COUNTY ESTIMATES.

Shannon News, 27 July 1928, Page 4

COUNTY ESTIMATES.

NEW BASIS ADOPTED. TO DiaOHAßCttl HIGHWAYS EXPENDITURE THROUGH GBNJ3RAL ACCOUNT. The Horowhenua County estimates for tke year ending March 31st, 1929, were passed at the''Council meeting held on Saturday, July 14th. As now published they are in an amended form, brought about the resolution declaring the Main Highways main or county, roads, the effect of which is to .place the responsibility for expenditure ; in this connection on the general fundi ' from which it will be apportioned to the ridings according to their valuation. The as under:— GENERAL ESTIMATES. Expd. Esti. 1927-28. 28^29: Account. " *.£..■..£• Bank interest and fees .. 411 373 , Audit charges 30 40 : • Insurance, U L., fire. ete. 181 200 Valuation Dept., revision. ■• s ' • rolls ......' .„.. 57 100 . Interest main road bridge . loans ............... 102 102 Legal expenses ...*...... 128 150 Election, and poll expenses Dog tax collection 33 73 Office expenses: Rent, ' cleaning, lighting, heating, etc, 300 320 . Office fitting, etc.'. 40 35 New car engineer 156 500 • stock .... 306 300 - laceiising expenses 4 10 Unauthorised expend. ... 18 50 Miscellaneous: Health inspector, cottage repairs,, sundries '394 659 Postages, etc. .......... 50 60 Travelling expenses: Chairman, crs;, staff ' 292 250 Printing, advertising &,,: stationery .......... 156 "175 Motor drivers and motor licenses expenses ..... . 19 -25 - Banning expenses: Ranger 's car - 128 15-3 Public works 634 606 Ranger's salary . r 192 20d Share main highways conr struction loan interest 600 Salaries—" - Engineer's Department 1294 1600 General office .1004 1050 Engineer's DepartmentCar running expenses, offiee requisites, etc .. 328 40(i Contingencies 60'j £6518 £8642 Less general-revenue estimated, including refunds from loan aeeountfl for administrative services 1800 £6843 . JLeas general .account's share M.H. construction loan interest . 690 £624a Plus main highways maintenance 2185 Plus M.H. construction loan interest •■ ■ • . 4350 £6518 £12,977 Approx. Riding Riding Val. Appormt. " Tokomaru £1,302,546 £3460 ' Wirokin ' 1,923,315 £slo* • Otaki 737,819 . £2013 Te Hero ..... 902,029 £2396 RIDING ESTIMATES: The riding ■ estimates .. that follow! - were originally alternative estimates) but are now adopted, in view of the • interest and sinking, fund on the high? ' ways construction loan and the highi way maintenance being found through .. .the general account. ' ; TOKOMARU RIDING. EXPENDITURE 1928-29. ~ Public works estimates . ... £2050 . ..Share genefal expenditure ..... 3460 Share antecedent liability ... 159 •t £5669 . RECEIPTS: Or. balance March 31st 1928 .. £1435 Arrears of general rate ...... 250 Subsidy on. rates 400 Share heavy traific license fees 100 General rate of lM6d in the £. 3730 ' £5915 Hospital rate 7-32 d in the £, £llß7. Public . Works Estimates , £ i Humes Road 35 ' Tokomaru Township Road .. 50 -,\ Williams Road 15 ; ] Schwass Road 15 Jamiesons Road • 35 Albert Road ." .., 30 Aahlea Road 10 •' • Victoria Road 25 '■•' Kaihinau Road 75 Eingstone * Read 60 - . Okuku. Road ............... 75 Kara. Road 35 Otaura Road (Excess to come off Main Highway) 15 . Shannon. East Road 100 . Pretoria Road 110 Marinoto R«ad 10 Mangaore Road 25 Tokomaru Valley Road 50 Shannon Boundary to Buckley 80 ;Buekley West Road 60 , Road 30 ' "Bridges; Kingston Road .... 150 . ' Drains ..;....,.. 50 Culverts 50 \ Surfaceman...:. 600 -township- Lighting 30 ■ -Akeh Road ;. ..'............. 10 Ashlea-Temukanui Road 20 Contingencies ;....... 200 :■/ \ " - ■\ ■■'-'■ £2050 WIROKINO RIDING. :.•■ Expenditure: 1928-29. Public works- estimates..,. £3115 'Spate general expenditure 5108:

