COUNTY COUNCIL FUNCTIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 513, 30 October 1912, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCIL FUNCTIONS.

Judging from the many and varied applications which from time to time come before the County .Council, many people have strango conceptions concerning the functions and powers pertaining to the local body. Applications for now roads or the expendiiur.e

of money to give access to sections are frequent. while requests for metalling and other similar trilles occasionally vary the monotony of council business. It is quite within the bounds of possibility that these matters together with (ho etablishing of dairy factories, agricultural colleges, and hospitals will some Jay come within the scope of county councils, but that day is still in the dim and nebulous future. It should be noted that the powers of a county council aro clearly defined, and the limitations fixed by Statute. The general rats levied by a council usually sufiicies for purposes of administration, such as the payment of salaries and office expenses and the small margin left over is devoted to maintenance and emergency work. Jn this district the thirds accruing on Crown sections are administered by the local autho-

rity, but in many instances these are set aside for payment of interest on metalling loans, while the manner of expending the balance is carefully provided for by Land Hoard regulations. The further responsibility of administering some of the Govern-

ment grants voted in the county is now undertaken by the council, but naturally the money is voted for a special purpose and the Government engineer is responsible for seeing that the specified work is accomplished. It

is therefore apparent that the ordinary powers of a council are strictly limited, and the carrying out of any new work such as road formation or metalling can only be undertaken

when settlers are prepared to raise a

special loan for a certain definite pur

pose, The balance of gener"! rale which remains after the <■?;"l'tirod of

I administration are met hj;.; ilius to meet the many calls which are levied on the council from all quarters. When crushing plants, road rollers, expenses of taking metal reserves,and divers other considerations are duly met it will be seen that littlo can be set aside for maintenance unless the general rate struck by the council is of a substantial nature. A little consideration of the balance-sheet of the Waitomo County Council should enlighten settlers in the county aB to the

possibilities of the situation. For the ensuing year the rate to be struck is a penny in the £, including hospital rate. As the hospital rate absorbs about a farthing in the £ the approximate amount which can be counted up on is three farthings in the £. The capital value of the county 11 £862,523, so that a three-farthing rate will produce £2695 to ipeet the expenses of administration, mainteance and general work. No advocacy of anything in particular is intended in this article. It is merely meant to convey an idea to the public in general of matters which appear to be rather imperfectly understood by gujte a number of people. It is hoped a good purpose will be served by making known to some that which is already known to others.

Mr Graham has particulars of his Saturdav's mart sale in to-day's issue. lefer to my monev - saving ;on page 6 of this issue, you—small profits for J. E. cash grocer, Te Kuiti.* port of the Lands Committee itition forwarded in respect to g of Tokipuhuki property by rnment for the purposes of ension was to the effect that tion of policy was involved littee had no recommendation XWtiXt Sunday all offertories through-, out the diocese of Auckland, in all Anglican churches, will be given to the country clergy fund. This iund gives grants to many of the country districts, and all clergy in the Country are receiving grants. The offerings at all services on Sunday are for the fund, both in St. Luke s chruch, and outlying districts. The case of MacDiarmid v. Were, in which a fencing contract at Pomerangi was in dispute occupied the Te Kuiti Court all day yesterday, and at the time of going to press the case was still proceeding. A report of the case will be published in next issue. The Scottish evangelist, Mr W. M. Robertson, commences a fourteen days' mission in Te Kuiti on Sunday under the auspices of the local Methodist church All the services are to be held in the Municipal Hall, Borough Council Chambers. Mr Robertson is a ready speaker, and is appreciated by men wherever he has conducted a missiun. Popular hymns will be sung, and the services will be of a bright, cheery nature.

On and after Friday, November Ist, mails for the following places will close: For Hangatiki, Waitomo Caves, Otorohanga, Te Awamutu, Ohaupo, Frankton Junction and Hamilton, 9.30 a.m.; Frankton Junction, Hamilton, Cambridge, Rotorua, Thames, Auckland, etc., 11 a.m.; Palmerston North, Wellington and south, 4.30 p.m. Norris E. King, for seventeen years working among the Chinese, will deliver his stirring recital of personal experiences, entitled ' Mission Work and Revolution in Shar.-si," in the Presbyterian church to-night. Mr King not only passed through the Boxer perils, but comes with intimate knowledge of the wonderful revolution that has so' 1 recently stirred the Celestial Land. Statesmen generally admit to-day that the only power that can save Europe and western civilisation from the hordes of the east lies in the work missionaries have gone forth to do. It is anticipated that a large audience will be present to hear to-night's recital. Attention is callled to the advertisement of Messrs C. L. Innes and Co.. appearing in another column. The firm has Deen recently reconstructed and the most up-to-date machinery has been added to the plant, in order / to secure the output of the best possible beverages. In addition a supply of pure artesian water has been obtained on the property and the product of the factory is claimed to be now the best on the market. A feature of the firm's methods is prompt attention to orders of every description.

At a meeting in the Church of England Men's Society room on Tuesday night, arrangements were made to hold a Garden Fete in connection with St. Luke's Ladies' Guild annual sale, which is to be held in January. A keen interest was taken in the matter, and those present decided to do all they could to make the fete a success and to interest others in it. the long wet winter the finances of the church have suffered, and it is hoped that all church people' will unite in making this fete a great success.