DEVONPORT'S RATING.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 151, 27 June 1924, Page 8

DEVONPORT'S RATING.

WATER, LIGHTING AND INTEREST INCREASES. The Devonport Borough Council sat until nearly midnight last evening in consideration of the annual estimates. As the result of an exhaustive review of urgent borough works resolutions were passed establishing the rates for the year. The general rate wns fixed at 3id, a decrease of Jd on 1023, while the lighting rate advanced from 5-16 d to 9-16 d, and the interest rate was increased to 2gd, from 2d. The total rate will thus stand at (> .'5-10, an increase of an nightli of a penny for 1924. The water supply account received serious attention. The balance sheet revealed £1190 outstanding accounts, and it had been necessary to transfer £1909 from the general" account to balance at March 31, thus leaving a deficit of £819. This year there would also be an additional levy of £527 to the Takapuna Board of Control. It was decided to increase the charge from 1/3 to 1/0 per thousand gallons, with a minimum of 15/ per half vcar. The lighting rate was "also varied from 5-lCd to 9-lCd in order to contribute from this account its fair proportion of electricity cost. The previous rate was only .24(1 above net cost, and left a deficit of 2.04 don capital charges. The principal items in the estimates were: Stanley Bay Park, £3fiß; Stanley Point Road stormwatcr drain, £195: metalling of roads, £1000; Mount Cambria quarry, £870; sower drainage, £1000; tarring and sanding, f 700;' streets maintenance, £1600; " reserves and beaches, £770; shed for bnroucli plant, £500; Vauxhall hall, £204.