COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1252, 3 August 1872, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wednesday, Joey 31. : .]t ■. ...-' ?;■ :•. THE ESTIMATES. : '.-■■ '■■■ Ml On the motion that the Council resolve itself into Committee to consider the Estimates, . .. . . „ , . ... , The Chairman said— Before goihg' into the consideration of the probable receipts and expenditure for the ensuing six months, I beg leave to make a few remarks as to the items appearing oh the Estimates. In the first place as to the receipts^-with respect to the amount of LBOOO set' : down'u/receiva]>le : -ti(nh.'{p>ld duty, I would mention that the sum. collected for the last six months amounts to L7832 18s 6d. This sum was considerably less than was anticipated, and the deficiency was caused, mainly, by a large number of miners leaving the County for the more promising reefing district in the neighboring Province. It is not likely that we shall;, have to fear a similar occurrence, as a re-action has already set in, and therefore we may calculate to realise the amount I have set down; With respect to the sum of L 3200 for miners' rights, we may for similar reasons expect that the estimated amount will be collected. The revenue from this source in the last s"x months amounted to L 3147 14s 3d. The amount from Bpirit licenses has been set down at L 4500. The receipts from that- source for the last six months amounted .to L 4312 16s, and as a comparison with former years shows that more ' licences are taken put in the second half of each year, the estimated amount must appear correct. . Incidental receipts are estimated at LIOOO. These miscellaneous items yielded, in the last six months* an income of L 1055 7s Bd, and consequently I felt justified in estimating the amount at LIOOO for the ensuing six months. I hive set down LISOO as the revenue' derivable from tolls, punts, and ferries. During the last six months the amburit received from that source was L 1678 Bs, and as it may be reasonably; expected that She revenue will increase by the opening of new roads, the sum set down will, I feel sure, be hot in .excess of the amount which will be received. I have estimated the land revenue at L 2500, although the amount received for six months realised thefsum of L 2988 4s Bd. I did not feel justified to take that as a fair average, but considered the amount of L 2500 to be more in accordance which what we might reasonably expect. Fees and fines in Wardens' Courts, Ll5O, being, already reduced to a very Jsmall amount, the item needs no ..'comment.. For .mining surveys,. l have put down LSOO. . This revenue has been > steadily increasing for a considerable time, and reached the sum of L 565 18s M for 'the last financial hulf-year. Therefore, the estimated sum may be safely relied upon. Deficiency Bills, LBOOO, is an amount which is intended to be borrowed partly to pay Deficiency Bills already given and authorised by this Council, amounting to L6OOO, and the remaining L2OOO to reduce bur overdraft at the Bank of New Zealand. That overdraft was necessitated by the action of the General Government in impounding a large sum .of. our local revenue, and which compelled me to negotiate with the Bank for an overdraft of L2OOO, in order to meet the demands on the Treasury for the expenditure authorised by this Council. In obtaining the overdraft, I was obliged to promise that a Deficiency! Bill ; for the amount would be given as soon as the Council, at the Vhext sitting, should authorise the same. It will be seen, from the-state-ment of the estimated receipts, that X have been guided entirely by the amounts received during the last six months. I have felt myself justified in so doing, because, although unforeseen circumstances caused a considerable falling off in the revenue received, I consider that similar circumstances are not likely to occur again, and I am persuaded that, on the contrary, a re-action has already set in, and that a better result* may be anticipated in the ensuing six months, and as there are also indications that new. gold fields may be opened within the County, an increase in the revenue is more than probable. We may also expect that our claim against ■ the; Colonial .Government for money expended in salaries and otherwise for the entire .benefit of the Colonial Treasury, will be considered as just and fair demands, 'and that 'the claim of the * County wffl be recognised to a considerable extent, and so bring .the, receipts up to the expenditure. It will be for this .Co.uncU, to induce the General Government to partly free us from bur liabilities regarding the Interest and Sinking Fund on the Canterbury Loans, and so afford' us the means to meet the liabilities which will become due in six, nine, and twelve months after this date, and" which' will altogether amount to about L 12.000 to -L 13,000. : .-•? , y .A ,-,,■:..•;.,:,■,:,:- v ; W>- ' ' . As to the expenditure — Class 1 and 2 comprising the departments of County Ohairmau, County Treasurer, County Solicitor, .County Council, Wardens' Courts, Police and Gaols', correspond yftth the votes passed by, this Council at its last session. Land and Works.r-I have been re» quested by the Chief Commissioner of the Waste Lands Board to place the sum of LIOO, instead of LSO as before, for clerical assistance,, in order to prepare Orown Grants, which are greatly in arrear to the «,umberof 280, and I »h&U propose to

