A YEAR’S WORK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 91, 16 April 1912, Page 8

A YEAR’S WORK.

MAYOR RKPOBTS OX BOROUGH OPFBATIGXH. iXi'KRIXSTiXO PABTICCLAIIS. The following report on tao year s cp,'ration- <>< the Borough Council was submitted to the Council at its meeting last night hy the Mayor (Mi J. Masters;': — To the Councillors of the Borough oi Stratford.—-Gentlemen : F have the honour to lay before you a statement of the work of the Council during the past twelve months. Giving to the consideration of a loan scheme to. provide improvement;, to onr streets, and f or the extension of our drainage system Councillors, at the beginning of the year, were called upon to attend a larger number of meetings than usual. I had hoped that a report on the scheme would have been available during tiie past year, but owing to the fact that the scheme covers provision for improvements affecting the whoh Borough, the ovvrseor has not ye: been able to finish '.aking the level: and gathering the uata accessary C provide a complete and coniprchonciv* report . The report snould be read; for discussion early this year. The town .still continues to progros; in a solid and stable manner. This Fact is proved by tlie number of building permits issued during the year the fees collected being .£9 ill excess, of the amount received last year. Various other fees show an increase pioving conclusively that the town steadily progressing. Building per nvits to the value of £18,099 wer issued during the year. Reserves.— r ihe leases of t.vo oi tin shops in the Municipal Buildings lap sod on the 31st December last, am arrangements were made with the pro sent tenants to occupy the shops af a rental of £2 5s and £1 10s weekl; until 30th Juno, the date on which the leases of the shops occupied In Mr Spence fall in. The four shops wen offered for lease by auction in Marc'for a term of ten years Iron; Ist July 1912, at rentals of: £2 15s per wee 1 for shop occupied by Mrs Brown, £ 12s Gd per week for ,-diop occupied b; Mr Watson, £3 10s per week for each of the shops occupied by Mr Spence. The two first-mentioned shops sold a; the upset, but no bid was made fo: Mr Spence’s shops. Up to the presen there has been no offer made for thesbut 1 have no doubt that the Comic: will he able to lease the shops at tin upset placed on them. If tills is dom the increased revenue to the Counci will amount to £195. Town Hall.—'The revenue from tin Town Hall shows a falling off oh about £59 as compared with the previous year. This fact is accountoc for mainly owing to the hall not being used by picture shows. The loss on the Town Hall account is £2O, ns com pared with £IS last year. Abattoir.—The working of this institution continues in its usual sat isfactory manner. One- of the pad docks was stumped and ploughed dun ir.g the year at a cost of £23. it ,b hoped to recoup most of tin- amount by the sale of a crop of turnips planted in the cleared paddock. Other pad docks are to ho treated .similarly a; opportunity occurs. The figures re garding the number of cattl-* slaughtered are as follows: G 75 cows. 237 heifers, 21G oxen, 57 calves, 2851 sheep GIG lambs, 373 pigs. Stock condemned during the year: Cows, 31 wholly and 51 partially; oxen and heifers, 7 and 10; calves, 1 and 2: pigs, 11 and 24; sheep, 12 and 20: lambs, 0 and 1. Library and Reading Room.—Tin reading mom continues to be well patronised, but there is a great deal ol room for improvement with regard tr library subscribers. A scheme for improvement to the library was brought down during the year by the Library Committee, hut it was decided to defoi consideration until the estimates an being considered during the enf-uiin year. Fire Prevention.-—i’iic Brigade s-til continues to maintain its' high state of efficiency. The expenditure on fin prevention for the year is £OO mon than the previous a ear, the main items accounting for the increase being re-erection of fire bell tower £27 and uniforms £2O. Cemeteries.—The old cemetery i-s ii good order and conditions so far a; paths and hedges are concerned, although the uneared condition of man; of the graves leaves decided room foi improvement. The expenditure on tin Kopnatama Cemetery has been ratliei heavy during the year owing to tin necessity for clearing part of the southern portion. Further expenditure in this direction will not be necessary for some considerabh time.

Water Supply.— Applications for connections with; the water supply continue to. lie nuule in fairly large mnnlici's. The question of improving tin quality of the water has received confederation during the year, and the Council has decided to put in a tunrel to enable the present tunnel to he periodically cl earn'd out, provided satisfactory arrangements can he made with the ow ner of tic property. The curst lon of a Ultra •’■on scheme will he dealt with when the Council considers the proposed loan ‘creme. fi vditing.— 'I he question nt acquiring the r.lant and "idertahing of the I’ll ’ctrical Supply Co. was discussm! during the vor, and it was decidi'd to pla.ee the rnr,position before the ratepayers. The poll insulted in the proposal being rejected by a large ni;iioritv. r l hough the cost of the proceedings amounted to about £OO, the mon M v, T consider, was advisedlv spent. It allowed the ratepayers to settle the vexed question of eloetrie light. Four now street lights wore erected during tin* \ear, and it is '’xpaeted that faith,:- expenditure in

this direction w:»! required dm incc tins ensuinp; year. Uoad Roller.—The Council dm hip; the year decided to purchase a steam road roller, tins order was placed with Messrs .McLaren ami Co., and it is expected the machine will arrive in Stratford next August. 11ds decision is a step in the direction, and the quality of our streets in tao tulnre should he much improved.

