The Star. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25.1898. SUMNER AFFAIRS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6344, 25 November 1898, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25. 1898. SUMNER AFFAIRS.

PUBLIC MEETING. A public meeting was held in the Sumner Schoiilioom last evening. There was a lurge attendance of ratepayers, and Mr Buttle occupied the uhair. ■"...-.. The CUiunnan. in opening the proceed r' ings, s^id that .the meeting -had been called' that the ratepayers might! have an .opportunity of hearinsr from tlie Mayor- of the. boron ah. Mr Rollitt, some account o: the biisine'ss transacted by the Borough Council and the improvements- made during the past year, and also of the nature of the improvements which it was proposed ti> ir.:ike in the bowujih during the ensuing yeav. Mr' -Eoilitt said that it was necessary for the ratepayers' to meet from time to 'time to discuss borough mntters. aivl the fact of so many being present on this occasion ■ showed that the residents were interested in the innovation. The governing body of the borough was not a wealthy one." the total amount of rates not amounting to more than £700 a year, and it would not be a difficult matter t-> show the improvements that had b;on made.' The day-man was kept going all the year round on such work !•■« was required, and after he had been paid there was not much money left with which to cany out nmteriii! improvements. The works thi-t had been taken in l-a;id dnrincf the year included ksrbing in the winch™ 1 streets imd the repair of the footpaths, while in Berlcliffs footpaths- had been constructed and the dra-ns cleaned. The work of reducing .the footpath opposite the Gave Rock Hotel and making the road look presentable had also been put in hand. , In view of some criticism as to the manner in which the accounts had been made up. the speaker explained the financial position of th'J borough at length, and the method adopted, of keeping the water account and acnerat recount separately. With regard to'pro-jected-improvements. he would suggest that the footpaths round the stores and leadin" to the beach should be treated with tai\ similar to Cathedral. Square, and the road at the end of the tram-lines should be properly laid out. Redclins was goinp ahead, and' it would be necessary th.it the land near the eituary should be drained. The residents there, he thought, could heh> themselves m that matter, and they could, at si ."small expenditure, and with tlie necessary permission, lay a pipe through a certain section and dram the swamps. He had approached the Mayor of Woolston with reference to that portion of the Ferry Road between the tanks and the bridge, along which he would like to see a bicycle tracu made. The Mayer had promised to bring the matter before his Council. Mr Rollitfc ; then dealt at length with criticisms of the Avork done by himseh and the Council. With • regard ta tlw »cv; by-laws, the Council had,

at a special' meeti'fljgy confirmed* them that evening. Mr Moaley as&ed fv'* further j>a4»ticulai's of the manner in which the accounts had beejQi made up. A long explanation, with frequent inter- • ruptions from the meeting, followed, and at length, on the assurance of Messrs R. Ov Duncan and N. Dalston, two accountants,, that everything was in order, the subject dropped. After some further discussion, the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to Mr Rollitt for his address.