Borough Council.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXII, Issue 3875, 18 May 1906, Page 2

Borough Council.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held on Wednesday evening. The Mayor presided, and all the councillors were present with the exception of Cr Nicholas. . COMMITTEES. The following committees were set up for the year:— Works.—Grs Motley, Lawrence and Nicholas. Cemetery.—The Mayor and Crs Shaw and Horne. Library.—Crs McKibbin, Shaw and Horne. , Crs Shaw and Brook were appointed to sign contracts, and the Mayor and Cr Nicholas to sign cheques. FINANCE. The Clerk laid before the Council the estimates for the year as follows• General Account, receipts. £ s. D. General Rate, 1906-7 ... 627 11 0 „ „ 1905-6 ... 44 19 2 Government subsidy ... 70 0 0 Bent of reserves and office 105 0 0 Licenses 256 0 0 Dog-tax, cemetery fees, and outstanding accounts 56 0 0 Refund from Gasworks Loan A/c 169 15 5 ■ Balance 31st March, 1907 1229 6 1 £2558 0 6 Less uncollected rates 31st March, 1907 60 0 0 £2508 0 6 EXPENDITURE. £ S. D. Balance 31st March, 1906 1402 17 6 Streets— Maintenance 186 13 0 Construction, lighting and bridges ... 220 0 0 Administration— Salaries 817 0 0 Printing and advertising, office expenses, rent of office ... ... ... 68 10 0 Interest on overdraft ... 60 0 0 Charitable aid, fire prevention, and pound ... 100 3 0 Purchase of Council Chambers and land 50 0 0 Licenses and Dog-tax ... 28 0 0 Miscellaneous 76 0 0 £2508 0 6 Water-Supply Account, RECEIPTS. £ S. D. Balance 31st March, 1906... 449 3 11 Rates, 1906-7 386 9 8 „ 1905-6 8 11 7 Meter 260 0 0 £llO4 4 9 Less collected at March 31, 1907 ... 16 0 0 £IOB9 4 9 EXPENDITURE. £ S. D. House connections ... 80 0 0 Maintenance and material 20 0 0 Construction — Pinfold Road 150 0 0 Fencing Intake ... ... 40 0 0 Insurance, rates, tools ... 26 0 0 Salaries, Inspector & Clerk 102 0 0 Interest on loan ... ... 383 5 10 Balance 31st March, 1907 837 18 11 £IOB9 4 9 Public Library Account. RECEIPTS. £ S. D. Rates 1906-7 36 10 10 Rates 1905-6 ... ... 1 11 5 Subscriptions 20 13 8 Sale of paper 14 1 Subsidy 12 1 7 Balance 31st March, 1906 16 8 4 £BB 8 11 EXPENDITURE. £ S. D. Balance 31st March, 1906 21 14 11 Buildings and furniture ... 25 0 0 Books and magazines 20 0 0 Stationery ... •». 2 17 0 Fire and lighting 10 0 0 Cleaning ••• 4 0 01 Insurance ... ... 8 18 0 Caretaker 10 0 £BB 9 11 The Mayor said the works it was proposed to undertake under the heading ‘‘construction” were the lowering of McLean street from Bowen street to Hail street, the metalling of Hall street practically from Ross street- to - McLean street, and the cutting' down of the till in Gorge street. These were practically

the only works which could be undertaken. The fixed charges had so increased that there was nothing for it but to cut down the expenditure. Running through the items, he pointed out that the Council were compelled to pay for charitable aid; the fire prevention item was very necessary; the interest on the overdraft, like the poor, was always with them; their clerks were not overpaid, and the other items were placed at the lowest possible. With regard to the library account, he thought they should allow another £lO for books, as the more books they had the more subscribers they were likely to have. It was agreed, however, that there were other necessary works, Cr Motley mentioning the necessity for kerbing the footpath from the Post Office Hotel to Pollen street.

The estimates were adopted without alteration.

Cr McKibbin referred to the fact that some six months ago be moved that a committee be set up to go into the question of finance, but that Committee had never been called together. He was sure some means might be devised whereby the Council could effect a saving. It was agreed that the Committee be re-appointed and asked to report to next meeting of the Council, Cr McKibbin to bo convenor.

The Mayor referred to the motion passed after he left the meeting last week regarding the extension of time for erecting the caretaker’s cottage at the gasworks. He must rule it oat of order, as it was in direct conflict with the motion previously passed regarding the matter. He would, however, endeavotir to have Cr Horne’s ideas on the matter carried out, and would give an undertaking to that, effect. The Mayor reported that the fencing at the intake had not been commenced, but the material was on the ground. In reply to Cr Redwood, the Mayor said Mr A. Milne bad not yet signed the lease of the Borough reserve, but he had paid his rent and the rates. He thought that Mr Milne having discovered that he was liable for the rates, could have no objection to signing the lease. On the motion of Cr Shaw, seconded by Cr Redwood, it was decided to again ask Mr Milne to sign the lease.

The Council then went into committee to deal with the tenders for the gasworks.