Finance.—The year closed vita a saving on the general account ot £Bl a. Tills was possible owing to tlic very much smaller expenditure required ou our streets during the past year. With the exercise of care during the coining year tao ordinary revenue, owing to the increased amount that will he available from the rent of reserves should he sufficient to meet all ordinary expenditure and provide a fair amount towards paying for the road roller. r i he overdraft at 31-3-12 was £1613 2s 9d as

compared with £2511 Ss 2d at 31-3-11. It was found necessary last year to strike separate rates lor hospital and charitable aid and lighting purposes, hut owing to the new valuation just completed, sufficient revenue should he derived from the general rate without the necessity for striking any separate rates. The increase in the valuation is not available yet, hut will hr in the course of a few days.

Opunake Railway.—A commission lias been appointed by the Government to gather evidence regarding the route of the proposed railway. ibe Council, in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, are collecting evidence to place the claims of Stratford in a favourable light before the Commission. Should Stratford be chosen as the junction for tiiis important lino there should be no fear as to Stratford’s future, especially with the extension of the railway connecting Stratford with the Main Trunk.

General.—Tn conclusion and before taking leave of the Council, T would like to express my appreciation to the various members of the Council’s staff for the loyal support accorded me at all times. To those Councillors who have invariably extended to me the courtesy due to the Mayoral office, I also wish to express my gratitude.

Councillor King said he wished to thank the Mayor for the courtesy and kindness which he had always shown to him (Councillor King), and expressed himself as sorry that the Mayor would not ho next year in his accustomed seat at the Council table. He remarked that they would probably get another man, not quite as good, but almost. Ho considered that the Mayor deserved very great credit for the ability and devotion which he had given to Municipal affairs. i

Councillor .’Sangster heartily endorsed all that the previous speaker had said. Ho eipressed the hope that the time would not be very far distant when the Mayor would again sit at the Council table.

Councillor Boon spoke of the Mayor’s services to the Borough in similar terms, Councillor Ward also adding a finv words to that of the previous speaker. Councillor J. 1). Healy said that although they had not agreed on all matters, still he thought the Mayor had acted, possibly as far as his views carried him, in the right way.

Councillor Paget also replied as one who more often differed with the Mayor than agreed with him. He expressed the hope that the Mayor’s retirement from office would not create an unduly irksome leisure. He referred to the fact that he had usually been in a minority against the Mayor’s majority, but he was quite sure that the Mayor had acted in accordance with his convictions (Hear, hear.) At the same time he hoped that the Mayor would accord him the same feeling, that he (Councillor Paget) also acted in accordance with his convictions. He only hoped that the Mayor would not carry away with him any feeling of bitterness or animosity. He assured his Worship that on his part there was none.

Councillor Lawson endorsed the remarks of previous speakers, and hoped that the Mayor’s retirement would not be for long.

Councillor 11. McK. Morison said Jio had much pleasure in testifying to the spirit and ah’lity with which the Mayor had occupied the chair at tho Council table. It was moved that a vote of thanks be accorded to tho Mayor for his report. This was carried unanimously.

The Mayor jocularly remarked that while he rat and listened to the kind remarks of the speakers, it made him rep;ret that he was leaving. That night had been the most pleasant he had spent for many a long time. “! want to assure Councillors here now that, although we have some of us been bitterly opposed to each other, 1 am going to leave this Council bearing no animosity against Councillors. I trust that 'I shall be able to meet every Councillor in the street and meet him as a friend.” (Hear, hear.) Continuing, the Mayor said he was not leaving the Council because he was tired of it. He had as much interest, and more, in Stratford than ever he had. He was proud to see its present progres-, and assured them he would do his little share lo make if continue. Probably, if the position of Mayor was filled, by one of toe ‘‘budding councillors” before him, then if the public thought (it, he might be with them .again. He gave the gentleman who requested him to again contest the Mayoralty his reasons for not doing so. There were other reasons he had not mentioned. He felt that during the last twelve months or so the night work had not agreed with him. He did not think people knew just what an enormous amount of night work was attached to the position. Three or four limes a week lie would i;a.vc to be out till 1! or 12

o’clock. He icuiiil 1' :it Inis had nat_ agreed with him - He iiad olaor people to consider besides hiinscli, and lie thought it wiser and heller to retire ini' a time 1 . Mo could assure Councillors that while he had occupied Hu' chair they had had Ins last. lie had done what ho tlioua.it host ior tho ]>oroun;h of Stratford, ilthoucn Councillors might think lie had hoou a I'.ttlo too

■much on the <'oon ic-a 1 sal:. With regard to tin* roads, ho asked them to have patience. Ihe roads had not been neglected. Ho had used liis endeavours to cut down expenditure and prevent expenditure that was not absolutely necessary. He liad supervised the pay sheet, and watched the bank book. He had tried to the best of his ability to prevent expenditure more than necessary consistent with the proper upkeep of the Borough. He might say that he had an object in view, and that object was the road roller, which they bad now ordered. He felt sure that it would be one of the best assets Stratford had ever bad. Councillor Paget: Hear, hear.

His Worship referred to tiio many advantages there wore in possessing this roller, and said the purchasing of it was one of the host things that the Council had doin'. In conclusion, the Mayor raid if:at lie was very pleased that they were parting on such- good terms. “I can assure you it has done me a considerable amount of good, considering the rough times we have had. I feel that I can go ont with the good feeling of the Council. 1 again thank yon all for the kindness you have shown me during the past year—for the manner in which yon have trcahvl me. (Applause.) On the Mayors retiring a vote of thanks was passed him for his services, and on the motion of Councillor Paget, seconded by Councillor Hoaly, the Mayor wa,s voted the usual honararium of £SO. When the Mayor again took his seat, he thanked the Councillors both for the honararium and the vote of thanks, the meeting terminating in the neighbourhood of 11 o’clock.