7

H.—2

The expenditure at Sydney and Melbourne has been as under :-- Sydney. Melbourne. £ £ Rent .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 300 Salaries (including clerical assistance) .. .. .. 365 504 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 300 144

REPORT OF RESIDENT OFFICER, ROTORUA. Rotorua. 12th July. 1919. 1 beg to submit my annual report for the year ending 31st March, 1919. During the year the roads have had the usual attention as regards maintenance. In Fen ton and Arawa Streets there has been a total length of 16 chains of new tarred macadam laid. In Hinemoa and Tutanekai Streets about 16 chains has been recoated with tarred chips. In accordance with an arrangement made with the Defence Department, that portion of Arawa Street from the Pukeroa entrance to its intersection with Hinemaru Street has been laid with blue metal, blinded with chips. This was done to carry the heavy and continuous traffic between the military hospital and the baths. Numerous culverts have been constructed and installed as requested, in order to provide for access of vehicles to various properties. The financial aspect of the town administration has become very serious, as the fixed revenue is pro zing quite inadequate to meet the maintenance requirements. We cannot now carry out any additional permanent work —say, in the matter of putting blue metal on a road which has not hitherto been so treated. By reason of the increased cost of labour and material, and the greater demand made by motor traffic, our present revenue is all required for maintenance of works already done. This is not a position of affairs which can be continued indefinitely, or viewed with complacency. The need for some change in the system is imperative. The levy on the Town Account made by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for the current financial year was £246 18s. 5d., to meet which a rate on the capital value of |d. in the pound was struck. The levy made by the Fire Board amounted to £418, which was met by a rate of -fed. in the pound on the yalue of buildings within the town area. No library rate was levied this year. Building permits were issued during the year for new buildings and additions to existing ones, the total value being £6,705. The rateable capital value of the town is £526,689. I attach a statement of the Rotorua Town Account. Statement ok Accounts op the Town ov Rotorua for Year ended 31st March, 1919. General Account. Receipts. Expenditure. £ s. d. £ s. d. Administration — £ s. d. £ s. d. Balance at 31st March. 1018 .. 69 0 8 Salaries .. .. .'125 18 4 Treasury— Printing and advertising 5 7 0 Bath fees .. .. 1,269 5 (I Audit .. 710 0 Rents (Crown lands) .. 1,832 9 2 Bank charges .. .. 010 0 — It, 101 14 2 Bank interest on overdraft 12 5 6 Sanitary service fees . . .. 378 10 8 | Office expenses .. 718 3 Public pound fees .. ... 108 12 6 — 359 9 7 Licenses and fees— Public works — Building permits .. 22 16 0 Maintenance of streets and Vehiclo .. .. 07 0 0 roads (labour and maDriver .. .. 518 0 terial) .. .. 3,202 7 2 Publicans' .. . . 180 0 0 I'reo topping and pruning 118 18 0 Auctioneers' .. .. 40 0 0 Street-lighting.. .. 158 18 6 Billiard-rooms.. .. 18 0 0 : 3,540 II 8 Halls .. .. 6 0 0 '• Sanitary service— Shooting-gallery .. 3 0 0 Labour .. .. 380 19 0 Shows .. .. 8 0 0 Fodder and plant .. 175 0 2 Hawkors' .. .. 0 5 0 __— 555 19 2 Storago of explosives .. 3 15 0 Public pound—Wages, fodder, Dog-registration fees .. 23 10 (I and advertising .. .. 105 18 9 3 0 Public health—Sanitary inRents — spection .. .. .. 152 711 Real property .. 32 0 0 Licensing - expenses — TauExplosivo magazines .. 12 16 3 ranga County Council .. .. 27 I 4 Boat-shed compartments 15 0 0 Miscellaneous— ——— 80 2 3 Insurance (fire and acciMiscellaneous — dent) .. .. 38 0 I) Material sold .. .. 10 18 6 Dog-registration .. 10 14 Contributions to works .. 116 15 0 Charitable aid .. 8 10 11 Sale of by-laws .. 0 2 0 Maintenance of town clock 18 15 0 Refunds— Sundries .. .. 3 13 0 Hospital and charit- 79 0 9 able aid .. 2 15 0 Government insurance .. .. 12 6 New Zealand Railways .... 4 1 8 Guides' badges 1 15 0 Sundries .. .. 5 0 0 142 10 8 Ten-per-cent, penalty on overdue rates .. .. .. 11 10 5 Debit balance at 31stMaroh, 1919.. .. .... 563 16 10 £4,820 J_ 2 £4,820 1 2