1 ihk Council to obtain the services of an extra clerk to do this work, instead of having it executed by the present staff of the Sarvey [Department after office hours. It will also be found that the department requires an increase for survey labor and in travelling expenses, and I beg to state that the Chief Surveyor even asks for larger sums than placed on the Estimates. As will be seen from the statement of outstanding accounts, the expenditure for the Land and Works and Survey Department has been greatly exceeded. I shall be prepared to give a more detailed explanation when the expenditure forthis department comes under consideration. • ■ Harbor Department.— -Since the Estimates were framed, the necessity has arisen to make provision for the whole salary by the Harbor-Master at Greymouth instead of voting half the salaries for this officer and the Signalman at Greymouth; the Nelson Government objecting to this arrangement, preferring to pay the whole of the Signalman's salary ana other expenses in connection with the signal-station. I shall not fail to give the necessary information when the votes are considered. v Education.— Considering the crippled state of our finances, and not wishing to hold out any hopes which cannot be fulfilled, I did not feeljustified to place a larger sum on the Estimates than we were able to pay, however much I may regret this, and I can only hope that an Act will be passed in the Assembly, which will enable the inhabitants of the County to levy an Education Bate. Weights and Measures. — Require no comment. Lunatic Asylum.— The various items

(For ontinuation of News,, see 4th page.)

under this head are in accordance with the estimates furnished by the head qf this department, and although they may appear somewhat high, I am assured thai considerable savings will be made, as soon as all arrangements have been completed. Hospitals.— The amounts placed on the Estimates will be found to be less ip amount that formerly, arid will nevertheless be sufficient to meet all demand?, thus showing that the new regulations as to the management of hospitals in the County have already proved to be beneficial. * ' Public Buildings.— The amounts placed on the Estimates are in accordance with resolutions of this Council, and for work necessary to be done. The Lunatic Asylum, which is near being finished, demanded a greater outlay than anticipated. When coiMpleted, it wDI offer ample room for about forty-five patients. Tenders were called for the CourtH ouse at Maori . Gully, but being too high as compared with the sum votedby this Council, they could not be accepted ; and therefore it will be necessaty to increase the former vote by LSO. It is also of the utmost necessity to build a powder magazine in Greymouth. Roads and Works. — The amount placed on thf Estimates isjpartly for contracts entered into by. the Council, and also for the maintenance of roads, &c. , Miscellaneous.— The salaries (item 67) have undergone no alteration. Item No. 68, L6OOO is the amount to be paid to the Bank of New Zealand for de6ciency bills given by this Council, and which will be_.come due in a short time. . Item Nos. 69 to 80 are the same as voted last session. Nos. 81 and 82 are payments to be made to the Corporations of Hokitika and Greymouth in accordance with existing arrangements, and being 50 per cent. jot the proceeds of land sold within these towns. Item No. 83. outstanding accounts as per schedule, amounting to LI 606 2s 6d, comprise debts owing in almost every . branch of the Administration, partly from not being rendered in time, and also that the rates have been exceeded or omitted "altogether, which latter was the case with the toll collectors where no provision had been made, and who get partly paid out of general contingencies. It will be seen that the rates for Land 1 ~lo7rW6rks~were exceeded by L 36 10s 3d ; survey labor, L 96 18s; travelling expenses, LlO 8s 6d ; incidentals, L 32 5s lid, the. excess altogether amounting to Ll74'2sßd, in one department. The votes for the Lunatic Asylum also were exceeded by Ll O6 9s 9d, as also the * Vote foe the female lunatic ward at the Hokitika Hospital by L193 16s lid, owing greatly to old balances dne to the Hokitika Hospital Committee. The other items, referring to the Greymouth and ' Boss Hos-pitals,-and amounting to L 312 12s sd, could not be paid, because the accounts i,■ had not been furnished in time. For the same reason the accounts for Maintenance ■ and Repairs' td Public Buildings, amounting to L 75 18s 2d, could riot be considered. For Maintenance and Repairs to Roads, the sum of L 266 is owing on account of the vote being expended. Subsidy to . Steamer, LI 25, and the sum of LUG 5s for Subsidy to Ferries, stood over for payment on account of the pressure on the Treasury. The vote for Telegraphic Comwas exceeded in. October, 1871, and therefore the sum of L 26 11s 9d was not provided for. The same with the amount voted for travelling expenses for officers, which was exceeded by L 64 2s. The sum of LIJ3 is due to Toll Collectors for reasons stated before. . •■■ Altogether, it will be seen from the * Estimates: before you , that the receipts amont to L 29,350 only, arid the . expenditure tbL32,722 9s 3d, besides a few small items which the Council passed .since,' ' therefore leaving a deficit of about L 3000,-. which mast, of necessity, compel us to use our best endeavors to reduce our ex-, penditure. ■ It is true, as stated by me before, 'that should our demands' and claims on the General Government be considered: as just and fair, we might be. able to bring our expenditure within our receipts, bat until such time, the strictest economy must prevail. I have no doubt 'further explanation will be found necessary, which I shall be happy to give when the respective items are considered. < As to the actuol state of our finances, I beg leaye to refer to the statements made by me when . opening the Council I hope . ..that I shall be able in a few days to lay the Auditor's report on the table, which . lhavono doubt will verify the'eorrectnesa of these statement. ' ' ( Op the motion of Mr ffoos, the debate was adjourned until the following evening. ' ■ .'■•'' '.:•■ ■•' .