FINANCES OF TIMARU BOROUGH

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25346, 20 November 1947, Page 5

FINANCES OF TIMARU BOROUGH

REVIEW BY MAYOR The most important work of the borough, and one whiph had cost the most money, had been that undertaken by the engineer’s department, more particularly in respect of roads, said the Mayor of Timaru (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) in a review of the work done by the Timaru Borough Council, and of the borough’s financial position, released this week. Mr Hanan said that it was the aim of the council that the roads should not be neglected. In the last financial year general and special rates amounting to £89,004 had been struck plus a water rate of £10.529, giving a total revenue of £99,533, said Mr Hanan. The amount collected from ratepayers had been £99,469. The water rate was Id and 2d and the general rate 13.224 d in the £. The total amount of loans raised by the council amounted to £310,152, the majority falling due between 1947 and 1969. The actual public debt was £278,778. In the last three years private enterprise had built 243 houses, the State 50, and the council 91 (including 41 on the loan plan). The engineer’s department had sealed two miles of road and constructed half a mile, making the total mileage of roads in the borough 53. Eight miles of footpath had been sealed, and one and a quarter miles constructed, giving a total of 105 miles of footpath. The area of the borough was 2786 acres. As at October 31, allowing for transients, said Mr Hanan, the population of the borough was estimated at 19,619. The number of rateable properties totalled 5060, and the unimproved value £1,603,000. It was considered that borough ratepayers used nearly 3,000,000 gallons of water a day. The capital value ef the borough was £6,140,820. “Although there remains a great deol of street sealing and footpath repairs to be completed, all will agree tlfat much has been done to improve roads, etc., and Timaru can justly say that for its size it has more roads asphalted than any town in New Zealand,” concluded Mr Hanan. TEXAS VISITOR WELCOMED AT TEMUKA On his way south, the international president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Mr C. Taylor Cole, of Texas) made a brief visit to Temuka, where he was met by several citizens and members of the South Canterbury • branch of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.