NEW PLYMOUTH MATTERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 271, 17 April 1914, Page 7

NEW PLYMOUTH MATTERS

TOWN CLERK'S REVIEW. The Town Clerk (Mr. F. F. Bellringer) has just completed his annual report on Borough, matters—a comprehensive review of the work of the past municipal year—and some recommendations for future consideration. FINANCE. In reviewing the financial position, he btates that the District Fund commenced the year with a dehit balance of £."572 13s. Bd. The receipts for the year (excluding special loan but including £17,150 temporary advances) amount to £49,951, and the expenditure (including repayment of temporary advances) to £46,847 Is. 3d, showing a surplus for the year of £3,104 18s 2d, the result being to reduce the debit balance to £467 13s 8d ag at the end of the financial year. The surplus of receipts over expenditure was chiefly accounted for by an excess of Electric Light Department receipts over expenditure of £2,390 4s 9d, and by the repayment of £757 8s 9d advanced during the previous year by the district fund to the streets and water loan account pending the raising of that loan. From these figures it will be seen that, eliminating the electric light account and also the repayment o ftlie loan referred to, the district fund had just about held its own during the year, notwithstanding that the total expenditure included £843 advanced for tramways and to be repaid when the loan monies are available. ■ The collection of revenue, and particularly of rates, had been satisfactory. The total assessment for the year, with arrears for previous years and excluding extra ordinary water supplies, amounted to £14,299 7s 3d, and of this £14,173 5s Ad was received prior to the end of the financial year, leaving a balance of £126 Is 6d outstanding, which, 'was eminently satisfactory and a credit to the promptness of the great bulk of the ratepayers. THE SEASIDE RESERVES. In dealing with the scenic and seaside reserves of the town, the report makes special mention of the Railway Seaside Reserve, some fourteen acres of land west of the Belt Road, held by the New Plymouth Seaside Committee under the Council until April, 1913, and on which the committee erected a number of small sheds for summer campers. The committee also granted permission; contrary to the terms of the lease, for private persons to build seaside cottages there. This, after the committee became defunct, led to trouble with the Railway Department, and additional clauses had to be inserted in the Coun- ; cil's lease to meet the altered conditions. By these the Council was precluded from vesting- control in any outside committees. The Teport suggests that steps might be taken to have the reserve made oyer entirely to the Council, but recommends that the sheds be demolished, as they are unfit for human luihitation and are blots on the landscape. THE CEMETERY. ; In dealing with the Cemetery, the re■port recommends that fees be fixed at such a rate asi would enable a maintenance fund to bo created, and also one for | the purchase of other land when required. THE MUSEUM. In speaking of the Museum, the Town Clerk refers to the condition contained | in the oil'er of Messrs. W. H. and H. D. Skinner to hand over to the town their collection of Maori and other valuable curios, to the effect that a suitable building be provided. It is pointed out that .unless this is done soon, the offer may possibly be withdrawn. SITE FOR TOWN HALL. The question of a site for a new Town Hall is also discussed, and the necessity for obtaining one as soon as possible is urged. HOARDINGS AND SIGNBOARDS. Reference is mado at some length to the question of hoardings and signboards. Provision lias, it is stated, been made in the new By-laws for securing uniformity in the erection of new verandahs. The adoption of these conditions would bring forward the question as to whether all signboards under verandahs, both old and new, should not be abolished. At the prettont time, the report points out, there is an unsightly collection of signs and advertisements of all shapes and sizes above and under verandahs, and projecting over the foot•way, where no verandahs exist. It would probably be found sufficient if one signboard only were permitted for each verandah, and that along the kerb Alignment. Provided that all were treated alike, this should inflict no great hardship on any particular person or class' ,cf business. An amendment to the Municipal Corporation Act gave the Council power to control the display of posters and the use of hoardings. This could be done by by-law, and a practice stopped irhick its making certain portions of the town unsightly. The larger hoardings in the town must also receive attention. They were unsightly and untidy nnd every yoitt fscreased the danger of their falling and injuring pedestrians. Steps should be taken towards an exhaustive examination of them, and a reduction of the risk of accident. REMOVAL OI<" REFUSE. Dealing with the question of the removal of house refuse, and the unsatisfactory method in vogue at present, the report recommends that the Council undertake the collection, renewal and destruction of rubbish, charging each property owner at a fixed rate. This would, by the experience of-other towns, cil'ect an improvement in the condition of back yards, and go a long way towards putting a stop to.the deposit of rubbish on the streets and the formation 0- unsightly deposits on vacant allotments. The question of erecting a destructor could not be shelved niucii longer. MUXICIPALJ.SIXU TIII'I GASWORKS. The purvliii.se of the local gasworks is mentioned, and the opinion expressed that such a step would be most desirable, as it would I).' not only profitable, but would gi\e (lie Council full control of the streets, which it had not, got at present while (be. Company had power to excavate them for its pipes.' It would also ensure to residents a supply of the chase would, of eour-e. entail a further loan, but the mallei' wa ■; worth considering. THE DUST NUISANCE, in referring to the dust nuisance, the report expresses the opinion that a motor-driven water cart should be obtained. This would do the work of at least two horse-drawn carts, and

initial cost would not be very much greater than the cost of six horses and two carta and extra accommodation, as at present proposed. The annual upkeep would be less. TRIBUTE 'lO THE STAFF.

The report concludes with a tribute to the work of the staff under exceptionally strenuous circumstances.