THE CITY FINANCES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 32

THE CITY FINANCES.

'I ho schedule of works fortho year was presented at the meeting of the City Council la>t week. '1 he original estimates amounted to £.'13,100, but a large number of the items on (he schedules were ruled through in red ink, as it was proposed to strike them out. Tor instance, the formation work schedule originally set down at £lllO was reduced to £515. The proposed expenditure on tho reclaimed land streets was reduced from £i:iSl to £O3l, the item Mercer street formation road and completion footpaths, £750, being struck out. Tho kerbing schedule was reduced from £314 to £!0, the channelling from £23(> to £2O, asphalting footpaths, &c., from £3056 to £320, the list of block crossings, new or requiring renewal, from £BSO to £IOO. Other items were struck out altogether. The amount proposed to bo expended was about £14,000.

Councillor Anderson moved that tho schedule be referred to the Public Works Committee for further consideration.

Councillor Myers moved as an amendment, "That the estimates be referred to the Finance Committee with a request that thoy find some means —(laughter)—to carry out the works."

Councillor Barber, remarking on the sum set down for kerbing, said tho upper end of Tory street was a disgrace to the city, and it had been in this condition ever since ho had been in the Council. The .Mayor said their engineer had told them that the works would cost £3G,000, and they only had £15,000 io do it with. The motion to refer the schedule to tho Public Works Committee was carried.