Last Year's Expenditure.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 April 1915, Page 2

Last Year's Expenditure.

BY THE BOROUGH COtfNCII/. The 'following summary, prepared by the Town Clerk of the expenditure on roads, footpaths, waterworks, reserve* gardens etc., for the year ending 31st March 1915, was submitted to the Borough Council at its meeting on Monday night:— ' SUMMARY - OI"EXpiENDITURE UPON STREETS, FOOTPATHS.

J The total amount of expenditure as above, for the year just ended is £1255 115s 9d. The largest item is that which covers the crushing of metal and placing the same and screenings upon the roads and footpaths; this item amounts to £391 15s lOd. Of this sum £326.11s was expended in June and July 1014, and the balance £64 4s TOd was spent last month -just Before the close of the financial year. tJndduitedly the crushed metal is much betwr and decidedly more lasting than the pit metal now available, and the expenditure in the direction of crushed metal is a wise one, still it is evidently mors, and more apparent that the best results from the" work will not Be obtained until a steam of mbtdr" roller is used on the roads. The work of tarring the footpaths iias been proceeded with as far a 6 supplies would allow, and the length of tarred paths is slowly extending year by year. The" work done near the railway station has greatly improved the general appearance and the public convenience of that portion of the town. Some boroughs are now treating their main roads with the tar and sanding process, and are proving it to be a very substitute for asphalt, especially where the formation of the road is good, that is suitably graded and in godcT order for the tar. The work upon the water races, boundary road 6, reserves, culverts, etc., are about normal and call for no special comment. The waterworks expenditure continues to be reasonable as in previous years. By comparison with the previous year it will be found that there is a considerable increase in the expenditure as a whole—this is accounted Tor by the larger quantity of crushed metal used. It must also be remembered that there is a slight increase in the •ost of labour, and team work cannot be obtained so cheaply as formerly. A new grader has been purchased at a cost of £24 8s 6d. and a water cart has been lent to the borough for a time, and doubtless the owners will Be willing to accept a reasonable offer for the cart. For the information of the council, the expenditure is classified as follows:— General work, including patch and dray work, cleaning town " attention to culverts, etc. 254 4 7 Water-races 107 0 3 Crushing 394 15 10 Boundary roads 80 9 0 Waterworks: Labour £30 16s 6d, trap hire £4 10s, goods £2 lis '37 17 6 Reserves ' 41 10 0 Public gardens 19 5 6 Work done near railway station 42 10 0 Tar sundry footpaths -27 3 6 Blinding sundry streets 14 19 0 Grading Queen-street 25 19 0 formation work: ExeterStreet £9 14s 6d, Saxon-st £8 Bs, Weraroa road south £20 18s 39 0 .6 New grader 24 8 6 Tar used 55 8 4 Timber, pipes, cement, culverts, etc. 30 8 2 Tools 10 g g Blacksmith's work 7 3 0 Notice boards and painting 610 3 Miscellaneous Goods: Gum boots, nails r etc. 5 18 0 Freights and carting 3 19 4 £1255 15 9