THE CITY FINANCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8967, 18 April 1890, Page 5

THE CITY FINANCES.

' The Finance Committee presented the fol- ! lowing report at the meeting of the City ; Council last night:—“ The - Committee beg | to report that they have had under consideration the estimates of receipts and expenditure for the current year, and now submit the same for the approval of the | Council. 1. General account. It will be | seen that the estimated receipts on general ( account are £25,449 7s 2d. After providing for all fixed items of expenditure, viz. ; [ Interest, street watering, street lighting, scavenging, fire brigade, salaries, etc., there will be left the sum of £7870 for street works and drainage. The City i Surveyor has drawn np a schedule of such i works as hare either been promised or are very urgently required, and which can be

carried out for the above amount. This schedule has been approved by the Committee, and the result is that £6820 o£ the i amount has been appointed for street works . (labour, road zsetal, timber, cement, &c., &c.), and £1550 for drainage works. The report of the City Surveyor will be laid on the table, and the Council will see that a number of other works are required. The Committee have, however, been unable to place them on the estimates through want of funds. 2. Waterworks account—The estimated receipts are £18,070. and after providing for interest and working expenses, there will be a balance of £1470 available toward providing additional storage dams at Wainni. 3. Special rate for interest on city improvemeat loan. 4. Special rate for hospital and charitable aid. These estimates explain themselves, and do not require any comment from the Committee. To give effect to the above the Committee beg to recommend ; 1. That the accompanying estimates of receipts and expenditure be approved by the Cjuncil in terms of clause 136, Municipal Corporations Act, 1886. 2. That the rates for the current year be as under : —(1) General rate. Is in the pound ; (b) water rate, 5 per cent on rateable value of houses supplied with water ; 2J per cent on rateable value of houses not supplied with water, but situated within 100 yards of the waterworks, and 2 h per cent on rateable value of stores, &o. ; (c) special rate for interest on city improvements loan, 6d in the pound; (d) special rate for hospital and charitable aid, 3d in the pound. The Committee further recommend that the salary of the Town Clerk be increased from £4OO to £450 per annum.” The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the report, said that, so far as ha was able to judge, the estimate of receipts had been fairly well gauged. He explained that a large number of city requirements had been left out on account of want of funds. With regard to the recommendation to increase the Town Clerk’s salary, he said he was perfectly satisfied that the amount of work done by Mr Page, and the very great intelligence with which it was done, was deserving of recognition. Councillor Fraser seconded the motion, which was carried. The various clauses dealing with the striking of cates were then put separately and carried, with the exception of the rate for the city loan, which was referred back to the Committee. An opinion was expressed by his Worship that it would be improper to strike a rate for a greater sum than was required by law, and it appeared that the exact amount of the rate would be about 5Jd. The report as amended was then adopted.