Share antecedent liability 755 I:?!*:'-' 8978 Receipts: Or. balance March 31st 1928 £1209 Arrears general rata 750 Subsidy on rates 900 Share heavy traffic license fees 225 3084 General rate of 23-32 d in in the £ 5898 8982 l-32d equals £250. Hospital rate 7-32 din the £, £1753 Public Works Estimates. r' £ Ohau West Road 100 Kuku Soldiers' Settlement . Road 15 Hogg's Road ■■ • ■ 15 Ohau East Eoad .. ...... 10 Florida Road ." 30 Muhunoa East Road 45 Muhunoa West Road .... 60 Ohau Township Roads ...... 10 MeLeavey Road 20 Kimberley Road 45 Tararua Road r< <*o Buller, Bolton and Bruce Roads 30-' Beaeh Road: (Highway £2OO less £l2O M. H. Share .. 80 " Arawhata Road and Drains .. 30 Hokio Sand Road (reduced from. e £7o) 50 Arapaepae Road (Muhunoa East to Queen Street) 40 Gladstone Road 60 Upper, and Lower. Queen St. 50 Fairfields Roads • •• • 40 Lindsay Road 30 Kawiu-Foxton Road** and Kawiu Road .:..';• 100 ,Te Whanga Road ' 5 Waitarere Road • . 20 Oturoa Road '... 30 McDonald Road 10 Wallace Road •. 25 Pott's Road ...-.• 25 Heights Road (incroased from £SO) 70 Heatherlea East Road 30 Tavistock Road 40 Heatherlea Corner to Koput- . aroa 8 0 Mark's Road 60 Koputarba-Foxton Road 150 , Paiaka Road ...' • • 80 River Protection . 50 .Drains and Fencing 100 Boundary Roads 140 Mako Mako Road (ordinary) 10 Boundary Lights 30 Wages 1000 Contingencies 270 3115 OTAKI RIDING. Expenditure: 1928-29. Public works estimates.... £1205 Share general expenditure .. 2013 Share antecedent liability .. 86 £3304 Receipts: Cr. balanee March 31st, 1928 £154 Arrears general rate 400 Subsidy on rates 250 Share heavy traffic fees .... 75 £879 General rate of 13-16 d in the £ 2464 £3343 Hospital rate 7-82 din the £, £690 Public Works Estimates Rahui Road . 100 Blairs, Road \...... ... 25 Freemans Road 20 Te Wata Road ..... 15 Waitohu Valley and South Manakau Roads - 70 Waikawa Beach Road ....'.. 200 ■ Waikawa South Road 30 North Manakau Road 20 ; Manakau Township Roads .. 100 ] Forest Lakes" Road .". 5 Gleesons Road •••■ 5 Culverts .................. 50 Convent Road ... 75 Township Lighting ,-... 30 Bridge Timbers ..." 50 River Protection ........;.. 50 ; Labour 250 Contingencies 100 £1205 TE HORO RIDING. Expenditure: 1928-29. . Public works estimates .... £1760 Share general expenditure .'. 2396 Share antecedent liability .. 136 Dr. balance March 31st, 1928 366 i £4658 Receipts: Arrears of general rate £SOO ,"j Subsidy on rates 420 ;; Share heavy traffic licence i fees 100 I £IO2O 5 Generai rate of 31-32 d in the '' __..« . 3641 ; £46«1 ' Hospital rate 7-32 din the £, £822 : Public Works Estimates. Mangaone Road (Rerkorangi end) 50 Mangaone Road (Te Horo :■ end) ... 30 i Ngatiawa Roads 30 ; Waikanae Township Roads . 20 Waimeha Township Roads .. 30 Te Horo Beach and Soldiers Roads :...... 60 Hautere Cross to Main Road 60 Old Hautere Road 10 Te Waka, Swamp and Add- ; ington Roads ........ 60 I Otaki Gorge Road (to Wai- ' hoanga) 100 ' Hutt Boundary Roads ;..;... 100 Rahui Road ...;...... 50 Gear Road 10 I Waikanae Beach Road: £125 . less £75 M. H. Share 50 Waikanae Township (Highway £SO les a £3O M. H. Share 20 Te Horo to Waihonaga £250 less £l5O Mj. H. Share .. 100 Taungata Bridge , 100 Culverts 50 Bridge Timbers 50 Township Lighting '3O

