County Chairman's Report.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXV, Issue 255, 26 November 1903, Page 2

County Chairman's Report.

STATEMENT FOR THE YEAH 1902-03. At the annual meeting of the Taroiuaki County Council on Wednesday the Chairman, Mr H. Okey, made the following report on the work of the year : In reporting upon the County finances it will 1* seen on reference to the monthly statements that the Wttitara and Omata Ridings have kept in a fairly sound financial state while the Mmi Riding has overdrawn considerably, in addition to which the Waipuku bridge and Kurapete culvert work now in hand will materially udd to the debit balance. The present position of the riding* is as follows : MO a. ; £ £ Amount allocated 1834 Less Dr. balance March, 1902 1161 Spent on Roads 1797 Spent on Bridges 769 Spent on Sundries 10 Liabilities to date 482 Dr. Balance £2883 WAITARA. £ *' Amount allocated (■and Cr. bulance, 1902) 1»78» Less Spent on Roads 954 Spent on Bridges 43 Spent on JJuwdries 24 Liabilities'to date 662 Cr. Balance £3BB OMATA. £ £ Amount allocated (and Cr. fjalomce, 1902) j^gg Less Spent on Roads 1048 Spent on Bridges 120 Spent on Sundries 75 Liabilities to date 249 Cr. Balance £416 The balance-sheet for the year to the 31st March last compares favourably with that of the previous year. The revenue exceeded the estimate by £298, while the exproditure exceeded the estimate by £747. The latter was principally tor plaott awd the following items are exceptional expenditure expenses, £35 ; brid'ge loon poll, £4O ; petition Honui bridge, £BB ; MakeUtt* ' bridge accident, £IBO ; plant pui> chased, £7BO. Total, £lOlB.

During the currency of IMb year it is anticipated the financial position will tie improved. The loss of toll revenue will certainly bo felt, but not to any great extent after ttoe first year or two is got over, aa our roads (with the exception of those in the Mou Riding) have been woll maintained, and are now in what may be termed good condition. The overdraft is at present very close to the limit, but the bulk of the year's revenue, with extra amounts that are payable to the county, have yet to come in, and every effort »houM be made to get these amounts and rates collected prior to the 31st March next. Bo that we may start the ensuing year with as clean a sheet an possible. The following is an estimate of receipts and expenditure for period from now to 3lst March next : HECEIPTS. £ £ General Kates 4000 Kent Reserves 100 Subsidy 700 Egniont County (with interest) noo Bridge loan money advanced 1000 Sundries 300 Total "S7BOO EXPENDITURE. £ £ Overdraft idil Moa Riding— Waipuku Bridge piers 150 Kurapete culvert 100 Ngatoronui Bridge 60 Road maintenance 175 • 48* Wuitara Riding— CoJesby's contract 100 Sampson's contract 80 Deviation Waiongona 80 Henui Road contract 260 Road maintenance 175 Omata Riding— Okato and other con- ; tracts 800 Road Maintenance 150 Administration 2TO Tot*! £10,687

Estimated overdraft on 81st March £8,457 Our bridges ore « constant source of expenditure. Various repairs of a more or less substantial nature have been effected to many bridges, arid the re-erection of the N»atoronui is nqw nearing completion. Th* Waipuku bridge (boundary between laranoki and Stratford counties) is to be renewed with an iron structure, being the first of the kind to be adopted in this county. T*a renewal of Kurapeto Uridge on tne Junction Koad with a concrete culvert, which is now in hand, will be permanent work, the cost being <tivided with the inslewood borough. Ihe WiMongona on the Junction Uoad is another boundary bridge with the Jnglewood borough, and will require renewing before long In the WaiWa Hiding the WaSmffona lindge at Sentry Hill m„„ %, renewed without delay, and the Waiwakwho requires attention- it L anticipated that both these will be* charge on bridge loan '"'" ot lllUl - "W'-'ies leplui-iiha a . .I ' "'■ '•'' l-uiui:iy out atone oi tic proper cube i w road metal and the advantage of this will be lelt j„ longer wear of stone on the ro*d in addition to which the cost will be less whwn a proper contract system of dealing with supplies, feeding through and carting: away from the cruslier is adopted, which can only be ascertained by practical expertThe following is a summary of tin quantity of stone supplied the ridings last year :- "! Moa -300(5 yds boulders, 868 vds 370t , y i d ß " etftl ' 331 yds gravel ; tou" Waitara.,-941 yds boulders, 1908 yds gravel ; total, 284t> yds ' i6Bo ,a jsr lsW yds bouWeni; tOWl ' The most notable matters in ,«. latlon to county affair, during £ year weit : " ' • Th€ severance of the Tn«l..wo*d borough from the cow,tv. ,nß "•* o ' ,<, the P^ di "f mmt °* founts wMh county and I„g.« woo 5 cSruS"* " l0an » tof b '^ Uoad f,om H.» \<v. . Devoa vh™„. . e town boundary «„ The abolition of tolls. ihe adoption of the iron-Si*-. system of bridge cc^S^.*" 1 *