HUTT AND PETONE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1230, 12 September 1911, Page 6

HUTT AND PETONE.

IFrom Our Erecial Correspondent.) 6 "WIIA'PS ALL THIS FUSS ABOUT?" At last night's meeting of the Hult Borough Council correspondence was received from Mr. \V. 11. Russell in which ho stated that a "nolo" on the las"t published balance-sheet of tho llutt Borough Council had been appended by the Mayor, and he (Mr. Russell) had drawn tho attention of the Auditor-General to it. Mr. HussolVs „lott'cr to tho Auditor-Gen-eral was as follows:— Sir,—Appended to tho Auditor-General's certificate respecting the municipal accounts of the borough of Lower llutt for tho year ending March 31, 1911, is a "note" by tho Mayor of Lower liutt directly contradicting the finding of your [ Department that special rates and moneys received for the payment of interest ou loans had, to tho amount' of ,£2825 2s. Gd. been used for other purposes. As tho matter is ono affecting tho ratepayers of this borough I desire to bring the matter under your notice in order to ascertain whether the note in question is a I justifiable one under tho circumstances.— I have, etc., W. H. llussell. The reply from tho Auditor-General which explains the caso is appended:— "Sir,—l have to acknowlcdgo the receipt of, and thank you for, your letter of tho 18lh inst,, in which you draw my attention lo a note appended by the Mayor to my certificate 011 tho balance-sheet of the Lower llutt Uorough Council, upon tho 1 0110 of which I, for obvious reasons, rcfrajn from commenting. In answer, however, to your question, I have tho honour to stat'o that tho audit exception i is quite correct, inasmuch as tho moneys referred to, having been specifically received for tho payments of interest* on loans, would not havo been available without further increasing tho overdraft due to the bank had they been required 011 the date of tho balance-sheet. They had thereloro been used for "other purposes than tho payment of interest.—l rnf' il 0 ' 1 Collins, Auditor-General. J he Mayor explained that this was dono by a number of local bodies for the express purpose of saving the ratepayers' money. It was quite in accord with tho views of the municipal solicitor. Councillor Hodgins: What's all the fnss abouti Councillor Stevenson: Why does Mr. Kussell give this matter so much attention ? The Mayor: "Ho has nothing bettor to do, 1 suppose." (Laughter.) The correspondence was received , . PETONE TENNIS CLUB. There \ms a good attendance of mcm■urs at tho eighteenth annual meeting of the Petono Tennis Club last evening. Mr. K- C. Kirk occupied the chair. Tho report stated that the club was in a sound condition. The membership had increased, and further addition was ex- . '-"ted during the coming season. The junior championships in both ladies' and men's inter-club competitions had been won by tho Petono teams, this being the first time that the club had been successful in inter-club matches. The finances were also in a satisfactory state. Thero was only .£3 outstanding for members' subscriptions. The surplus of assets over liabilities was .£270 ISs. lid. The following officers were elected for tho ensuing year President, Mr. R. C. Kirk; vice-presidents, Messrs. Homo, Warnes, Lodder, Foster, and Dr. Ross; secretary, Mr. C. Andrews; treasurer, Mr. R. Hope; management committee, Messrs. Austin, Parkinson, Duncan, Kean, and Thompson; ladies' committee. Misses Bennett, A/lbuder, Foote, Morris, and Cochrane; selection committee, Messrs. Parkinson, Austin, and Hope; auditor, Mr. J. Baxter; delegato to association, Mr. Austin. The opening day was fixed for Saturday, Octobor 7.

UPPER nUTT COURT. Very little business came before Dr. M'Arthur, 1 S.M., at the monthly sitting of the Upper llutt Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. In a judgment summons action, William M'Grossin was ordered to pay off a debt of ,£lO Gs. owing to Timothy Twomey, at_ the rate of 10s. a month, first payment' to be mado on October 9. Judgment was given plaintiff by default in the civil ease, Herbert Shaw v. William Reuben Benge, a claim for XG 155., with costs .£1 Gs. Gd.