GREATER WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1618, 4 March 1903, Page 75 (Supplement)

GREATER WELLINGTON.

AMALGAMATION CONFIRMED. POLL OF MELROSE ELECTORS TO BE TAKEN. At a, special meeting of the Melrose Borough Council last week, and attended by all the members with the exception of Councillors Jennings and Hoggin botham, the Mayor moved, “That the resolution passed by way of special order at a special meeting of the Council held on the 26th day of January, 1903, namely, That, a poll of the electors of the borough of Melrose he taken on the proposal that such borough and the city of Wellington be constituted one united borough,’ bo now confirmed as a special order.” Councillor Reid observed that he would like to second the resolution, only he was afraid to mix his name up with the Mayor’s. The motion was- seconded by Councillor Nicol and passed without dissent. The Mayor next moved, “That a poll of the electors, as above provided for, be taken on Friday, the 13th day of March, 1903.” Councillor Jacobsen seconded this. ..Councillor Brown asked why was not the poll taken earlier? The Mayor replied that fourteen clear days’ notice should he given, and they had been advised to allow a couple of days extra. Councillor Nicol observed that it had been suggested that Saturday would be a better day on which to hold the poll. The Mayor said that was the case, but it was considered that the half-holi-day should not be interfered with. The booths would be open ail day until 7 p.m., and be thought that would be quite sufficient-. The resolution was adopted without dissent.

Councillor Jorgensen inquired if it • was intended to hold meetings in the different centres? It would he necessary for some of them, in discharge of their duty towards those whom they represented, to place certain matters before the people which they had put before that Council c usuceessfully.. T'ho Mayor replied that .he had no objection to the Councillors of each ward holding meetings and addressing the people, hut personally he thought, from his own experience, no great additional light could he thrown upon the matter; and he thought if they advertised the matter it would he quite sufficient. He should reserve to himself, if he chose, the right to’address a meeting later on. Councillor Jorgensen asked did the Mayor mean that Councillors might address meetings at the expense of that body? If not, there was no privilege. ’ The Mayor said it was for the Council to say. Councillor Reid did not think there was any necessity for public meetings. The electors knew full well the minds of the . Councillors on the matter, unless the minds of the Councillors had somewhat changed, and that jthey might like to explain. If that were so, it should he at their own expense they explained their erratic conduct. Councillor Jorgensen retorted that whatever decision the Council might arrive at, he would Hold meetings in Kilbirnie and Roseneath to explain the allocation of the moneys proposed to he spent on street improvements, especially one matter which closely resembled a “steal.” On the motion of Councillor Hr own, seconded by Councillor Nicol, it was

agreed that a copy of the agreement be printed and sent to each elector.

THE TERMS OF AMALGAMATION.

FULL TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT.

The following is the full text of the conditions of amalgamation agreed pen by the Melrose thorough Council and City Council:—

L ited Borough to be Formed. —Each party hereto agrees to forthwith, in accordance with the provisions of this agreement, take the proceedings hereinafter agreed upon to have the city of Wellington and the borough ;of Melrose constituted one united borough under the name of the city of Wellington. Municipal Corporations Act to Apply. —ln all respects not hereinbefore specially provided for the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, as amended by the Act of 1902, relating to the union of boroughs shall apply to the case of the union cf the city of Wellington and the borough of Melrose. First Election. —The borough of Melrose, for the purpose only of the first biennial or general election of councillors to take place after the said amalgamation shall be constituted a separate electoral district and shall be entitled to elect at least three councillors. Tramway Loans. —The Council of the united borough shall take all necessary steps to obtain the sanction of the electors of such cf the present existing wards of that part of the united borough that . previously consisted ef the borough of Melrose (which art is hereinafter called “the borough”) as it shall from time to time be proposed to extend tramways to-tnc raising of a special .loan deemed sufficient with any surplus of the Wellington tramway loan moneys set apart by the Council of the united borough for tramway construction in such ward of the borough, to construct the tramways in _ such ward and also to obtain the sanction of those electors to the striking of an annually recurring special rate or special rates to ho charged solely on the respective wards of the borough for the purpose of providing the interest and sinking fund in connection with the said special loan and such, surplus of the Wellington tramway loan moneys set apart as aforesaid, provided always that each ward shall be rated only in respect of the amount of loan and surplus respectively allocated for works m such ward. Provided also that such special rate or rates shall he a security only for the moneys raised for construction of tramways as aforesaid and shall only he levied from time to time m respect of any yfsr or years in which and to the extent the receipts from the working of tramways to be constructed hereunder are insufficient to pay the amount of such interest and sinking fund. Proposals to be re-submitted. —Should any of such sanction as aforesaid not be given on the first- occasion the Council of the united borough shall within one year from tlio date of the taking of the poll again submit the proposals to the electors of the ward or wards, district or districts in which such sanction shall not he given in the first instance. Surplus Wellington. Loan Deemed Borough Loan. —Such surplus loan moneys set apart as aforesaid shall as between the borough and that part of the united borough that previously consisted of the Citj 7 of Wellington (which part is hereinafter called “the city”) be deemed special loans raised for and charged solely upon the respective wards or districts of the borough.

