COUNTY OF WESTLAND REVENUE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1265, 19 August 1872, Page 4

COUNTY OF WESTLAND REVENUE.

THE AUDITOR'S REPORT. The following is the report by Mr Patten, County Auditor, as transmitted to . ihe County Chairman, and by him gazetted : — Sir — I have the honor to forward here* with the following documents, viz. : — 1. The County Treasurer's account of revenue and expenditure for the halfyear ended 30th June, 1872. 2. Balancesheet for the same period. 3. Comparative return, showing the amount of local revenue for the haif-yeara ended the 80th June, 1872, and 30th June, 1871, respectively. 4. Statements of assets and liabilities. On reference to the comparative return, it will be observed that the revenue for the two half-years varies very little in amount, there being only a difference of about L3OO between them, yet, on examining closely the various items on which au increase or decrease occurs, it is evident that the three principal sources of revenue,' such as gold export duty, i miners' rights and business licenses, and spirit licenses, yield less, and less every year ; yet, on tho other hand, tho remainder, viz., mining surveys, tolls, * punts, &c., and incidental receipts, show a decided increase, and, what is more remarkable; one would think, could nut increase at such a rate without tho other sources of revenue being affected in the same manner. The land revenue, although it cannot be viewed in the B;unc light as taxes derived from the other sources, has contributed L 2988, nearly the . amount estimated, and which can be taken as one of the surest signs of the prosperity of the County. WHh regard to the gold duty collected during the half-year, viz , L 783 0123 ,1 be£ to report that only L 5105 la Id waa paid into the County of Westland account; the balance, awonnting to L 2005 10s lid, having been paid into the public account in accordance with instructions received by the Collector of Customs from the Jipn. the Colonial Treasurer, authorising this officer to deduct the sum of L 3331 19s 4d from the gold duty in liquidation of a debt due by tho County to the General Government, and which, I believe, consisted of a balance of tho Consolidated Fund overpaid to the County. The, total amount was paid up on the 3rd August last. In noticing the decrease in the Gold Fields Revenue, I made it my business to find out how many miners' rights had been ' issued during the half-year ended 30th June, J872. From the statements rendered by tho various Receivers of Revenue, I find they amounted to 1571, and that; for the previous half-year ended 31st December, 1871, they amounted to 3681, making together for the twelve months

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3252 miners' rights issued. The gold produced during the same period amounted t0128,5440z, giving an average to each miner of nearly 40oz per man. It is fair to assume that each miner earns an ounce a week (which the above average will hardly give) ; how then can the deficiency be accounted for ; from the above figures it would not seem as though this tax was being evaded to any great extent. With regard to the expenditure during the half-year, I beg to report that the provisions of "The County of Weatland Act, 1869," have been complied with ; at the same time I observe that no mention has been made in the account of any Sublic works that have been constructed uring the half-year for which payments have been made in land, and which, I respectfully submit, should form portion of this account. It might be made up as a separate or supplementary statement to the cash expenditure. It may bo true that the contractors have not been paid in cash, but there can be no doubt that payment in land is an equivalent. During the past half-year 315. acres of land have been granted to contractors for public works completed, and as, many other public works are being undertaken on similar terms, I consider that the County Treasurer should include such transactions in his accounts. ' The appointment, of an officer as storekeeper has remedied to a great extent the inconvenience referred to by me in my last report, and although this officer has been indefatigable in carrying out his duties, so numerous were the arrears and so large the amount of property, that up to the present time he has not succeeded in obtaining a complete account of all the stores belonging to the County Government. I would respectfully suggest that the storekeeper be called upon to furnish a report as to tho state of his department. In the statement of assets and liabilities, I observe that no mention is made of the amount for which contracts have been accepted np to the 30th June, 1872. I have referred to this matter as it is simply a question whether (although no j progress payments are required during the current six months) they are not still liabilities of the County Government, and should as such be entered in tho statement of assets and liabilities.