Clerk, and gave notice of motion that two permanent Sinking Fund Commissioners should be elected in order that the account referred to might be placed in their names jointly with that of Mr. C. O'Neill, as per agreement made when the new burial-ground was acquired. Other business of minor importance was dealt with. It was mentioned that lie Public Hall was no longer available ; and the question was raised as to whether tho borough might not in the near future require to take steps to supply the public need in this direct/ion.