Et._

Flood Damage, Te Horo .... 50 Labour 600 Contingencies 100 £1760 DISCUSSION IN THE COUNCIL. At the previous meeting of the Council the estimates were considered item by item, after having been scrutinised by the Finance Committee. Regarding the increase in the amount | paid for bank interest last year, the Chairman said that this was brought about by the money due from the HigKwayg Board as subsidy on constructional work. Towards the end of June last year, there was £II,OOO outstanding. The vote this year *Tor plant ineluded £3OO for a new ear for the engineer. Last yoar's expenditure for new plant included the installation of '■ a, benzine tank. The increased estii'mate under the heading of "miscellaneous" included expenditure on cottages. | C.r. Kilsby asked what check there was on -the amount of benzine that passed through the tank. PLANT 'AND MACHINERY. The Engineer stated that the method of measuring the benzine in the tank was by the use of the dip-stick; and benzine taken out was measured by* a • container. He was in communication with a firm/ in reference to having a /meter installed on the -tank. If necessary, two meters could be put on—one at the intake and the other at the outlet. Cr. Kilsby, in recalling that the Engineer had. been asked to report on the cost of installing certain, machinery which the Engineer h'ad recommended . for the depot, asked if it would not be possible for the County to work in con? junction with the Power Board in the matter of repairs. The latter organisa? tion had "quite an efficient plant, and it might' be possible to come to some arrangement with them*. The Chairman said that such a sys T .tern might be on a par .with giving the work to private firms. The Council would first have to consider the cost of the suggested plant; other aspects could be considered afterwards. HIGHWAYS CONSTRUCTION INTEREST. On the item relating to the Couneil 's share of the Main Highways construction loan interest, the Chairman im formed Cr. Jensen that this was for inr terest while the Avork was being done. It eould not be allocated to the ridt ings. The Council paid a share of the administration costs, and a certain amount of loan moneys had been used for that purposes. Cr. Kilsby: What amount of unexv pended loan moneys are we paying in* terest on at present! \ The County Clerk: Approximately £IO,OOO. The Chairman: That is invested, but at a much smaller rate of interest. We are also paying the sinking fund on it; With reference to the salaries of the Engineer's department, the Chairman said that in the past the Council had been charging a certain amount of this expense to Main Highways, but tlus. Board refused to pay it, and the Council had to put the whole of it into the general account. SALARY INCREASES. The Finance Committee recommended that an additional salary of £SO be paid to Mr Callender for the period during which he was employed as Act-ing-Engineer; that the salaries of Messrs Frechtling and Taylor, of the Engineer's office, be increased by £26 per annum in each case; and that the of the lady accountant and lady typisti in the County Clerk's office, be increased, by £lB per annum in each case. DROP IN VALUATIONS. Cr. Barber stated that there" was a drop in the valuation of each of the ridings*. In the ease of the 'Tokomaru rfding it was considerable, amounting to £40,000. The Chairman stated that the reduction in Tokomaiu valuation was largely brought about by the legislation of last 1 session taking growing flax from tho, I capita] value. " I HOKIO BEACH ROAD. In the publie works- estimates, Cr. ! Catley drew attention to tha Hokio-- j Beach Road grant. He said that nobody more than himself would like to? see this road brought up to a better/ standard, but the Council would be al- ;l lowing, instead of the £BO set down lastf i year, £2OO because of the Highways; Board subsidy. Thid road was ; not? carrying the traffic of a Main High-: way. ■ ' '"I Cr. Kilsby remarked that the Countywould have to maintain the road Tight! through now and he asked if they! would still reeeive a portion of maiu-f tonance from the Levin Borough Coun-( oil. ' The Chairman in reply said that, foiv the piece of road contiguous to the bor-. ough, the two local bodies would eachi find half the amount that was to' bear? tho Board's subsidy. With reference to the vote of for the Hokio Sand Road, Cr. Catleyi moved that it be reduced by £2O. ' ; Cr. Kilsby contended that a little.should be taken off this vote and spent' on the Hokio-Waitarere Road. Cr. Catley's amendment was carried.! HEIGHTS ROAD,. Regarding Heights Road, Cr. Catley stated that the money previously votedi ,had been well spent to keep the road; clear of water, and the road was 100' per cent better now than before the l work was carried out. , An old wooden culvert had collapsed and must be replaced. The road required widening at one place, so that a slip could be more easily cleared away. He moved that £2O be added to the vote. This was seconded by Cr. Kilsby and carried. WIROKINO ROUTE TO FOXTON. On/the road item, Levin to Wirokino Bridge, £1875, appearing in the original riding estimates, Cr. Catley stated that £750 was the largest amount ever voted for that particular road before the Main Highways maintenance sub-I sidy was introduced. Since then it seemed that the requirements of the road amounted to £1875. j The Chairman: Does not the state;

