VALUATION AND RATING.

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 23 December 1913, Page 3

VALUATION AND RATING.

A the meeting of the Town Board last evening, Mr Tees, one of the sub-committee appointed to go into the question of valuation in regard to water-rating, read the lollowing report :-

Gentlemen -We have the honor in pursuance of resolution to submit the following report:

1. That considerable difficulty has been experienced owing to the want of a Town District map, and would suggest that one on the scale say of two chains to 1 inch be procured.

2. Th 3 want of definiteness as to the direction in which the main was to go after reaching No. 2 Road was another difficulty, and this was not diminished by the difference in the sets of figures supplied, possibly a typewriting error,, which we have not had time to reconcile by reference to Mr Spencer.

3. You will notice that in the list of streets proposed to be reticulated, the length of 4in. piping is set down at 109 chains. The length stated in the estimate of 4in. piping is IGI chains, a difference of 42 chains. This at the price of L 5 8s Od per chain amounts to L22G los Od, an item of considerable import-

anc:. 4. As far as we have -been able to ascertain the maximum water rate allowing for the reduced rate on unoccupied shops and also the reduced rate on unoccupied sections would amount to L 253 2s lOd. This is of course an approximate estimate. On the the engineer's estimate of L 6775 7s Od taken at 5 per cent, the defiiency would be LSsl2s 2d. The rate for which the district would be liable to cover for the whole interest, as security for the loan,, would, on the unimproved value, be 2||d. The rate which would actually be levied on the whole district would be only one quarter of this, or slightly over one half-penny in the pound. This rate would be reduced by the erection of dwellings within the township area until it is suggested that instead of a special rate being levied to meet deficiency, the supply of water to the community would devolope into a profitable enterprise. Mr Tees explained that the report was not yet complete, as a number of properties on side streets had not been included, whilst a list of the individual liability of ratepayers was being prepared. There was also a doubt as to whether a rate could be levied only on that portion of a property within 100 yds of a mnin, or on the whole of such property. The Board resolved to refer the report back to the Committee for completion, whilst the Clerk was instructed to obtain information on various legal points.