PROSPEROUS PALMERSTON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8075, 3 April 1906, Page 2

PROSPEROUS PALMERSTON.

BEATING THE BIG DRUM. J PEli I'UKSS ASSOCIATION. Palmjiuston Nohth, April 2. Palmcrston North still shows signs of absolute solvency and prosperity judging by the borough records. On the 31st of March only live ratepayers wore in arrears with their rates, the total su.u amounting to £ls lis 6d. Of this sum over £lO is in dispute, owing to the Supreme Court cases, and may bo fairly held uncollectable at present, while the Council holds an order on wages for nearly £3. This leaves less than £3 uncollected, whioh might have been recovered by legal process. The- tolal rates of the borough were increased last year from £11,171 to £13,307, made up of increases of interest on new loans, extra water supplied to new buildings, and extra charges for sanitary woik. In addition to this the ratepayers have paid over £IBOO for new footpaths, mostly authorised by the last Council. During the year over £4OO was paid' for building permits, showing also that money is not so scarce as it is believed to be. Last year the Borough held the recoi'd for the Colony with a olean sheet as regards accounts owing, and this year, with a little over £ls, it should hold a good place.