TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8223, 29 August 1906, Page 3

TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.

1905-1906.

TO HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR AM) COUNCILLORS, JIASTEKTON. I have the honour to submit my report on the transactions of tho Council for the year ended 31st March, 1906, and on matters affecting the Borough. As His Worship reported so fully on the general finances of the Borough, it will only be necessary for me to refer to some of the details of the accounts, as compared with the previous year; and the estimates and actual operations on the General Account. AUDIT, Before doing so, however, I desire to draw attention to the lateness of return of the Audited Balance Sheet, and the " tags" attached by the Auditor-General. After the accounts of the Borough had been examined by the Inspector they lay for a month in the Audit Office without any indication of what had become of them, or any communication being received from that Office. On their return ''tags" were found on them to the effect, first, that the Library Account was in debt at the end of the year, second, that money had been unlawfully expended out of two Loan Accounts In one of these—the Drainage Loan Account- an expenditure authorised by the Council, being objected to by' the Inspector, was tal>en out of the Loan Account and charged to the General Account, In the other case an amount debited in error to the Abattoir Loan Account, was similarly treated, and in both cases the necessary bank transfers were made ACCOUNTS. Beginning with the General Account, the principle increases in revenue over 1904-5 were rates and Penalties £2O 13s lid, Subsidy, £52 6s lOd, Rents 39 4s 7d, Fees £93 4s 2d, Repayments £l6 12 6, Sales £l7 8s 9d, Loan Repayments £842 9s Bd. There was a decrease in Drainage Fees of £67 I7s Bd, Dog Fees £lB 18s, and Park Account of £l4O 13s 9d. The total receipts exceeded the previous year by £IOB2 Is 7d. The principal increases in expenditure over the year 1904-5 were: Salaries and Departmental £46 19s (id, Streets and Roads £649 8s 6d, Public Lighting' and Town Clock £4O 3s Bd, Scavenging £lO4 lis 9d Stables, etc. £ll6 lis 6d, Fire Prevention £45 15s Gd, Hospital and Charitable Aid £143 4s, Law Costs £227 8s Bd, Accident Insurance £lB 6s 3d, Licensing £25 9s 3d, Waipoua Bridge £25 15s 9d, Public Conveniences £39 17s 3d, Interest £55 2s 2d. The principal decreases were Public Health £9B 6s Bd, Park £B2 14s, River Protection £34 16s lid, Standard Survey £ls 4s Bd, By-laws £lB Is lOd. There was expended on account of the £25,000 Loan the sum of £lO9 16s 2d. The total expenditure exceeded that of the previous year by £4 3s 7d. The increase in expenditure on streets and roads, scavenging, Clmriaable Ail and Law, more than accounts for the excess of receipts over the previous year. Of the Loan repayments £343 19s 8d represents the money paid on the Abattoir Account, including purchase of land and preliminary expenses of the Loan, and £498 10s (award Staples and Co. Bannister Street Betterment) is part payment of moneys expended out of General Account over and above the Bannister Street Loan, (viz: Construction £3OB 17s 2d, Compensation £135 Is 6d, Law Costs £214 lis, and £7 7sAssessors' fees, Total £66516s Bd, leaving a balance still due to the General Account of £167 6s Bd.) The Estimates for the year compare with the actual transactions as follows: Receipts estimated £5628 Is 7d, actual £6369 2s sd, excess receipts £741 0s lOd. Expenditure estimated £5628 Is 7d, actual £5657 13s lOd, excess expediture £29 12s Bd, deducting excess expenditure from excess receipts leaves £7ll 8s 7d, representing reduction in overdraft. (Overdraft at beginning of year £3848 8s 2d at end of year £2636 19s 7d.) G;\S SUPPLY ACCOUNT. This account shows an increase in nearly every item of receipts, the principal being, Gas sold £683 12s lid, residuals £lB5 2s lOd, Service extensions £39 0s 2d, Meter rents £lO 13s Gd, the total increase of revenue over the previous year being £944 12s 7d. The expenditure shows a slight increase in departmental £9 5s sd, a decrease of £9O 2s 4d in manufacture, £lll 16s 4d in maintenance, and £lB 18s in distribution. Stoves and fittings show an increase of £385 18s 6d, gas extensions of £l6 2s lOd, plant and miscellaneous £46 18s Bd, and meters a decrease of £B2 6s Gd. The balance to credit of the account, after providing for interest and Sinking Funds on the Loans (£750) is £684 18s 2d. It must be very gratifying to you gentlemen, to find the working expenses decreased and the income of the Gasworks increased, as the result of the year's working, WATERWORKS ACCOUNT. This account also shows an increase in all items of receipts, the principal being Water Rates £205 15s, Sales by Meter £32 16s 10d, and Sales of Fittings £37 12s sd, the total increase being £2BB 2s 7d. On the expenditure side there is only a small increase for wages of £26 lis lid (improvements at the intakes), a decrease of £BOO 4s 4d in extensions of mains and services, and of £ll7 12s Gd in freight and cartage. The annual charges on the loans account for £485 10s 2d additional payments. This account, which had Jbeeh strained very much the previous year by the extensions of mains and services in High Street, Lincoln Road, etc., has now recovered, and may • be expected, to provide for further small extensions during the current year. LIBRARY ACCOUNT. ' This account showed a slight falling off in receipts, of which £ls l is

