ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 105, 2 May 1908, Page 8

ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

ARCH ___!___. f The annual meeting of- ratepayers In the Arch Hill Road Board district, was held 1 in the Newton West School last evening. ■ Mr. Rowe occupied the chair, and there was a small attendance. The balance-sheet for the year ending March 31 was read, giving a full account of the Board's finances. The balance-sheet • gave the receipts as totalling £D 53 7/3. The J-ear commenced with a balance of £167 5/6. General rates amounted to £519 2/7, and Government subsidies to £244 9/3. ■ The cost of administration was £114 19/5. ■ Public works cost £420 12/1, included in ' which was the amount of £177 7/7 for wages, £104 7/8 for material and cartage, £51 2/2 for scoria and metal, and £60 2/S ■■ for street lighting. Fire brigade expenses , totalled £36 18/8. The balance on hand from the general account at the end of the year was £344 19/5. Separate accounts brought the balance in bank up to £646 1/1. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said he was filling the chair iv the'absence of the chairman.. Mr. Jenkins, who was away in the : Old Country. Their funds were in a healthy state. They had no bank overdraft, it had been stated to him that the Board's policy was not progressive, because they had not negotiated big loans for certain works. Bat he believed they had done the right thing in keeping the expenditure well In hand. It was possible their contribution to the cost of duration work, undertaken by Grey Lynn, would exceed the amount of expenditure anticipated. Out of their balance £250 had to be paid towards the work undertaken by the Grey Lynn Borough Council. In referring to the loan accounts, the chairman added that they had been improving their position every day, and the total amount of £5030 had been reduced by £1141, which fact, he thought, would be regarded as eminently satisfactory. Mr. Waddingham seconded the motion, and the balance-sheet was adopted. The question of tramway administration 1 was introduced, and the chairman explained 1 that the attitude of the Tramway Company was that Arch Hill had no standing. They were trying to make the tramway terminals carry the names of the trams, and that was why the Arch Hill trams had been re-named Grey Lynn. Grey Lynn, as a borough, was by law entitled to priority. The chairman said that the Board had not only reduced the water rate from 6 per cent to 5 per cent, but were now proposing to make other reductions. The water loan interest was re- ' duced from 4_d to lid, drainage from 2d to ljd, and the Great North-road formation from 2id to l_d. It was proposed to strike a lighting vote of 2d in the £. This would relieve the general rates by £60: The re ■ ductions would mean a decrease of 5d In the £, and the lighting rate would bring iv ' about £67. which would enable them to make certain desirable additions. • Mr. Dines: Cannot you find anything to 1 do with the other 3d? I The Chairman: The ratepayers will appreciate the relief. It means that we are making a reduction of 3d in the £ for two years. Our population is increasing. All the time fresh houses are going up, and every house means additional revenue. Mr. Dines: I think the benefit is shadowy. Our rates go down, and our valuation:; "go up. The Chairman: No one has any room for complaint on the question of assessments. A ratepayer raised the question of a pound for the Road Board district, and urg- , ed that rigorous by-laws should be enforced. [ The Chairman: Complaint should be made . to the police. A Ratepayer: Who ever saw a policeman , in Arch Hill! The meeting closed with a hearty vote [ of thanks to members of the Board for 1 their work during the year.