of the road show that that te required? Cr. Catley: I don't think there is that much difference. It should show a great deal of improvement. Although I ijnust recognise . that the traffic is increasing every day, I would like the Engineer to consider whether that amount cannot be reduced somewhat. We asked that last year, and had it reduced to £ISOO, the riding contributing £6OO and the Main Highways Board the balance.

The Chairman: The Board last year cut us down by £3OO on that road, and we had to ask them to reinstate it, and we spent it*. Cr. Kilsby: We can spend twice tha: amount. Seeing that this is a Main Highway, this is where, wo have to take our atarid. If we want to get anything out of the Main Highways, we had better be like the Otaki Borough Couneil and say, "We will not do : anything tiU you help us." We can always find money. If we had twice that amount we would spend it. Unless we can make the Board see their way to help us, we must put our foot down in regard to that road. I want to see some;thing done, and quickly too. The Chairman: ""e way you will make them see it is in- the cost of maini'tenance.

Cr. Kilsby: In that case let us spend all our money on the road.

The Chairman. Yes, but our road& have reached a- stage where they are costing £2OO per mile per annum t» maintain.

• Cr. Kilsby: That road is costing over that. I think that road is in better condition than it has been in for many years. That * 8 n °t altogether on ac> count of metal carted there, but th. 6 condition in which the graders havb kept the road. - The Chairman: While the grader keeps a very good surface, it gradually cuts the erust of metal away. You can grade a road too much*. I am cer-f tain that the crust on our main roads is thinner-than it was two years ago; and when they do go, it will take thousands to stop them. The Engineer quoted an'* experience in the Waimea County, stating that with a traffic of 500 vehicles a day tho road wear was lsin. a year, notwith* standing that a certain ' amount of maintenance metal was put' on. ' Cr. Catley moved and 'Cr. Kilsby se* conded, that the Council's share of maintenance of the Levin-Wirokino Bridge Road be reduced by £l5O, making it £6OO. "■ The amendment was carried, Crs Jen-, sen and Whyte voting against it. Cr. Catley moved that £IOO be voted for the Paiaka Road extension, to put it in proper order. This was seconded pro forma by the Chairman, and was lost. . . v

TE HORO MAIN ROAD,

On the item, maintenance Main Road, Te Horo, £375 (County' share £150) appearing in the original riding estimates, Cr. Jensen moved 'that County's share be cut down to -£SO. He remarked that that section of road was supposed to be complete. If the Council had to Bpend £l5O on it straight away, what was the benefit in making such roads? The Chairman: On all . these new roads, particularly those laid down Jat-I terly, there is a certain amount of expenditure, especially during the warm season, a«nd it is necessary to give them: attention. There will always be maintenance on that road, apart from the. surface. There are a considerable nurh--ber of drains to maintain, and .unless they are efficiently maintained the work will be reduced in value. I thinks it neeessary that at least'£loo of tli.afe money be kept or*. '. The amendment w'as seconded pro forma by the Chairman, and was lost.

SPEEDOMETERS RECOMMENDED]

The Engineer recommended that speedometers be fitted to all the Coun-{ cil's motor vehicles. He mentioned that, in the case of motor trucks, *a i rebate was offered on tyros if it could? be proved that the purchaser did. noti obtain 10,000 miles' service from thembefore they wore out. It was decided that it be an instruction to the-Engineer to bring down; an estimate of the cost of installing! speedometers. At the meeting on the 14th inst., the: estimates, as amended,, were pa-ssed, and the rates for the year were struck.'.