BIRKENHEAD FINANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 1 April 1913, Page 2

BIRKENHEAD FINANCE.

; REVIEWED BY- THE MAYOR. 'The Mayor of Birkenhead (Mr. Win. ! Wallace) at the Council meeting last evening reviewed the balance-sheet for the year ending March 31, 1913. j The past year, Mr. Wallace said, had been a strenuous one for the council, and several progressive schemes had been undertaken with a view to the advancement of the borough, and effecting more efficient and economical methods of carrying on the works. The opening of '• the financial year had found the council i in the middle of the installation of a j water supply, and also road reconstrue- | —n works. Owing to the wet weather . at that time, portions of the main ! roads and footpaths, in course of construction, were in a deplorable condition, and absolutely impassable in places. In order to cope with this unfortunate state of affairs, and to minimise the discomfort of the residents as far as possible, the council had been put to a considerahle additional expense in keeping the thoroughfares open during the winter. A -large amount of attention had also been devoted to various other roads and footpaths not included in the loan works. The water supply was practicaliy completed, and services were now being laiu on to the houses in the borongh. It was intended to have the official opening of the turning on of the water within the. next fortnight. In the general account, the receipts had been £2,0G0, rates accounting for I £1,530, subsidy £IS7, building permits [£43, dog tax £32, license fees £25, and Banitary charges £24. The expenditure, ftncluding last year's debit balance of ;„63, had been £3,428, so that the debit balance had been increased to £1369. Street works had absorbed £1845, administration £468, street lighting fill, purchase carting plant £239, quarry site and plant £213, road roller and implements £40, sanitary plant i£SO, and office furniture £50. Most of the plant acquired was necessary for the proper carrying out of the road loan works, while the outlay for the sanitary service, which had only recently been started,-would be recouped in the near future. Then, again, a large amount of the plant on hand was a valuable asset, and oould be realised for a substantial sum if the council at any time found any portion of it could be done without, of which there was no immediate prospect. While the debit balance appeared large, still when it is taken into account that the plant purchased represented assets valued at over £600, the actual debit was in reality reduced by that amount. With reference to the items in the general, account of £70S for material, and cartage £362, he w„l'd.like to point out that a large portion of these amounts were expended in connection with loan work 3, and if refunded from loan- account, would further reduce the general account debit. The re-naming of streets had been accomplished during the year, and the erection of the street-plates would be proceeded with forthwith, as these were in hand and paid for.

The hospital and charitable aid account was in credit £75, the receipts •having been "£205; and the contributions paid' £190, The Council held cin-t'rajttpre' deposits.totalling £223. The road' loan of £400 (being 10 per cent, on the £4,000 loan) had been expended, with the exception of £2. Of the water supply and road construction, loan of £24,SBO, tbere remained £12 in hand after paving charges and first year's interest (nearly (£1,000). Of this loan, £21,230 ■was allocated to water supply, of which over £20,000 had been expended; £2,600 allocated towards the Main Road "and..Roberta Road, on which £3,040 had been expended; £1,050 was allocated towards Birkdale Road, Pine Avenue, Baden Powell Road, and Victoria Road, and £848 '!iad been expended.

- .The ~firei loan of .£1,004 11/9, taken over from the old Road Board in ISS7, upon .the formation of the borough, had now been extinguished, the final payment on account of interest and sinking fund of £74 IS/2 having fceen made during the yeur. The various loan internet" accounts were in credit to the extent of f £310.. v."..'.

Dealing with loan works, llr Wallace said the footpath near the wharf; which had-been in progress for a number of years, was now rapidly nearing completion, and be .thought the residents, together .with the Council and himself, iwould be truly thankful to see the end of this work. Mr Wallace also referred to the difficulties encountered in connection with' the main road contract, the Council Jiaving eventually to take the work over and complete it by day labour. In connection with the waterworks installation, the tender for laying the •mains, erecting the pumping plant, etc., exceeded, t-he estimate' by upwards of !£I.OOO, and this after calling for tenders on two different occasions. "The Council also had to vigorously contest a claim for £.5,500. for land taken for a pumping site, for which the estimate was £700,_ the Council ultimately pay in"----£1,307.; ; Additional reservoir capacity was also provided, the extra cost being '£SSO. The ten per cent, additional loan just granted by the Advances Department would be applied to the completion of the loan works -in hand.

•Mr Wallace desired to compliment the borough treasurer ("Mt -A. Ernest Greenslade) on the very prompt preparation of the. statement of accounts, and expressed the greatest confidence in the future of the' district, which would ■rapidly increase in population now that the-water supply had become an accomplished fact, -while the Council in future must pursue a steady progressive policy.

A few days ago a very serious accident befel a contractor named Peter Ryan, at Ahuahua (Wanganui River).It appears that Ryan was standing on the edge of a deep embankment when the earth gave way, and he was precipitated to the ground 100 ft. below. How he escaped instantaneous death is a marvel. -Everything that could be done was done to relieve the sufferer, and he was admitterl to" the Wanganui Hospital - as qui— y its possible. His condition was found to be critical, and a cursory examination showed that he had sustained a dislocated hip, though it is thought that he is suffering from other injuries as well. It will be seen from an advertisement which has been appearing in our advertising columns for the last few days that the-unallotted shares in the Waipa Railway and Collieries, Limited, are now placed on the market. The railway to the mine is. now .on the point of comple,'tion, and the company anticipates hay.ing its "coal on the market in the near future. Land to be opened by the Government in April includes ten rural sections in -Wellington Province, aggregathig 5,417 acres. This land, which will be opened on the optional system, is situated within six miles' of a landing-place on the s¥-B£?—ii River.