MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12294, 11 June 1903, Page 5

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

IMPORTANT CHANGES.

His Worship the Mayor, since his accession to office, has been busily engaged, in an examination of all tho department of the city's affairs. It is reported that in all probability a number of changes will bo proposed by the Streets Committee. It has been found by the committee that several of the most important streets are in a very bad state, and will require a considerable sum to be spent on them. In Franklin Road the cobble stones which form the foundation are coming through, and the same may be said of Wellingtonstreet, and of the top of College Road. Beresford-street and Newton Road are also in ; worn-out condition. There is no doubt of tho fact that as has already been stated by the Mayor to the Council the 9d general rate will not cover the necessary expenses of the city, and that Is rate will be necessary. Of late, several new items of considerable magnitude have been added to the city's liabilities. For instance, the Eire Brigade, which formerly cost £900 per annum, • now costs £25C0. And we have also Victoria Park (Freeman's Bay), which will reauire £600 a year. There is also a sum of £1912 on the estimates as the city'- contribution fcc the infectious disease-, hospital. We do not know, however, whether any change will with regard to the rate will be proposed at the present time. The question or .the abolition of the ward system will come before the Council at'the first meeting in July, and it seems a foregone conclusion that this will be carried. It will then be necessary to elect a new council, and that body will have to take in hand the task of reforming tne administration. At the present time the Council is paying £11,800; for day labour, and it is believed by the members of the Streets Committee that that can be considerably reduced. A special meeting of the Council will be held on Monday next to impose a rate.

A saving of a considerable amount, maybe made to ..be city if the Bill is carried to enable the proposed exchange of sites to be made, by which the hospital ground area will be extended, while a piece of land at Stanley-street will be added to the Domain. This will, it is believed, save the payment of £1912 on behalf of the city. Tf this is carried through, a building will be erected by the Hospital Board for minor infectious diseases on the land newly acquired, and it is understood that the Health Department will not insist on going on with the building at Point Chevalier.

■ There is at present an overdraft of £15.000 on the general account, and we understand that His Worship the Mayor proposes to move on Monday that the surplus from the water account should be used to extinguish that, and also £1312, which is paid out of rates towards sinking: fund. In "reference to the water supply, it seems quite certain that the addition last made to our sources is merely of a makeshift character. In several respects it lias been found inadequate, and the quality of the water is unsatisfactory. The new engineer for tho Harbour Board has had considerable experience in respect to water supply, ana it has been suggested that some arrangement should be made to enable him to go into tbe whole subject. It is believed that a supply might be obtained from Waitakerei, which would flow into all the reservoirs by gravitation, and thus save £3000 a year for pumping. This, however, would probably cost £125.000, and is thus a somewhat serious enterprise.