I 2d was in rates. Subscriptions showed a small increase, £3 10s 6d. In the expenditure increases were shown of £5 15s in salaries, £53 19s Id lire and lighting, and £96 3s 6d tn building and furniture, and decreases' of £l4O lis in books and periodicals, and £24 18s id in maintenance. The account closed with a i debit balanco of £IOB 3s 3d. I OTUEIi. ACCOUNTS. The remaining accounts call for ! little comment. The Drainage Loan j Account was nearly exhausted at the I end of tlio year, the £2500 Gasworks Loan was expended, and the Abattoir Loan was well under way. The Drainage Loan Interest Account closed the year with a credit balance of £55 18s 4d, and the .Bannister Street Loan Interest Account with sufficient credit balance to meet the current year's charges. 2, WORK S. WAT E RWOH KH. The principal work during the year was that of extensions at the intakes, which at a comparatively small cost resulted in a much larger permanent supply of pure water. The work of repairing pipes leading into the Reservoir was also expeditiously and economically eli'eeted, remedying the leaks which had previously given i trouble. The scare raised of alleged pollution at the Head works, was promptly met by the Council requesting the Public Health Department to thoroughly test the purity of the Avater. Samples were taken by the District Health Officer from the Headworks, the Reservoir and the town, and the result of the exhaustive bacteriological and analytical tests made by Dr. Makgill and Professor Maclaurin proved conclusively the absolute purity of our water-supply, which was shown to be equal to any in the Colony. In consequence of the extensions of the intakes providing so much surplus water, the Council agreed to j a request of the Landsdowne people to I be allowed to participate in the benefits of a supply of pure water for ! domestic use, and high pressure for fire extinction, on terms satisfactory to the Borough as well as to Lansdowne, and when the work is carried out the Council will derive a revenue for water that is now running to waste, ABATTOIR. The erection of a substantial and up-to-date Abattoir was approaching completion at the end of the year under review. A very great deal of j time and attention was devoted to this work by the Council, every detail being carefully considered, many conferences held with tho Government Veterinarians, and journeys made to other places, with a view to adpoting the very latest improvements. Ratepayprs generally, will feel assured that their representatives have spared neither time nor trouble in securing the best results in the expenditure of the loan, in a matter so directly concerning the health of the people. < GASWORKS. The work of the year, the financial results, and condition of the works are exhaustively dealt with in the report of the Engineer (Mr Dobson) and printed with this report. The actual increase in the cash balance, after paying Interest and Sinking Fund (£750) and extension of mains, plant, etc., was £204 10s 3d. After long deliberation, having in view the increasing work of the Borough and the largo loan expenditure coming on, the Council decided as a matter of policy, that the appointment of a Gas Manager was necessary. Out of a number of applicants, Mr J. Blaclnnann was finally selected for the position. PUBLIC LIBRARY. The whole of the exterior of the Institute Building—comprising Public; Library and Reading Room, Librarian's residence, Council Chambers and Offices—was thoroughly painted, Reading Room was enlarged by the inclusion of the Museum Room and repapered and renovated generally. This work, which ought to have been done lone ago, was carried out at a cost of about £IOO, and the improvement effected is greatly ; appreciated by the many visitors to the reading room. The question of dealing with the nonrevenue producing portion of the Library endowment, has been under considration, and proposals for leasing or building made, but no definite conclusion reached. It was however, decided to re-purchase the Druids' Hall—which had previously been sold for removal—at a cost of £GO, but the ultimato use of the building has yet to be settled, PUBLIC PARK. The work of improvmgand beautifying the Park has been carried on during the year as well as the limited funds would allow. Unfortunately the usual grant from the Trust Lands Trust was not available, owing no doubt to the strain on the finances of the Trust, neither were any funds raised by special effort, through various reasons. It is to be hoped that a permanent Beautifying Society will be formed this year, to improve the Park as well as other parts of the town. The ten acres adjoining the Park were secured by tho Act passed last year, the Trustees not making any objection, and negotiations for the 10 acres were satisfactorily concluded. The necessary Act to enable the title to bo vested in the Council, is promised by the I Minister, and provision will have to be made for payment of the sum agreed upon, £3B 10s. The inclusion of the whole of this land (b.104) ; bringing the Park boundary to the river, although opening fresh avenues for expenditure, is a matter for congratulation to both town and country. The possibility of beautifying and improving the People's Park, by judicious laying out, levelling and planting, the introduction of ornamental water for streams, ponds, and swimming baths, has been fully recognised by the Committee and tho Council, and the proposal to raise a small loan to assist the work received the approval of the ratepayers. The provision made by the Park Committee for a temporary tea-room in the Band 1

