HOROWHENUA COUNTY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10610, 8 June 1920, Page 7

HOROWHENUA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. Special to tha "Times.’’ The following report was read at a special meeting of the above council, held at Levin on Saturday: RATES AND- RATE COLLECTION. The year has not been over satisfactory from ijie collector’s standpoint, the reason being the many changes, of ownership and occupancy, making it difficult sometimes to find out who were really liable for the rates. In a few instances this is still an unsolved problem. During the year many subdivisions rook place, and it was not possible in some iustanc.es to serve rate demands until near the end of the year. Tho result was that there were mqre rales outstanding on March 31st than has been tho case in the past three years, when tho outstanding rates stood at a little over .3600 in each year. For tho year just ended the amount was £B9O. . For the two preceding years the council received fhn maximum Government subsidy on rotes collected, viz.. £2500 per year. The amount received during the year just closed missed the maximum by some f.C>. WI til a smaller general rate than the previous year 'in three out of the Four ridings, the rates collected are not -a large. The total rates collected fro is follows Rating year 1918-19. £18.372; mting year, 1919-20, ,£15,983. OTHER RECEIPTS.

Penalty on rates brought in. £34, rents., cottages and reserves (including a final navment on section at Shannon rnrcKvcd from the council by Mr Sinter), ii’tHj nnblienns’ licenses, .£52; dog tax, Tire sale of the Kuku gravel rc- • a-rve nt £l*oo and the Hillman motorcur at £l4O swelled the year’s receipts. EXPENDITURE. The gross expenditure for ,thc year was '1.935. including loan moneys spent, all ■■ ling expenditure. Hospital and Cha-rlt-al»l« Aid levies, interest ami sinking f nnds, mnnaeomnnf, road machinery, nwl dl incidental and sundry outlay. AYhon one £SSCO is cMncle.l for interest and ■■■•>'her ~£lßO9 for hospital levies, the '■dance (come £10.000) represents what

out into the riding accounts and in ■ucral expenditure, and in loan oxpenrii-

.‘•-Iditions (o the road making plant tun e "•!> made during (he year hv the par-■--.r- of a motor lorry for metal dc•"■rv o’i the roads, at a cost to the voun--1 of £WJO. LOANS.

",-veral loans from the State Advances '*R?ce have been raised during the rear V/ the method known ns "ratepayers’ •■'mseut.” Three loans for 'road eonstnron«„f £iei!l). £llOO. and ~£750 respectively, have boon some considerable time under way. and owing to the increased '•osi of wages ami material it is almost ’ certainty (hat the works will cost 'inch more than the money provided for '■■f-m.- The nesition. although regrettable, ■.ill have to he faced without delay. COUNTY ENGINEER.

F desire to record my personal regret V: the retirement of Mr James Malcolm 'rear the position of engineer fo five -uiueil. owing to failing health. Air Malcolm Is a man who rendered very •d'oerful and faithful service to the conn'd. and his relations with the office staff were always cordial and pleasant. His R’-ciikdown in health Is a matter of sincere regret.