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REPORT OP RESIDENT OFFICER, ROTORUA. Rotorua, Bth July, 1918. I beg to submit my annual report for the year ended 31st March, 1918. During the year 386 cubic yards of 2-| in. blue metal has been imported from. Te Aroha and Te Kuiti for use in repairing Fenton, Hinemoa, Hinemaru, and Arawa Streets, a total distance of 57 chains. In Tutanekai Street 9 chains of new road-formation, consisting of a sheeting of 2J in. metal covered with a binding of tarred metal chips and sand, for a width of 18 ft., has been laid from the railwaystation gate to Erueru Street; 107 cubic yards of tarred metal chips have been used in repairing existing tarred streets. Of the local metal, obtainable from Hemo Gorge, 14-2 cubic yards have been quarried and used, and about a mile of road in that neighbourhood has been repaired with same. 152 square yards of footpath have been coated with tar and sand. About 2,060 square yards of footpath, in. the side streets, have been sheeted, with pumice. A considerable amount of formation (122 chains) on the suburban roads has been done by the County Council's grading-machine, under arrangement with the County Council, and about 15 chains have, been done by our own grader (a much smaller machine). On acoount ol' the moist spring and summer the growth of the trees was quite abnormal, necessitating in many ol' the streets a double pruning. This had to be done in most cases in order to keep the growth clear of the electric and telegraph wires. The gum-trees along Fenton Street are being topped and brought to a uniform height of about 30 fl. This was rendered necessary because of the continuous trouble we were experiencing with the wires, and the fears of some residents that the trees would come down with a heavy wind and endanger their life and property. The cost of tree-pruning is an appreciable item in our maintenance, work. During the year just closed the sum of £113 16s. lOd. was expended on this work. The continuous leaks in the wooden water-mains give us considerable trouble. About six hundred holes had to be filled last year where leaks had taken place, involving a certain amount of cartage and spoil for the filling of each hole. The levy on the Town Account made by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for the current financial year was £204. 9s. 3d., to meet which a rate (on the capital value) of jJjd. in the. pound was struck. The levy made by the Fire Board amounted to £378 10s., which was met by a rate of . 7 „d. in the pound on the value, of buildings within the town area. For the maintenance of the Public Library and Reading-room a rate of -fad. in the pound on the capital value was levied. Twenty-three building permits were issued during the year for new buildings and additions to existing ones, the total value being £8,370. The rateable capital value of the town is £508,056. I attach a statement of the Rotorua Town Account, Wm. Hill, Resident Officer. Statement of Accounts op the Town of Rotoiuta tor Year ended 31st March, 191.8. General Account. Receipts. Expenditure. £ s. d. £ s. d. Administration— £ s. d. £ s. d. Balance at 31st March, 1017 .. 214 0 (i Salaries .. .. 311 2 9 Treasury — Printing and advertising 8 11 3 Hath fees .. .. 1,348 11 7 Audit .. .. 7 0 8 Rents (Crown lands) .. 1,939 410 Bank charges .. .. 010 0 Fees and lines (Magis- Bank interest on overdraft .'1 12 (i trate's Court) .. 10 5 0 Office expenses .. 14 14 !) 3,298 1 5 345 17 11 Sanitary service fees .. .. 401 13 3 Public works — Public pound fees .. .. 80 5 2 Maintenance of streets and Licenses and fees — roads (labour and maBuilding permits .. 20 10 0 terial) .. .. 2,919 13 0 Vehicle .. .. 72 0 0 Tree topping and pruning 113 16 10 Drivers' .. .. 7 12 0 Street-lighting.. .. 160 10 0 Publicans' .. .. 190 0 0 — 3,200 0 4 Auctioneers' .. .. 60 0 0 Sanitary service— Billiard-rooms .. .. 22 0 0 Labour .. .. 540 0 0 Halls .. .. 9 0 0 Fodder and plant .. 140 4 2 Shooting-gallery .. 3 0 0 092 4 2 Hoardings .. . . 4 3 0 Public pound—Fodder and Shows .. .. 5 0 0 advertising .. .. .. 19 11 8 Hawkers' .. .. 0 5 0 Public health—Sanitary in-Dog-registration fees .. 43 2 0 spection .. .. .. 50 0 0 430 12 0 Licensing - expenses — TauRents— ■ ranga County Council .. .. 24 7 2 Real property .. 5 10 0 Miscellaneous— Explosive magazines .. 210 3 Insurance (fire and acei--8 12 3 dent) .. .. 39 11 3 Material sold .. .. .. 35 3 6 Dog-registration .. 0 5 0 Contributions to works .. .. 16 11 8 Charitable aid .. 310 9 Miscellaneous — Maintenance of town clock 11 5 0 Grazing at sanitary depot !) 5 2 Grant towards technical Guides' badges .. 0 15 0 school .. .. 20 0 0 Sale of by-laws .. 0 5 0 Maintenance of boat-sheds 30 2 7 Refunds, hospital and Sundries .. .. 0 0 3 charitable aid .. 1 12 0 r— 110 1.4 10 Sundries .. .. 1 12 * 7 Credit balance at 31st March, 13 !) 9 1918 .. .. .. .. 09 0 8 Ten - per - cent, penalty on overdue rates .. .. .. 13 0 9 £4,517 10 9 £4,517 16 9