Rotunda has been greatly appreciated by visitors, and may lead to the erection of a permanent building before very long. The erection of some iron boxes for the reception of rubbish, would be of great convenience to the public, especially during sports gatherings, and picnics, besides saving unnecessary -worry and labour to the Custodian in clearing up. Although football clubs have departed to other grounds, the popularity of the Oval for cricket, sports, and other gatherings, is increasing, and will do so, because of the beautiful scenery, tho picturesque surroundings and the grateful and abundant shade of the foliage, STREET LIGHTING. Extension of street lighting, and improvement of the light, has received considerable attention, amongst other improvements being the introduction of automatic lighting and extinguishing apparatus, which it is hoped will eventually make a saving in the cost of lamp-lighting. MAIvOUKA CREEK. The action Eddie v the Council, for damages through overflow of the Makoura creek, resulted, as anticipated, m favour of the Council. The Avork provided for in the £25,000 loan to iniproA'e the carrying capacity of the creek and enlarge the culverts, should ail'ord considerable relief to the area through Avhich the creek runs, but there can be little dout that a great deal of the expense thrown upon the ratepayers of the Borough for this Avork has been caused by the diversion of Avater into the creek from the Masterton County. The question of clearing, straightening and deepening the channel of the Ivuripuni stream will have to be faced before long, as the bed of the creek is in such a state that the property of a number of settlers in the vicinity is seriously affected by the overflow Avater. NORTHERN APPROACH. Efforts Avere made to induce the County Council to improve the road from Landsdowne to the Borough, and a joint committee of the bodies interested agreed that the County and Borough Engineers should prepare a plan and estimate of the cost of the necessary work to enable the tAVo local bodies to come to a decision as to Avhat should be done, and to apportion the cost. No action having been taken, the County Council Avas again approached, to urge the importance of the Avork and to ask that their Engineer bo instructed to meet, the Borough Engineer to prepare a scheme at an early date. The - County Council, hoAvever, declined to move in the matter, and it noAv remains to adopt some other course. There is ample provision in the Municipal Corporation Act for the Council to contribute toAvards the funds of an adjoining authority for Avidening and improving any public higliAvay outside the Borough limits, but of public use to its inhabitants, (s 218). Under the Public Works Acts Avhen it is necessary to reconstruct or Avidena bridge, and the local authority neglects or refuses to execute tho Avork, the Minister of Public Works has poAver to undertake the Avork and to apportion the cost amongst the , bodies interested. There is also legislative authority for the diversion of a river if required. LANDSDOWNE. Another course, however, would be by extending the boundaries of the Borough to include Landsdowne, and obtain control of the river and the bridges, securing the apportionment of the cost of any work betAveen the Borough and the County. A previous Commission fixed the cost of the old bridge at one half to each of the local authorities and the Avhole cost of the second bridge to the County, and the only difference by including LandsdoAvne in the Borough would be a proportionate adjustment for the second bridge—the extended Borough paying the cost that LandsdoAvne Avould be liable for. Originally there , Avas only one bridge, Avith a culvert at the foot of Landsdowne cutting. As the Waipoua river occasionally broke through by the culvert, a former County Council conceived and carried out tte idea of building the second bridge. The entry of Landsdowne into the Borough can be made on petition of one-fourth of the ratepayers there. Such entry could be under agreement that Landsdowne should constitute a ward of the Borough and return three Councillors, and that separate general rates shall be raised and expended in the Avard. The neAV Avard Avould not be liable for any existing loans or special rates, only for the General and Library Rates, the latter being A'ery small. Water rates Avould have to be paid if a water supply was given. If any future Borough Council attempted to break faith with the Landsdowne Avard— Avell, one-fourth of the ratepayers there could petition LandsdoAvne into tho County again. £25,000 loan. A great deal of time Avas devoted to formulating a scheme of streets and roads improvements and public works and undertakings, necessary, but impossible to carry on out of revenue. After mature deliberation it Avas decided to submit proposals to the ratepayers, for a loan to cover works in all parts of the Borough. The proposals Avere put to tho vote in seven issues, in November, 1905, and the Avhole of them Avere sanctioned by the ratepayers. Arrangements for floating the loan Avere entered into Avith the T. and G. Mutual Life Association, the rate of interest being 41%, with a sinking fund of 1-1%, the currency of the loan being 21 years. It Avas arranged to take up tho loan in sums as required, spreading the expenditure over about three years. The loan covers the I'olloAving i works:—Roads and footpaths construction, channelling, grading, Avidening and extending streets, new culverts and bridges, asphalt shed, electric fire alarms, road machinery, public baths and park, extension of Avater mains, new gas holder, and extension of gas mains, £25,000 in all.

