ADJUSTING ACCOUNTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 137, 4 March 1908, Page 10

ADJUSTING ACCOUNTS.

i EASTBOURNE BOROUGH AND HUTT COUNTY. SITTING OF THE. COMMISSION. The Commission set up. to adjust accounts between tho H.utt County Council and the Borough of Eastbourno held its first sitting 'at the offices of tho Hutt County Council, Lambton Quay, yesterday. There were present: Tho Commissioner (Mr.-W. S. Short); Messrs. A. do J5: ■" Brandon", J. AVakehnm (chairman, Hutt C6unty Council);'and H. D. Atkinson (County Clerk), Representing tho Hutt County; Messrs. Organ,-F. G. Bolton (Mayor of Eastbourne), arid' J. D. Avery (Clerk to the Eastbourno Borough Council), representing Enstbourne. Tho appointment of tho Commission having been read", the Commissioner announced that the proceedings constituted an' inquiry under Scction 183, of tho Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, anil of tho Regulations dated February 13, 1903. .' Tho statement of claim by .tho Eastbourno Borough set forth :— (a) Real and personal property. (1) Claim for proportion of tho interest in - tho land and buildings on Lambton Quay. (2) Claim for proportion 1 of personal property as sot out m the balancesheet nf iho Hutt County Couucil for 1905-1906. " , (b) Rates.' (1) Claim for the amount, ! approximately £337, of separate rates (accumulated), or, if disallowed: (2) Claim for portion of the goneral' collected rates, not expended, in tho Wainui-o-mata riding for tho period April 1, 1904—March 31, 1906. (o) Tho Eastbovrno Borough was prepared to accept a proportion ■ of tho debts, liabilities, and engagements at March 31, 1906. (d), Interest and sinking funds- on No. 4 loan. The Commissioner asked on. what basis of valuation tho statement of claim was based. In reply, the claimants stated that they were prepared to base their, claim upon a proportion of the capital value, of their district, as compared with the whole district at the date of severance. Mr. A. de B. Brandon held that the adjustment of accounts should he framed as at April 1, 1906, and that previous years should not bo counted. This was contested by tho Eastbourne Borough Council, whiclf instructed Mr; Orgaii to, look into tho matter. ■ Mr. Brandon claimed, further, that the • land and buildings on Lambton Quay should be. ruled!out of the scope of the inquiry. ■ It was stated that tho, analysis of assetsand .liabilities tabled by tho Hutt Comity Council was an amendment of the Comity Council's printed balance-sheet for tho year ending • March 31; 1006, which, it was contended, was not correct... In-the amended statement the;assets ivero written .down owing to certain amounts not having boon collected, and to depreciation of plant—traction engine, stone-crusher, etc. The liabilities, further, had been increased;by. two' sums of £130 and £13. It was also" stated that the assets had not been credited withtho amount of tho Government , subsidy, £579 15s. Id. 1 - At this stage tho Commission adjourned till this morning, when> tho case, for the Eastbourne Borough Council will be argued.