MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 848, 3 January 1879, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The following members were present at the fortnightly meeting of the Municipal Council held last night:—His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Humphrey, Procter, Liddle, Spence, Familton, Mainland, and Gibbs. Dr. Garland received permission to erect a lamp-post opposite his premises, subject to the Engineer's supervision. A letter was received from Mr. Clement, in reference to a sum of L 5 awarded him for land taken for water-race. The draft indentures of the cadet in Engineer's office were read and approved. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that great complaint was made on account of the charges made by the only licensed nightman, and suggested that a tariff be fixed, and applications for licenses invited A report from the PuMic Works Committee with reference to road to quarry reserves and work at upper end of Torridge street, was read and adopted. It was resolved that any notice required to be issued or step required to be taken, in connection with, opening continuation of road from Chelmer street to join the new road to Cave Valley, be so issued or taken. Correspondence re indenting a stonecrushing was read, and it was ordered that one be imported from Home per Messrs Bright Brothers. A petition from a number of residents complaining of the impassable state of Ouse street, between Reed street and Aln street, and praying a remedy, was presented by Cr. Gibbs, who spoke in support, and stated that the work had been previously sanctioned. It was resolved to call for tenders to carry out the work. The accounts presented were passed for payment, viz., ordinary accounts, L 123 16s Id ; gasworks, L 53 8s 6d; waterworks, Lll9 19s 4d. REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. In continuation of the report presented at last meeting showing the sum required to complete the pipe-dying, &c., for the waterworks, your Committee have now the honor to present a statement showing the estimated receipts and expenditure from or on account of the works when opened, viz.: — RECEIPTS. Consumers payments for domestic supply as made up in July, 1877, on basis of then Valuation Roll, viz., £ s d Thames Ward ... 560 10 11 Jetty „ ... 436 2 8 Severn „ ... 607 8 3 High „ ... 323 12 6 £1927 14 4 £ s d Or say, on present valuation ... 2000 0 0 Rent of water for motive power, 300hpatL15 4500 0 0 Rents set aside in aid of revenue, aay 1000 0 0 General rate of 6d in the £ on L 44.000 annual value ... 1100 0 0 £B6OO 0 0 EXPENDITURE. £ 8 d Annual interest on LIOO,OOO at 7 per cent. 7000 0 0 Wages, salaries, and labor, viz. : £ a d 1 man at headworks, at L2 10s per week ... 130 0 0 Ido at reservoir ... 150 0 0 6 maintenance men at 8s per day ... 748 16 0 Clerk 175 0 0 Storeman ... ... 130 0 0 Occasional assistance 50 0 0 Stationery ... 50 0 0 Proportion Town Engineer's salary 100 16 0 £1533 12 0 Say 1600 0 0 £B6OO 0 0 It will be observed by the preceding that assuming as your Committee do on the basis of applications made that waterpower is availed of for motive power to to the extent indicated, a general rate of 6d in the £ will be all that will be required to balance the revenue and expenditure, while in a few years the steady growth of the population should, by increasing the revenue from consumers, do away with the necessity of imposing any rate at all. The present indebtedness of the town, independently of the loan for water supply, is quite within its means, as will be seen by the figures following. It may be premised that that indebtedness consists altogether of L 35,000, viz., L 25,000 general purposes, and LIO,OOO gas loan. As regards the latter, the gasworks revenue itself easily bears the charge, the audited balance-sheet for the year ended 31st December, 1877, showing, after providing for interest on debentures, allowance for depreciation of plant, and a sinking fund of L4OO, a balance of profit of L 76 ; while the year ended 31st December, 1878, will doubtless show more favorable results when the balance-sheet is made up, as the account for the halfyear ended September 30 showed an increase of revenue for that period of Ll6B 15s. The LIO,OOO loan cannot therefore be counted as a burden, being a re-produc-tive investment, and there remains accordingly, as against ordinary revenue only the interest on the L 25,000 ordinary purposes loan, after providing for interest and sinking fund on which, for the payment of all salaries, day labor, and ordinary expenses, the general revenue shows a balance available for contract works of L 2330, as is shown by the subjoined statement of municipal revenue and expenditure, omitting waterworks and gasworks. ORDINARY REVENUE. From Rates, Is 6d in the £ on £44,000 £3300 0 0 Rents—Town sees., £1077 Is 6d; Reserves, £362 4s 6d ; Quarries, £l7 1 456 5 ° Licenses, Fees, Penalties, and Permits 1316 10 9 Government Subsidy 2200 0 0 £8272 15 9 ORDINARY EXPENDITURE. Interest on £25,000 at 7 per cent £1750 0 0 Sinking Fund 300 0 0 Salaries 1271 15 0 Day Labor, including pay of Weighbridge - keeper and Lamplighter 1228 3 0 Labor on Reserves 291 4 0 Ordinary expenditure 1101 10 8 Available for contract works ... 2330 3 1 £8272 15 9 The report was adopted.