BETTERMENT. The result of the action against Staples and Co. in the Bannister Street widening case, is very satisfactory to the Council, and establishes the principle of the Borough Betterment Act, It will greatly assist the Council in future street widening improvements, by compelling owners of land benefited, to bear their share of the burden. SEVERANCE OF BOROUGH. The financial arrangements between the Borough and County, rendered necessary by the severance of part of the Borough, not having been the subject of agreement between the two bodies, the Borough Council after considerable trouble obtained the appointment of a Commissioner having legal knowledge. His report, after going fully into the evidence, was favourable to the Borough, and effectually disposed of the claims to share the assets of the Borough. BY-LAWS. A great deal of time was devoted to revision cf by-laws, making new ones, and consolidating and improving the building regulations. The consolidated By-laws of 1904. were remade, to overcome a technical defect, and were also amended, and new By-laws were made, imposing conditions fnr private streets, a limit of area and frontages to streets on which dwellings may be built. INFECTIOUS DISEASES. A conference of local bodies interested was held at the instance of the Health Officer, to arrive at a basis of contribution in connection with Infectious Diseases. The proportion, then fixed for the Masterton Borough was 26% of the total amount to be provided by the local authorities in question. This will entail a heavy expenditure on the ratepayers, especially as there is a tendency towards launching out in building and ! equipping Infectious Diseases Hospitals in the district. CHARITABLE AID AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM. Reform in the administration of Charitable Aid was again urged upon the Government, in the direction of severing Wairarapa from Wellington and West Coast, and remedying the present anomalous state of affairs, in which the funds are levied by one outside Board, and expended by another, and provided by the local bodies. The position shown above, and in regard to matters affecting the interests of adjoining local authorities, and the multiplication of local bodies, tending to increased cost of administration, and parochial expenditure arid feeling, show the urgent need of Local Government Reform. : Larger and stronger bodies with increased powers and more assured finance is a need so pressing that Parliament cannot much longer evade the responsibility of dealing with this question. BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS. The satisfactory rate of progress of the town is shown by the many new buildings and improvements effected during the year. The number of permits issued were: Shops, offices, and buildings other than dwellings, 46: dwellings, 87; total, 133. Their values were : £ s d Shops, Offices, etc. 21469 0 0 Dwellings ... 28866 0 0 Total ... £50,335 0 0 The prosperity of the town is further evidenced by the number of estates subdivided, roaded and sold. Notices of sales and transfers, of property in the Borough show a steady increase of investment of money by residents from the surrounding country and other districts. The re-valuation of the Borough, which will shortly be put in hand, should result in a considerable increase in the number of ratepayers, and a better distribution of values. COURT HOUSE. The necessity of a new Court House was urged upon the Minister of Justice a number of times, but, although a small sum was placed on the estimates, nothing more has been done, and the vote lapsed. The present building is totally inadequate and out of date, and it is to be regretted that the joint representations of Bench and Bar, Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce have not yet succeeded in securing proper accomodation for the increased volume of Court business. ( CLOSER SETTLEMENT. The question of obtaining land for close settlement near Masterton has also been urged upon the notice of the Government, and as the matter has been under their consideration a ong time, and is of such vital importance to the Borough, it is to be hoped that renewed efforts will be made, and persisted in, until successful. SCENIC BESBHIVE. Another matter affecting Masterton, brought under the notice of the Ministry, was that of acquiring for a scenic reserve, a block of land on the left bank of the Waipoua river, but up to the present no definite action has been taken by the Department concerned. COUNCIL OFFICES AND MUSEUM. With the rapid growth of the town the business of the Council has also expanded, quite outgrowing the facilities for transacting that business. The building used for Municipal Offices, was not originally constructed for such purpose, nor cair it be made suitable, unless at considerable cost. The office accommodation is both inadquate and antiquated. Convenience for public business is strictly limited, and there is no accommodation for contractors. The Town Clerk's Office is partly passage way, and partly museum, and the Engineer's is not proper' communication , with the other departments. There . is no room available for the Mayor's use, nor is there any 'committee room. Bad as the accommodation is, the evil is intensified by a number of museum cases and exhibits piled up in and about the Council Chamber and Town Clerk's Office. It is a

