PROGRESSIVE TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 11 June 1924, Page 22 (Supplement)

PROGRESSIVE TIMARU.

PAST AND PRESENT,

INFORMATION IN TABLOID FORM,

The Borough of Timaru was incorporated in 1868 when the total revenue was £786 4s 9d. The expenditure on the General Account was £941 3s sd. The Council had a special loan then of £IOOO for Borough improvements. The total revenue last year was £102,533 3s 6d, and the expenditure was £99,532 6s lid. The population of the Borough to-day is about 16,000. Sixty years ago it was 965. In 1883 the valuation was £43,791. At 31st March, 1922, it was £194,001. Since that date the Borough is valued on unimproved value. Th 6 rate in 1868 brought in £475; to-day it brings in £48,831 15s 7d. The Borough loans ’ to-day amount to £410,954 15s lid. Ten per cent, interest was paid on the first loan.

Interest and sinking funds on the present loans total £26,101 19s 8d per annum. In 1880 the Borough borrowed £60,000 for thirty years at 7 per cent, for the waterworks, which were carried out under great difficulties, all successfully overcome. The town is supplied with water from the Pareora river by a water race delivering into two reservoirs with a storage capacity of 22 million gallons. Up to two years ago the water race was only capable of delivering 14 million gallons per 24 hours. Improvements have been effected along the water race, and three cast iron syphons have been installed whereby it is now' possible to deliver 3 million gallons per 24 hours. A loan of £31,000 has been carried for improvements in the reticulation of the Borough. Eighteen miles of new mains are being laid.

To-day there is a loan of £100,400 on the waterworks, bearing interest, some at 44, some at 34, and some at 5, 54 and 6 per cent. In 1889 the levy to the Timaru Harbour Board was £267 2s Bd, and in 1923 it was £I7OB 11s 6d.

The Municpal Abbatoir was built in 1903. The site of 35 acres cost £1475. The Council borrowed £7296 10 pay for ihe land and build-

ings, the loan being at 31 per cent., including sinking fund. The Abattoir has proved a marked success. Underground drainage was started in 1905, and to date the loans are £118.858. There are only about 65 houses in the Borough unconnected. All will be compelled to connect by 31st October, 1924. It has proved a great boon to the town. £27,100 was borrowed for street improvements, and this has all been spent in the new portions of the Borough. £2,500 was borrowed in the first instance to improve Caroline Bay, but since then another £9,500 has been spent on it. Last year the Council spent £2,748 11s 7d on the Bay.

The revenue when the Council first let the bathing rights was £5 per annum: last season about £2,289 5s lid was received from Caroline Bay.

Prior to Scott’s contract to light the town by electricity the Council had 100 gas and oil lamps, which cost about £550 a year to maintain. To-day there are about 500 lights which cost £1,654 12s last year. The Council took over the Mechanics’ Institute in 1909 when there were 250 subscribers. It Was then municipalised and a free public library was built with the aid of two grants from Mr Carnegie. To-day there are 3642 adult borrowers and 815 juvenile borrowers of books. The cost to the Council-last year was £1,957 6s 7d for upkeep, etc. Electric Power and Light Public Installation Department— Capital cost £IOO,OOO. Purchased Ist October, 1915. Lake Coleridge Supply connected December 1923.

In 1904 the Council spent £349 on the Park and Reserves ; last year they spent £2,299 3s 9d. The Council used to spend £l9O a year on fire prevention ten years ago; last year they spent £BB7 10s.

The Omnibus Service now comprises six single-deck ’buses and three double-deckers. The Council is about to equip one more doubledecker. Revenue £8,356 12s lOd. Expenditure, £7,593 11s 6d. Profit £763 Is 4d. Capital cost £B,OOO. Sinking fund, £2,968 3s 4d. Passengers carried last year 565,025. The unimproved value of the Borough in 1901 was £198,212; in 1908 it was £960,645; and in 1911 it stood at £1,119,346; last year it stood at £1,476,613. The capital value in 1901 was £539,659; the estimated capital value to-day is about £3,349,626.

The value of improvements in 1901 was £351,447; in 1908, £793,612; and in 1911,

£949,205. The estimated increase,in improvements since 1911 is about £923,808. The Art Gallery "was established in the town in 1913 and about £IOOO worth of pictures and statuary has already been given by generously deposed citizens. The North End Park was purchased at a cost of £3,358, with an area of 20 acres. In 1890 the Council spent £1,385 on labour in the streets; in 1913 the expenditure was £3380; last year the expenditure was £7,360 2s 4d. Ladies’ Pvest. Site purchased for £1,750. In 1885 the levy to Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was £9O 17s 9d, and in 1923 is was £3,024.

£ s. d. Revenue last year .. 21,052 7 4 Expenditure t ._.. 18,142 18 9 Profit . - , .. 2,909 8 7 Value of Sinking Fund . . 12,401 3 6 Private Installation DepartmentCapital cost ... .... 2,259 4 4 Income .. 5,948 11 2 Expenditure .. 5,915 2 2 PrOfit . . 83 9 0 Value of Sinking Fund .. 566 12 0