COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1453, 13 May 1905, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCIL

The finance committee of the Oook County Council met yesterday morning, thoro being present Captain Tucker (ohairman), Crs Clayton and Gray. The following statement of the financial position of the County on April Ist, 1905, was placed before the meeting :• — Inabilities : Balance dua on contracts, £5lB 15s Id; balance on oharitablo aid, £250 ; overdraft Bank of New Zealand, £6290 11b 73, total, £7119 6s 83. Roquired for six months onding September 30, 1905 : Works ordored, £B4O ; spreading metal, £250 ; salaries and charges, £650 ; timber account, £2OO ; interest on loan and overdraft, £220 ; balance of subsidies to Boards, £1430 ; spooial rates and land fund, £761 12a 2d ; maintenance men, £700; vote for technical school, £SO ; vote for Waihora rood, £5 ; charitable aid levy, £424 ; total, £12,649 8s 10d. Assots : Outstanding rates (good), £738 14s 2d ; Native rates (good), £6O ; oharitable aid rate, £lO7 8s lid ; dog tax (£IOO since paid), £160; ront Patutahi reserve (since paid), £36 ; advances Mangatu and other loans, £268 15s 4d; subsidies, £2272; hotel and small revenues, £4OO ; timber in stock, £684. Apparent deficiency, £7932 10s 53. Memo.: Charitable aid rats required, l-16th of Id. Bridge rate not required. Special rate on Hangaroa and Whaugara loan districts required, as the land fund is exhausted. Probable oolleotion of gonoral rate, on September 30, £ISOO. The Chairman said that last year their overdraft stood at £7200 and in 1903 it was £8451. There was little difference in the financial position then and now. If anything they were were now in a hotter position, as the increase in valuations would give them a greater borrowing power to the extent of £BOO per annum. The question they had to consider was the striking of a supplementary rate over the county. They had no very heavy expenditure before them, but he noticed that the 1 Borough Council intended widening the Kaiti bridge. As tho bridge was now wholly in tho Borough he did not consider the County Council should be called upon to the same exteDt as formerly. Cr Clayton said the County ratepayers still benefited by the bridge. They were liable to very heavy charges if extensive works were undertaken by the Borough, although they had no voice in the matter. The Chairman said thDy might strike the rate, but need not collect it unless absolutely required. As their term of office Was nearly up he was inolinodto leave the matter for the incoming Council to deßl with. When tho prosent Council accepted effioo theirs had not been a bed of roses. Cr Clayton did not think there was any necessity for striking the supplementary rate. The Council could carry on until it was actually required. The Chairman pointed out that if the supplementary rate should be required, now was the time it should be struck. Tho place was fairly prosperous, and the people could afford it. A time might come when they would not be so well able to bear it. They should reduce their overdraft and improve their finances in times of prosperity. Cr Gray pointed out that one of their late chairman’s plans of reducing the overdraft was simply to do nothing. The Chairman said that they could improve the position by making the general rate J£ths of Id instead of Cr Gray pointed ont that daring the term of office of the gentleman previously referred to, the general rate had only been *a. Mr Warren drew attention to the fact that the etrikibg of the -£d rate had increased the overdraft by £4OOO, aud they had never beeu able to get it below chat figure since. They would not be able to strike a rate until the valuation rolls were returned from Wellington. After further discussion the meeting decided to lay the matter before the next meeting of the Council, that day week.

MR KENWAY'S CLAIM. A committee meeting of the Council was hold yesterday afternoon to consider Mr H. Kenway’s claim for compensation. There wero present Captain Tucker (Chairman), Crß Clayton, Gray, White, Matthews and Harding. Messrs M. H. Straohan and J. C. Field represented the Waimata Road Board, and Mr Henway was also present.

Mr Straohan said that when the question of compensation waß settled the Board would ask that the fenceß be put on the proper line, which would enable both crossings to be.used. If Mr Kenway was being paid compensation the gates should bo removed.

Mr Henway said he had not put the gates up at first, ,but had done so subsequently, The gates wero now beirg widened. The Council had granted him the grazing use of the old road in exchange for the land takeD for a now road 1 It was afterwards found that tho old road could not bo closed. Tho old road was hardly over usod. His claim had been i£2o per aero, but he thought that under the present stats of affairs £l2 per acre would be a fair thing. He would like tho matter sottlod on a reasonable basis. The area in question was 3 roods .09 perches. Cr Gray moved that Mr Kenway be paid at tbo rate of £l2 an acre and to have tho grazing right of tho reserve, and to keep and maintain the gates. The Chairman seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Straohan pointed out that the settlers required more room at the approach to the bridge, whioh could be given if Mr Kenway erected a fence about a chain and a quarter in length to the river. This Mr Kenway agreed to do, tho Counoil agreeing to pay half tho cost of the work.

It was deoided to report the agreement io tho Council at next meeting.