BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 126, 15 October 1912, Page 8

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Last night's meeting of the Borough Council was attended by the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Browne) and Crs. H. Gilbert, J. G. Morey, J, T. Mannix, J. Clarke, H. Stocker, W. Ambury, T. Buxton, J. Buttimore, G. Hartnell, P. Jackson, and J. Kibby.

THE NGAERE RESERVE. The borough solicitors (Messrs. GovetC & Quilliam) communicated with the Council regarding the railway quarry on the Council's reserve at Ngaere. It was quite evident, they stated, that th» Railway Department was delaying matters as much as possible, so that the' borough had considerable grounds for complaint.

The Council passed the following resolution: "That Messrs. Govett & Quilliam be instructed to give aotice to the Railway Department, under section 201 of the Public Works Act, 1908, that the borough requires subdivisions 9 and 14 of section 1, block 11, Ngaere Survey District (or so much of the land as ienow occupied by the Railway Depart- ' merit) to be taken for the purposes of a railway, and the solicitors are further instructed to take such steps as may be considered necessary to recover suck compensation as may be payable." I HALF YEAR'S FINANCES. A return was submitted by the town

Klerk (Mr. P. T. Bellringer), comparing phe estimated receipts and expenditure for the year ending March 31, 1913, wrth the actual receipts and expenditure for the <half year ending September 30, 1912. Traversing the report, the Mayor stated that «at this time of the year th* Council could do little more than compare the position of the finances with that of last year at the same date. Th* comparison disclosed large expansions in the receipts of the municipal supplies in various departments. The principal sources were the electric light departmcnt for lighting and power, drainag* and reimbursements. Tljc cash receipt* to September 30, 1912, were £8930 ss, compared with £6601 4s lid for the corresponding period of last year, and the advances to the district fund for th* same period were £3815 2s 10d, compared with £2832 Is 7d. The revenu* outstanding at September 30 last was £13,406 15s, compared with £11,720 15* Id on September 30 of last year. During the half year there had been an extraordinary expenditure not provided for, amounting to £394 Is 9d. A comparison of the street vote showed that for the half year ending September SQ . £1475 4s lOd had been spent, leaving » balance of £1,024 4s 2d. For the corresponding period of last year £1,998 17s 2d had been expended, leaving a balance of £2Ol 2s lOd. The position disclosed was very satisfactory, and would enable the Council to carry out its policy of putting the streets in good order for winter wear. A comparison of th* stocks held by the borough engineer's department showed the very substantial increase of £324 13s OJ. Concluding, the Mayor congratulated the Council on keeping the expenditure well within the limits of its resources. When its term of office expired it should he able to leave the finances in really good order. Several councillors congratulated the Mayor on the satisfactory state of affairs disclosed by the statement. Cr. Kibby struck a different note, stating that the Council had already expended more than half of the street vote, and had very little to show for it If, as the Mayor said, the bulk of the < street work had been left for the BumI mer months, where was the money coming from? Other councillors differed with Cr. Kibby, pointing out that big works had been done in Currie street and Morley street. At this time last year, it wa» explained, there was only £2OO left to expend. The borough engineer submitted «> statement as follows, covering the cost of re-grading, metalling, kerbing and channelling Currie streets Ke-forming £22 14s Bd, metalling £B7 lis 6d, kerbing and channelling £3l 6s 6d. The Council confirmed the resolution passed at its previous meeting, adding the area known as Hurworth to the St Au'byn Ward, and fixing the number of representatives. It was decided to clos* ' the roll on the 28th inst. The election will take place a month later.