KAITANGATA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 13

KAITANGATA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Careful Administration.

Excellent Financial Position.

Kaf.tangata is a prosperous little township 54 miles south-west of Dunedin, and is situated on the banks of the Matau branch of the Molyneux River, near ts confluence with the sea. The town is connected with the lower part of Inchclutha by means of a budge, and the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company's private line connects it with the trunk railway system at Stirling. Local government iu Kaitangata was first carried on by a Town Board, which met tho requirements of the district for some years. As time went on, however, the residents decided that something of a more comprehensive nature was required, and as a result the township was incorporated as a municipality in ibbf. The borough comprises an area of 1160 acres, and the latest statistics available show that the population was D6B, and the rateable value £9025. The rating is based on the annual valiie, and the rates for the current year total 2s Hid in the £, the aggregate yield being about £1491. It will thus bo seen that the residents of the borough are not called upon to boar a particularly heavy burden so far as rates are concerned. In addition to the rates there is a sanitary lee of 2os per annum tor each house. The township is situated about three miles from the mouth of the Molyneux River. In addition to attending to the upkeep of the streets the council undertook jointly with tho Brace County Council the erection of the Matan-Kaitaugata bridge. The erection of this structure cost the Borough Council about £2500. When the Local Bodies' I' inance Act, 1921, came into operation, the council had a liability of only £2B, and this was paid off during the ensuing year, so that at present its liabilities are nil, with the exception of loans totalling £3384, towards the extinction of which sinking funds amounting to a substantial sum have accrued. The Borough has a reserve leased tor coal mining purposes, from which it derives rents totalling about £l3O annually. It also possesses a very fine domain of 60 acres, which was an endowment from the Government, and 60 acres of suburban land, from which £9O a year is derived in income. It also has a block of land in the middle of the town, known as Victoria Park, which is utilised for public gardens and a recreation ground. 'Tho town possesses fresh water swimming baths, 62 feet bv 26 feet, which were erected b - the council at a cost of £SOO. There is a circulating library containing some 4000 books, under the superintendence of the Athenaeum Trustees, and two municipal bands —one a brass band and tho other a pipe band. These bands were raised, and are maintained, by voluntary subscriptions. For a good many years the township has enjoyed the privilege of a cottage hospital, containing e'ght beds and an isolation ward in which there are four beds. For some time this hospital was

■under the management of the Otago Hospital Board, but since April i, 19X1, it has been controlled by the South Otago Hospital Board. This institution has proved of great value to the district on several occasions.

Electricity was used to some extent for street lighting for five or six years, and a year ago it was introduced for .nouse lighting. The electricity is supplied in bulk by the New Zealand Coal and Oil Co., and the Borough Council undertakes the work of distribution to the consumers. The Borough Council also acts as a Cemetery Board and Domain Board. The cemetery and domain were under the control of separate trustees at one time, but some 25 or 30 years ago the council was asked to take over the control of both, this action being taken with the object of doing away with small local bodies as far as possible. The members of the Town Board at the time of the incorporation of the borough formed the first council, and Mr A. in . Hislop (the chairman of the. board) to came the first mayor. The first nominated council consisted of Messrs A. N. Hislop (mayor), W. M. Shore, Hugh M'Fariane, Andrew 'Carmthers, Malcolm Morrison, and M. Carson. The present council is constituted as follows:—Mr Ronert Aitchison (mayor), Crs Jas. Donaldson, Arthur C. Brown, Wm. Morrison, Robert D. Welsh, A. C. Gordon Smaill, Allan Stewart, Wm. M'Dougall, Wm. M‘Gi)lvray, and John Rainsden. The first town clerk was Mr F. Fuell, who held office unfil 1902. He was succeeded by Mr Charles Nicholson, and m 1904 Mr D. P. Clements, the present town clerk, was appointed to the position.