OAMARU NEWS NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13586, 7 May 1906, Page 8

OAMARU NEWS NOTES.

(Fbou Our Own Cokrbspokdent.)

OA3LA.RU, May 6. The animal ir. :°'ing of niembs-s of the North Otago A. and I'. Association was held on Saturday, when the interest iaken in tlie question of tho now ground was proved by a record attendance of over 100. The meeting at ones showed itself sympathetic to tho recommendation of tho opeeial committee, that the land on tho North road known as Mr Hcdley'e paddock should he purchased for the purpose. This was tho section which it was understood the Government wished to purchase for workmen's homes, hut which Messrs C. W. lloid and W. Gardiner secured a few days ago with the intention of ottering it to tho A. and P. Association at the purchase price of £2200 for 34 acres. "With a goo*l of enthusiasm and without any opposition, a proposal to purchase the land for show grounds was carried, and tho committee instructed to sell tho present ground, for which an oiler has already been made of £2000, tho association having the right to remove all improvements, including fcnccs. Situated, as the old ground is, on the top of tho hill, in a capital position for residences, there is a. foeling that tho land will sell easily and well. The election of officers at the' same meeting resulted _ in tho appointment of Mr W. V. AVylio to the presidency anil Mr 0. W. Be.id to tho vice-presidency. A hearty voto of thanks was placed on record to Messrs 0. W. Reid and AV. Gardiner, jun., for their generosity in securing for the association the option of taking Mr land at a time when the members might Tiaye been forestalled had they had to wait till the annual meeting. The Oamaru Borough Council had last week before it the difficult task of arriving at estimates of income and expenditure for the coming yw, Councillors wore confronted on one hand l>y a decrease in the revenue of at least £681 owing to the loss of license fees, and on tho other hand the necessity for a considerable expenditure on certain streets that very much needed repair. By careful figuring, however, they managed to balance tho items providing for the expenditure of a considerably lavger sum than last year on rhe streets. This was done without increase of rates, though councillors were aided in a measure by the increasing revenue from water for power purposes, and by an increase in tho annual rateable value, which is considerable. A sum of £100, which has been on deposit for two years to the credit of waterworks repairs account, is to !» lifted to be spent on necessary works. The council also anticipates having to collect earlier eoino of the arrears -which are annually carried forward on the 31st Maroh, though in this they are only repeating what was done last year. The North Otago Time 6 published a comlxiratiye statement of the Government, valuation of tho various ridings in .tho Waitaki County and of the Bovouglis of Oamaru and Hampden. These show that the rateable value of the Waitaki Countv now stands at £3,111,006, or £247,473 more than last year, notwithstanding that the revaluation of some of the '-wings had to he held over till next year. Tn the case of the Borough of Oamaru tho valuation has reached £625,411. or £143,913 move than last year. The Boronirli of Hampden is unaltered at £18,602. The iipires aro subject to anv slight revisions made by tho Assessment Court.