Authorising Order to he Applied For. —The said surplus loan moneys having been so set apart and the new special loans having been raised and the said special rate or special rates having been struck as respectively aforesaid, the Council of the united borough will take all necessary steps to obtain an authorising, order tender the tramways Act, 1894, for the construction in the borough of tramways in connection with the city lines extending to Brooklyn, Island Bay and Ivilbirnie, and will lay the said tramway and commence working Dm same within three years from the date of the proclamation constituting the united borough. Wellington Tramway Bate not to le Levied in Borough.—Subject only as aforesaid no levy shall he made upon the borough in respect of ihe special rate forming the security for the existing Wellington City tramway loan Ohiro road and Constable street. The Ohiro road passing through the Town Belt shall be widened and improved, and the Constable street hill oe lowered, provided half the cost of these respective works shall first become charged by way of special loan and special rate upon the districts co-.terminus with the present Kilbirnie and Ohiro wards respectively. Only so rnuch of such special rate shall he levied from year to year as shall be sufficient to provide interest and sinking fund (if. any) in respect of half the actual cost of the work in each case.

Water and Sanitation. —Within three years from the constitution of the united borough, or such longer time as is reasonably necessary, Brooklyn, Island Bay, Kilbirnie and Roseneath shall he supplied with water and means of sanitation according to the needs of the - population of these several localities. Provided nevertheless that each

of these localities shall he separately rated in respect of such services. Provided further that the provisions of the Wellington (City) Suburbs Sanitation Act, 1893, and of the Wellington (City) Suburbs Water Supply Act, 1895, snail continue after the said union to operate within the parts of the borough affected thereby as nearly as may be as if the union of boroughs had not taken place. Provided also that the same rates shall he levied as are levied within the city, and only such districts as shall be supplied shall be rated. Restriction on Imposition or Special Rates.—Subject to the previsions aforesaid, no special rate or separate rate for the purposes of sanitation, water supply, tramways . or lighting shall he imposed upon the borough until these services respectively are intended to be supplied to it hv the Council of the united borough. None of the special rates of the city for sanitation, water supply, tramways or lighting shall he struck over any portion of the borough not served by those conveniences; and none of the other existing special rates for loans for street-widening, street improvement loan of £IOO,OOO and consolidated loan of £200,000 shall be struck against, or levied over, any part of the district hitherto known as the borough of Melrose whilst such district shall he liable for the special rate next hereinafter mentioned. The Council of the united borough shall forthwith after amalgamation take all necessary steps to submit to the ratepayers of the said district a proposal for a loan not exceeding £30,000, to he solely applied (according to the schedule submitted and approved) in street improvements in the district of Melrose (such sum to he spent equally in the areas known as the three wards

of the borough) and an annually-recur-ring special rate to he charged solely on the various wards pro rata in the district of Melrose shall be struck for the purpose of providing the interest and sinking fund in connection with such loan. Provided always that upon consolidation of the aforesaid special loans of the city of Wellington, such loan shall merge into the general loans of / and the rates thereon he chargeable against, the whole of the united borough.

Staff. —The Council of the united borough shall take into its employ the present official staff (consisting of three persons) of the borough. Borough not to Undertake Fresh Responsibilities.—Pending the saidunion being effected, the Melrose Corporation shall not take over any streets, private streets or private ways, or raise any further loans or incur any extraordinary liabilities whatever without the consent in writing of the Wellington Corporation. Provided always that this shall not apply to agreements which have already been entered into by the borough,' but which have not yet been carried out. -v