SATISFACTORY YEAR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 122, 9 June 1937, Page 3

SATISFACTORY YEAR

l Our Own Correspondent). '

Patangata County Chairman's Review

(From

WAIPUKURAU, Last Night. The Patangata County Council lias experieneed a most satisfactory year, in the opinion of the chairman, Mr. C. Pattison, who presented his annual report at the annual meeting tliis afternoon. Ratepayers had materially assisted the county to flnish the year with a sound financial position, havihg paid 98.88 per cent. of the rates in the whole county. "Additions to plant in the purchase of two new lorries and a new grader frame have cost just over £120U, and the estimates provide £909 for further additions to the plant, " he went on. "The expenditure in tho various ridings after dedueting the main highways subsidies and grants is as follows: — Eparaima riding, £2615 0/2; Porangahau riding, £2827 11/4; Patangata riding, £1905 4/10; Tamumu riding, £149 11/-; Pourerere riding, £1739 16/8; Mangatarata riding, £421 3/2; ! Mangatarata riding interest, £161 8/-. I "The estimates have been prepared. I It is proposed to increase the general I rate by ^d in the pound, and as theI Irospital levy has been inereased con8 oiderably, and a harbour rate is also I requirod, the total increase will amountj to £d iri the pound. J "A recent inspection of the county j roads with the engineer suggests that ; the gang system, introduced twelve | months ago, has given good results, the j roads gendrally being in first-class conI dition. Jj "It is proposed to extend the seal- — ing in the Patangata Riding by 34 miles, and to do two miles in the Eparaima Riding, besides two short scetions at Patangata and Elsthorpe and a aliort length at Porangahau. The formation of the Man'gatarata-Long Range road will be undertaken this year, if the subsidy is available for tho whole length of four miles. " Councillors will have received a copy of tho expqnditure on roads, m plant costs and metal delivercd. The output for the year of 11,720 cubic r yards by the county lorries and 85.064 by contract is well above that of last year. "All the plant has given satisfaction, particularly the now Diesel grader, which operated for 253 days last year at a very low cost for tho class. of work done. The Leylands continuo to give good service and the total mileage for the year is ' well up to the average, but these lorries will no doubt have to be replaced witliin a year or so. "Generally I consider tho progress for the year has been very satisfactory and I wish to thank councillors for their a^sistanco and to cxpress appreciation to the staff for the cxccllcnt service during the year." *