BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1624, 29 April 1919, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

RICCARTON.

The Rlccarton Borough Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr John Brown) presiding. There were nlso present: Crs A. D» P Ford, J. Mumiings, F. George, T. J. Stoke?, A. E. Stcere, J. H. Gudscll, W. Dalley, and A communication was received from the secretary of the Procession Committee of the Peace Celebrations, suggesting that tableaux should be arranged for the procession, and asking that the council be rcprtf- < sented at the meetings of the committee.. The matter was left in the hands of the Mayor-elect, with power to act. The Milton Borough Council forwajded «i copy of a resolution passed by that body, urging on the Government the desirability of a State-owned mercantile fleet. The resolution was endorsed. The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce wrote, enclosing copies of resolutions asking the Government to take control of; the main arterial roads of the Dominion. On the motion of Cr Stcere the resolutions were held over for consideration by the new council, with the recommendation tlral they be considered with the roads scheme of the Canterbury Progress League.' \ A circular letter was received front Tau- ' ranga Borough Council questioning the action of the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) in placing a veto on local bodies who wish to raise a permanent Peace Memorial. This council requested that the necessary steps should be taken calling on the Government, through the Acting-Prime Minister, to extend the regulations controlling Peace Celebrations to enable local bodies to contribute moneys from their funds for either transitory cete» hrations or for permanent memorials, aW that the Government subsidy should be applicable to both methods. The recommendations contained in (he circular were enMr G. Witty, the district's Parliamentary representative, forwarded a copy of a letter he had received from the Minister of Railways, stating that the matter of lighting' the railway station and signalboxes by electricity was receiving consideration. .- I The financial statement showed a debit balance of £254 8/9. It was decided to convey the council's thanks to the town dcrk«(Mr A. L. Gee>and his staff for their excellent services^ A motion placing on record the services of the retiring Mayor was passed, members referring to the excellent relationship that had existed in the council during his term LYTTELTON. The fortnightly meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council was held last night, there being" present: The Mayor (Mr W. T. Lestcr), Crs J. H. Collins, M. J. Miller, T. , Heuipstalk, G. S. Morris, J. T. Norton, P. G. Norton, and J. R. Webb. The chairman referred to the serious illness of Cr J. T. Bricc, and it was decided " to forward him a letter of sympathy. Mr J. F. Eames, assistant town clerk, who had been appointed town • clerk of Hew' Brighton, wrote tendering his, resignation.' He thanked the council for the courtesy extended to him during his term of office, and requested to be relieved of his position as soon as convenient to enable him to take over his new duties. Cr Gowcr, as chairman of the' Finanee Committee, spoke in the highest terms of tho general capabilities of Mr Eames. H« moved that the resignation be accepted with regret, and that his request be granted. Cr Collins seconded Uie motion, which was Mr L. A. Stringer, town clerk, submitted his annual report for the year ended March 31, 1919. The estimate for the year lfllS-lt-" ' anticipated a surplus on ail accounts 'of £{2 l' 7/0, but this amount had not been reached ; I > by about £4OO, the actual surplus, being £lOl 975, The total cash receipts of payments vfor the year on all accounts, including-loa«8, r -. - \ were as follow:—General account: Receipts>*? £8329 5/5, payments £10,199 16/-. (Diamond Harbour capital account, £532 19/4: iiayments, £535 4/6. Waterworks accounlrfiatti ceipts £4933 3/-, payments £3231 14/3. «**•' =1 works account £6736 16/9, paymenflß §j 19/11. Electric supply account tfflMiik v.', payments, £454 6/8." Contractors'MiShaii account: Receipts £l6, payments lif&a cial rate (drainage loan interest), JM £775 17/6, payments £716 12/-.. SeparKdlPii account (Hospital): Receipts £393 16HH ments £451 7/5. Drainage loan a«jS Receipts nil, payments 10/-. Hoattffii struct ion loan account: Receipts iMftOIEI ments £1389 12/9. Electric supply hffl count: Receipts £I2OO, payments*! Temporary loan account: Receipts JH payments £21,850. Total receipts ■■ 8/2, total payments £4(1,741 3/6. Thejfl receipts and payments for the year BBips|{i! were £96,843 as compared with 15/11 for the previous year. >" ■'• 1 -!