CAMBRIDGE NORTH TOWNSHIP DISTRICT BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1252, 8 July 1880, Page 3

CAMBRIDGE NORTH TOWNSHIP DISTRICT BOARD.

Tns annual meeting of the ratepayers in the above district was held in the Board office, Cambridge, yesterday afternoon at half-past 3. Mr Reid was voted to the chair. J. Palmer Campbell, Esq., Chairman of the outgoing Board, read the following report and balance-sheet : — DEPORT. " The Board, iv laying their report before the annual meeting Of ratepayers, j desire to confine it to a statemant of the j works initiated and carried out during their term of office, to their action in reference to some matters of public interest, and to a statement of the Board's financial position. In doing so, the Board ■will endeavor to place these matters before tho ratepayers without unnecessary probiscity, so that the report may be a concise account of the year's work, and may be available for future reference. "Finance is the first question which will be brought before you, not only on account of its importance per &'•, but also as connected with and affecting other matters with which the report deals. On taking office we found a debit balance of £34 10s Id due to the Bank of New Zealand ; we leave office with a debt due to the Bank of £55 3s 9d, and to sundries (chiefly McEwen) of £89 9s Bd. There are, however, sundry good debts due to j the Board for rents uncollected, etc., amounting to £98 16s Sd, which being deducted fiom the gro^s indebtedness leaves tin actual net indebtedness of £45 16s 9d. The above sum of £98 16s 8d includes £30 rates uncollected, but considered good. The reason for our having to exhibit a debit instead of a credit balance is that we have been seriously thrown out in our calculations by the small sum we have received by way of subsidy from the "Waikato County Council. Last year we received £624 7s Id in subsidies ; this year we have only received £180 (the last £100 of which was only obtained by Councillor Kirkwood after great trouble and much hohcitation). | Before deciding upon engaging in any work of magnitude the Board made a careful estimate of the sums they might expect to receive ; and it was considered that if we estimated the County Council subsidy at half the amount received the previous year we would be on the safe side. But' instead of receiving £312 3a 6d, we have only received £l»0, so that if our estimate (which must be admitted to be a very moderate one) had been a correct one, we shonld have met the ratepayers with a surplus instead of a deficiency. Finding that we had been disappointed in this matter, the Board deemed it advisable to stop all further works, merely completing what had actually been commenced, and to call a meeting of ratepayers for the earliest possible date, so that they would know exactly the position of affairs, and be able to appoint gentlemen to the position of trustees who would carry out their view.s in reference to future expenditure. One or two matters were intended to be pushed on with, such as the improvement of Kirkwood-street, the draining of the land in the vicinity of the Town Board premises, and the planting of Victoriastreet with trees (which have been kindly promised by Major Wilson), but, in view of the deficiency of funds, the contemplated withdrawal of subsidies by the Government, and the disappointment in regard to the amount receivable from the County Council, it was considered advisable to stop all further expenditure, and to call the meeting of ratepayers which has now assembled. "Permanent Levels.— On coming into office, the Board found that the uncertainty which existed in regard to the probable permanent levels was productive of much inconvenience, and would probably be a fruitful cause of individual 1038 and future litigation. It was, therefore, decided to employ Mr Hosking to take the levels of, the main road from the wharf Corner, thence up VictoiS&teet aa fai as the English Churdh^& thence as far as tho Town Belt on both sides. This work cost £30, but the Board consider that the money has been well spent, and, beßides being of great advantage to the public, will be the means of saving 1 future Boards many hundreds of pounds in preventing litigation and doing away with claims for compensatibn, " Grubßing Furze.— lt was resolved, following the action of the previous Board, that the furze be grabbed up growing upon, the roads of the township which the owners of adjoining allotments had neglected to clear, and that they be charged with the cost of doing the work. Your Board, regret to aay that tae owners of

We hereby certify that the above is a correct account of the receipts and expenditure of the Cambridge North Township District Board for the financial year ending 80th June, 18S0.— F. J. Brooks and John Houghton, Auditors. Mr J. Houghton, in very complimentary terms, alluded to the administration of the retiring Trustees, and moved the adoption of the report and balancesheet. Mr Brooks seconded the motion, and also testified to the efficient conduct of the affairs of the district by the retiringTrustees. Ihe following gentlemen were nominated for the office of Trustees for the ensuing year: — Messrs J. Palmer Campbell (declined), T. Wells, Robert Kirkwood (declined), Pearson, Williams, Arnold, Johnson, Houghton (declined), Graham, Reid, and Wright. A ballot was taken, but owing to some miscake in the voting the election did not take place, and , stands adjourned to Saturday week.

T o cash in hand Ranging account Subsidies... ~ Sale-yard fees £ s. d. £ s. cl. 0 0 2 23 2 (\ 418 6 5 31 13 4 Office rent, rent account ... 3 5 0 W.S.N. Co., do 52. Q 0 Lamb, do ...2.0 1 0 Geo. E, Clark, do 13 0 0 Poundage account Rates, 1879-80 Subscriptions Arrears of former rates Dog tas fees 88 6 0 10 0 0 245 14 6 23 0 0 27 19 4 12 8 0

RECEIPTS.

EXPENDITURE. .