OPUNAKE TOWN BOARD

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 7 June 1935, Page 9

OPUNAKE TOWN BOARD

ESTIMATES CONSIDERED LOANS POSITION SATISFACTORY BANK OVERDRAFT REDUCED. (From Our Own Correspondent). The monthly meeting of the Opunake Town Board! was held in the board’s offices on Tuesday evening. Present were Messrs S. Boyd (deputychairman), W. E. Gunson, H. Booker, W. J. S. Dudley and C. N. Thayer (clerk). Apologies were received from and leave of absence granted to Messrs A. J. Brennan (chairman), L. Des Forges and Dr. E'. M. Griffin. The Opunako Seaside Society wrote •stating that the storm water running down the beach road on the seaward side was causing considerable damage to the campers’ car track and asked the board to divert this to save further damage. It was decided to hold over this matter -until an inspection could be made. The Taranaki Hospital Board wrote advising that it proposed applying to the Local Bodies’ Loans Board for sanction to borrow the sum of £19,000 for the building and equipping of the following: Nerses’ home additions, tubercular annexe, isolation ward, main hospital and the repayment of the balance of the existing loan. The board further intimated that it did not anticipate that the payments incurred under the loan would necessitate any addition to the levy nowmade on contributing local authorities. Consideration of this was deferred until the next meeting. In reply to the board’s request for a quote for lighting the cenotaph and for its upkeep, the Opuuake Electric Power Board, wrote advising that they would supply a suitable timeswitch for £7 10s and would supply and maintain five lamps for the same annual amount as charged for street lights. This was also held over until next meeting.

REPORTS. The ranger reported that seven head of “cattle had been impounded during the month. He also submitted names of persons whom he suggested were not complying with-the conditions governing cattle grazing licenses. The dog-tax collector reported that several dogs were still unregistered and asked the board’s direction as to what action should be taken. It was resolved to instruct the collector to notify all such dog owners that any dogs not registered within a further seven days would be destroyed. The foreman (Mr J. de Castro) ieported on the previous month’s activities as follows: The main street had been patched with colfix where necessary. footpaths and roads repaired, water channels cleaned 1 , rubbish collected, town hall cleaned several times. The section round the office had been redug, levelled and resown with grass. Another 22 feet had been added to one of the groynes at the \Y aiau River, and a third groyne built 42 feet in length. These groynes were doing excellent work. During the month nine men under the relief scheme had been employed at the AVaiau River at knapping stone and in the gravel pits. ESTIMATES. The clerk submitted the estimates for the year ending March 31, 1936, together with a review of the board’s operations over the past year. This revealed, that the bank overdraft bad been reduced from £3BO to £l5O, a reduction of £230. The balances of the separate accounts being (previous year's accounts shown in brackets): General account, dr. balance £l6O (dr. £375); sanitation, dr. balance £B, (dr. . £48); library, er. balance Is 9d (dr. £9 7s 4d). The estimated receipts in general account for the past year were £2207 and the actual amount received: was £2189. The estimated expenditure for the past year was £2207 and the amount expended was £2256. Estimates for the present year ending March 31, 1936, arc: Receipts £2300 and expenditure £2300. The rate position at the end of the year was very satisfactory, the amount collected for the current year being 85.15 per cent. The amount of arrears outstanding was reduced from £336 to £244, while the amount outstanding for years prior to the year just ended was only £7l.

The report further stated that the conversion of the board’s loans had been completed during the year and resulted in an annual saving of .£l6 in comparison with the amount originally payable under tlie loans. The report also dealt with the estimates for the coining year, drawing attention to individual items which would need consideration by the board. The clerk stated in conclusion that the adoption of the estimates as submitted would enable tli# essential work of the board' to be continued, hut unfortunately, the revenue available from the present rate did not allow any margin for the undertaking of works of a permanent nature. Ihere were several important matters confronting the board, such as the erection of a new town hall, the adoption of a policy of tar-sealing each year a. portion of the main streets, the providing of modern and efficient plant for road work, etc., and also the present problem of the Waiau River, but it was apparent that the undertaking ot a definite policy in these matters will necessitate an increase in the rate or the raising of loans for these purposes. It may not be generally appreciated that the revenue derived from the board bv way of rates annually had been £llsO and that the annual charges for the hospital board lew, street lighting, interest on loans and wages alone amounted to £I2BO. It would be seen, therefore, that the purchasing of all material and all other expenses had to be met out of sundry revenue. Alembers made reference to the conscientious work of the clerk, the foreman and outdoor staff and to the manner in which the work of building groynes at the Waiau River erosion had boon carried out. Accounts amounting to £h2 Its lid >vere passed for payment,