&i3B>£fc Additions to the public debt wcrc ; .*ji from the treasury, being the final i/SBEm ment of the road construction loan, offtHDHI from sale of electric supply loan deb* hires. These items brought the total Jowl '""' liability to £93,228. Repayments and »c- • erued sinking funds amounted to, about £II,OOO, leaving a net liability of £82,228. The electrical installation had been completed under the supervision of Mr J, R. Teiiiplin, at a total cost of about £<JS6O. The. question of electrifying the Exeter Streetstation was now engaging attention. As this was the last annual report that he would have the honour of submitting to the council, he took that opportunity of thanking his Worship the Mayor and councillors, as well as those who had held office during the eight years he had been in Lyttelton*, • for their continuous courtesy and lenity, _— He had also to thank the members, of the staff for their hearty assistance.«! • The council, on the motion of Cr if. 3, Miller, passed a vote of thanks to Cr Hemp** stalk, who Is retiring from the council, for the keen interest he had taken in the affairs ' of the borough during his term of olHce, and regret was jexprcssed that he. did not allowed-himself to be renominated. : SUMNER. A meeting of the Sumner Borough Council was held last evening, there being present— The Mayor (the Hon. J. Barr) and Crs T, Dryburgh, H. C. Jamieson, C. Benjamin. A, Senior, J. H. Gihbs, and T. E. Whitfield. ' A communication was received from the Canterbury Progress League asking the council's endorsement for the league's resolutions relative to the provision of better accommodation for both goods and passengers at Lyttelton and Cluistchurcb, and the completion of the Otira Tunnel. It was decided to endorse the resolutions and forward, them to the Government. • '■■■■•, Tho Palmerston North Borough Council forwarded resolutions asking the council to endorse.requests—(a) That the Government should control and maintain all arterial roads; (b) that all local bodies.should co-operate In putting the same in good order.—lt was decided to support the first The Milton Borough Council's comwriHM cation regarding a State-owned meroHHie fleet was received. The Chrlstchurch Tramway Board wi in reply to the council and stated t(mt i§ • was prepared to put a siding at the 7 nj end of Nnyland Street, the council tiSLy 6 per cent, per annum on the cost t,{ \ work.—The letter was received. A letter from the Tauranga Dorou Council for a i■(•solution tta the Government grant subsidies i'or 1 establishment of Peace memorials was rein a communication received froaM James Allen, the Minister stated that he would consult with the CommandantSH Use Forces regarding the possibility of sewmßf to Reilclill's residents a portion of the !■['« range as a reserve.

The council decided that, owing to the difficulty experienced by residents of tho borough in securing drain layers from.the , '. city, that it would undertake the Wprk at' a minimum charge of 5/-. The Finance Committee reported that the profit and loss account on the gasworks forr the year ending March 31, 1919, showed a "->' loss of £157 8/-. Gas sales showed', an Increase of £240 2/11 upon those of the previous year. The electric department showed n profit of £ll3 3/7 lor the year. The result was satisfactory. There were now 226' consumers, 175 of whonuwere connected with the flrstjoutlay, and 50"were on the Sumner extension.—The report was adopted: . ■ It was decided that a special meeting oi the council should be held on Monday May ' 12, fftr the purpose of reviewing' the salaries and wages of officers and employees ,of the council. A letter was received from Mr A. A. .Cheshire.(lighting manager) stating that he ', had agreed to withdraw his resignation consequent on the council's offer of an increase in salary. The Mayor thanked councillors for the assistance they had given him during the year;'and expressed his regret' that'there " were several councillors who were not seeking re-election.