MILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 9

MILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

OUTLINE OF ITS ACTIVITIES. Though the Milton Borough Council is by no means thU olaest body of its kind in Otago, there are not many municipalities in the province that can boast of a longer career. The town of Milton was incorporated by a proclamation in the Otago Provincial Gazette on April 11, 1866. For a few months Mr J. Dewe filled the position cl Acting Mayor, and the first permanent Mayor, Mr Jas. Elder Brown, was elected on August 3 of the same year, holding office till July 30, 1869. He was succeeded by Mr Edward Stewart, who held office for a year, and the position was then taken by Mr Jas. Goodall, who retained it for three years. The first councillors were Messrs Edward Stewart, James Goodall, James A. Dickson, and James Miller Bryce. The first meeting of the council was held on August 3, 1866. The Mayor was instructed to apply to the Superintendent of the Province for the maximum subsidy authorised by the Municipal Corporations Ordinance. In due course a letter was received from the Provincial Secretary stating that the Government had autho nsed the Provincial Treasurer to pay ove; a subsidy of £SOO. It was also decided to apply to the Government for a Crown grant or for the necessary documents hi longing to certain lands set aside for the town of Milton by vote of the Provincial Council on December 21, 1865.

At the second meeting, which was held, on August 9, 1866, the council decided tc advertise for a competent engineer to be employed only for such time as might ba necessary to give levels for drainage am the formation of streets and footpaths. At this meeting the Mayor’s salary was fixed at £55 for the year. About this time a threat was made by the general Government to withdraw the municipal revenues. This proposal die not meet with the approval pi the Miff Borough Council, and the Mayor war authorised to act in conjunction with othei municipalities in opposing it. The first valuator for the borough wr, Mr John Hoilick, who was appointed

September 11, 1866, at a fee ot i A week later Mr Charles O'Neill was appointed engineer, his wages being fixed at 30s per day for the time employed. In the following month Mr Hoilick reported that he had made a valuation of the town, the rateable value of which was £4377. Tlie Council decided to levy a rate of Is 6d in the £, and it was also resolved to procure the necessary staff to make a survey of the town. The services of the engineer were not retained for long, as the council decided to terminate his engagement as from December 14, 1866. Within a week or two, however, he was appointed consulting engineer without retaining fee or saFary. In February, 1867, notification was received that the Government had agreed to pay a subsidy of £2 for every £1 of rates collected.

In August, 1867, the second election took place, Mr Brown was elected mayor, and the following were returned as councillors: Messrs Btewart, Goodall, Lockhart, Forsyth, and George Wilson. The mayor’s salary was fixed at £7O for this year. The council must have been in a good financial position as the records show that the rate was reduced to Is in the £.

An October 8, 1867, tbe council .affirmed the desirability of erecting a Town Hall and Athonanim in Milton, and it was decided that a respectful address be presented to the private land owners there, with a view to soliciting aid in money for the purchase of an eligible site. The council also decided to borrow £250 on the security of the rates for the erection of the atliemeum provided the Government granted a reasonable subsidy. In 1868 the mayor’s salary was fixed at £SO, but in 1869, in which year Mr Stewart was elected to the position, it was decided not to vote anything for the purpose.

Nearly 50 years ago consideration was given to the question of seeming a water supply for the town, but: it was only during Last year that the hopes of the residents in tin's respect were realised. ,In the early part of 1875 the prospectus of the Milton Waterworks Company was published in the Bruce Herald. The proposed capital was £20,000 in shares of £1 each. A considerable proportion of the capital was subscribed, but the company was never floated. Little or nothing further arvnears to have been done in the matter for some 15 veers. On Anri! 98. 1890. however, a report dealing with the question of a water sunplv was subnrltcd by Mr G. M. Barr, Dunedin. Mr Barr stated that no sufficient source could be found between Milton and the soa, and h : s attention was directed to the north and south branches of the Tokomairiro Eiver and tire water

sheds lying between them. The south branch was too low, and would involve a very long main before even the minimum height necessary tor a pressure could be obtained. The only practical source was the north branch, where there was a stream quite capable of meeting the requirements for many years. Mr Barr recommended this site, and estimated the cost of the necessary works at £H,oUO. His recommendations were not canned into effect, however, and nothing more was done for about J-. years. On March 18, 1901, Mr ticslie Reynolds furnished a report, recommending that water be obtained from the north branch of the river, which would give a permanent supply fit for domestic use without the use of filter beds. The estimated cost of the work was £13,394. This scheme was not adopted either. On February 4, 1913, Mr F. J. Williams submitted a report, in which he recommended the erection of a water-tower for storage purpose. He also recommended the utilisation ot the north branch of the river. His estimate of the cost at that time was £8982, but before any action was taken the war in Europe had broken out, and further consideration of the matter was deferred. In December, 1919, by which time tbe price of materials had increased very considerably, Mr Williams furnished a revised estimate of the cost, which ho reckoned would amount to £16,523. Mr Williams’s proposals for water and drainage schemes were adopted, but so far nothing has been done in regard to tlie latter. The council decided to proceed with the water scheme, and obtained the sanction of ratepayers to raise a loan of £16.500 for the purpose. This proved inadequate, however, and later on an additional £3500 had to be borrowed. The tower, which is a conspicuous object in Mi'ton, has a capacity of about . r 5.0C0 gallons, and water can be pumped into it at the rate of 9000 gallons per hour. The water supply was made available for the residents on June 1,102 A In order to mark the accessioVi of King Edward \ tl to the throne the council decided to erect a new town hall, in which provision was made for municipal offices, a reading room, and a concert, ball. This is a commodious brick building, which' will serve the needs of the district for many years to come. It is known as the Coronation Hall, and the foundation stone was laid on .August 9, 1902. The population of the borough is about 1360. The capital value was £203,793 when the last Government valuation was made, and the animal value for rating purposes is £13,547.

The position of town clerk was first offered to Mr E. T. Gillon at a salary of £4B per annum, but he declined to accept it, and the council then conferred the appointment on Mr Richard R. Jones at a salary of £75. Mr Jones held the position from 1866 until August, 1870, when he resigned. Mr Thomas Brookes was his successor, and he remained in office until his death in ueceraber, 1886. In recognition of Mr Brookes’s faitnful service the council put a memorial stone on his grave. Mr R. Margrie Brookes, a son of the previous occupant, was then appointed to the position, which he retained until 1919, when failing health compelled him to retire. The next town clerk, Mr Wm. Roy, took up his duties in December, 1919, but he retired at the end of April, 1922, to accept tlie secretaryship of the South Otago Hospital Board, and was succeeded by Mr v. M. xvxawson, who now holds the position.