BOROUGH AND COUNTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 439, 23 February 1909, Page 8

BOROUGH AND COUNTY.

, ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS.- , The recommendations, of Miv W. S. Short, commissioner, as to the adjustment of accounts between'. , , the "Eastbourne Council and the Hutt County Council were considered by the former body at its meeting yesterday-afternoon. ~; • ~•','. • '... From the Town Clerk's summary .of the "commissioner's, report, it . appeared. that, whereas the County' Council valued its offices and land at £4160, the■'; Borough Council's solicitor succeeded in showing, that the value of £6145.' A. mortgage, of £1797, had. to -be', deducted, leaving £4348.t0 be divided.' The gravel'reserves'-.were-ruled out on the ground that the borough/had no direct interest in them. The borough's 'solicitor■-.thought.Mr. Short was mistaken oil this point, The commissioner had decided .that the. other, property was .worth' £1564 19s. 3d;, making the total assets £5912 4s. :6d, ..This .amount wasto be divided.oh: the basis of the capital of the borough and the county, and the borough.would thus get.£2s3 6s. 2d>::ln addition'to' this there were outstanding special i'rates, £123 19s. Id.,'making the total of assets £377 ss. 3d. Tho liabilities were as-' sessed at £134 17s. ,9d., .making the net amount receivable by the borough £242 7s. 6d. The commissione rhad allowed the borough 15 guineas costs, , but the borough would •havo to pay half the costs of the commis- ; sioner's•'.-inqriry, and the costs of its own solicitor. '-' . . : ' ' "; ' :

The .-Mayor (Mr. F. G. Bolton) said that the commissioner had accepted the borough's views in regard to the office and the. personal property, butnot as to tho gravel, reserves, and the refund of rates. Ho. thought: that the' basis of apportionment was rigjit, hut the County Council should have been ordered to', pay- the full costs. The borough had virtually won the case, as tho council had claimed that' the borough: owed about £3. It was anomalous that the successful party, should have; to, pay half the costs. He considered" ,the borough' should have : got £30 or £40 moro, plus the full costs...He. did not, however, think : it. Would bo worth while to reopen, the case. They had won in the main; and had got nearly all they expected. The council decided to accept the findings of-the commissioner. ■ "■..:■• . : !