great pity that the educational value of the museum lias not been recognised, and faith has not been kept with the donors of the exhibits. If the Trust Lands Trustees had knowledge of how much the museum is missed by school children, students, visitors and others, some effort would be made to find immediate temporary quarters, pending the erection of the contemplated permanent buildings. EXTENSION OF DIiATNAGE AND WATER / SUPPLY, Important questions which have been brought before the Council but are not yet solved, will have to be dealt with during the present year. The most urgent will probably be the extension of the drainage and water system to the remainder of the Borough. When the present drainage system was settled upon the rapid growth of Masterton was not expected or allowed for. The scheme itself, so far as relates to the ultimate disposal of sewage, was altered from proposed intermittent filtration to septic tank treatment and filtration, the effluent thus purified finally entering the JRuamahunga river. The adoption of the septic tank system met with the approval of the Health Department and was favorably mentioned in their report to Parliament. Inquiries into the principle and working ol the tank were received from many parts of New Zealand and also from Australia and Fiji. It is now found that the septic tank is far too small, and the filter beds quite unable to do their work. To get over the latter difficulty part of the land adjacent was levelled and prepared for treatment by broad irrigation. The Health Officers were interested in the work and visited and advised the Council from time to time, and the Council, in its anxiety to cope with the trouble, went even beyond the recommendations made. The problem is still further complicated by the urgent necessity for sewering the rest of the Borough, and the engineering difficulties in the way. The work of extending water mains along new private streets is one that will also need prompt attention. As the Council has compelled owners to put in street sewers water supply must be provided for them.

The benefits of high pressure water supply should be extended to all parts of the Borough, both for tho sake of health and protection from firo. When the whole borough is served, the annual revenue from this source will bo largely increased, and should prove sufficient to do away with the necessity of collecting the drainage rate. Another work that will claim the attention of the Council, is the completion of street widening in cases not provided for in the £25,000 loan. The longer this work is left, the more costly it will be. TEMPORARY LOANS. With regard to funds required to carry out tho several works not otherwise provided for, I would remind the .Council that temporary loans may be raised under the Municipal Corporation Act, by receiving deposits from any person or Corporation. Tho system is adopted in a number of Boroughs and is very highly appreciated. THE COUNCIL MEETINGS. The attendance of members of tho Council both at Council and Committee meetings . has been very regular, and considering the large number of meetings (133) held during the year, I think it would be difficult to find a better attendance at any other local body meetings in the colony. I append a list of Council and Committee meetings and attendances : '

Council Meetings : Ordinary 25, Special 14. Total 39. The Mayor ... 34 Cr Pauling ... 31 Cr Elliott ... 34 Cr Temple ... 37 Cr Hoar ... 36 Cr Morris ... 32 Cr Eton ... 34 Cr Ewington ... 37 Cr Feist ... 31 Cr McEwen ... 39 Committee Meetings, 94, including Select Committees. The Mayor ... 50 Cr Pauling ... 31 Cr Elliott ... 52 Cr Temple ... 48 Cr Hoar 1 ... 38 Cr Morris ... 35 Cr Eton ... 39 Cr Ewington ... 70 Cr Feist ... 21 Cr McEwen ... 46

Note.—Crs Pauling Hoar and Morris were elected in April, 1904, after 3 Council meetings had been held. Some Crs wcro on a majority of the Committees. STAKE. The various departments have worked harmoniously together, and I have no hesitation in saying that the officers have had uppermost in their thoughts tbe welfare and progress of the Borough of Masterton. Thanking the Council for the kind and courteous treatment received at their hands, I am, Gentlemen, Your Obedient Servant, R. BROWN, Town Clerk.