DOWN THE LINE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10110, 18 October 1917, Page 3

DOWN THE LINE.

Fbom Ova Own Cobrebfoniient. QTAKX Oct. 17. Ati about 2 a.m. to-day a lire, wiia discovered a« the rear of she Railway Hotel, Otaki aiid it was immediately noticed that a, she'd 14ft by 10ft was well ablaze. All efforts to save it wore useless-, but the lire was prevented from spreading to the cta-tionmasior-s residence. _ , Mr v.-iijK.'i-, of L'arapararmu, met witn a nasty mishap yesterday, lie was engaged ploughing:, when the implement struck a tussock, causing the plough to jump, with the result that the handle struck .Mr Cappi r on the head and rendered him unconscious. To-day he shows signs of improvement. A ;;e:id-oil was last night accorded Messrs Best, lionoro, and Geo, ('Jlac-ken at Ohatt. when Air C. Blenlchorn (Mayor of I.evin) made an appropriate spocch and presented suitable presents. _ The attendance was largo and enthusiastic. The Paraparanmu. cheese, factory has despatched : nine '4B crates "of cheese to Wellington this week. An average, of ten checse.j por day is now maintained. A whey-skimming plant is being installed, and sh'ouid bo iii working order in the course of a few clays. _ . Private It. L. Drewitt. recently wounded, is now in Hoinchurch Convalescent Camp', unci is rtateti to be doing well. The I.evin Howling '.flub open the season on Labour Day (22iid).\'fnd despite the fact that Otaki -v■-■ ill I)'.' engaged with n contest, with the llutfc Club, hope to send a strong combination to represent them. The Levin green is in good order, and with players from Koxton, Shannon, and probably Palincrston, interesting play .should result. As the result of the .-ale of meat at the Rangiuru patriotic sale on Saturday, no less a sum than i : 2O 14k was raised, all due to the energies of Mrs (Dr.) Hutliwaito and Mrs Reynolds. Those ladies are certainly deserving of credit; for the manner in which they worked, and besides selling they had secured thej whole of the. moat, by active canvass.

The bnlauee-sheet of the Ilorowhenua County Council for the financial year ended March" 31 shows tha.c the receipts from all sources during tho year amounted to £29.64-1 4s. Of thisarnoimtj £5125 was loan morinv..nuul.'£;iGi;.(Jovcnunuit- I !J:r:iyt■'.."'('ll; the "yoa-i-'s working ' the. statement ~bf "IkiK show.- thai-a dr..; balance of >Js34B'*f<sr 1910 "has giwii : place to u cr. balance--for 11)17 of-,£3/91 The-total amount of general rates ami-- penalties' collected during tlie year amounted to £.14,935 da 3d, as against £12,331 10s 3d in iho preceding year, and £B%!', 19:; 7d in 191405. The rates outstanding on .March 31 amounted to £6? l 9s 3d. Oil the expenditure side the levy for hospital and charitable aid shows a very steady increase, being £3llO for the past year, as against; £2713 in £1916 and £224.4 in 1915. Tiie expehdituro in the various.ridings are summarised as follows : Maintenance.— Tokomarti, £1596 3s 2d; Wirolcino, £3211 14s 3d- Otaki £1486 7;; Id,- To iloro, £l4Bl 13s 3d Miscellaneous.—Tokomarn £290 8s 6d; Wirolcino, £SB 13s 2d; Otaki, ,£66 9s; To Ho'ro £96 7s 4d. Totals.-—rokomarii, £IBB6 lis 8d; Wirokino, • £3270 '7s sd; Otaki, £1542 16s Id; To floro, £.1573 os.7d. The money spent for -maintenance out ot revenue throughout- the County, amounted to £7775 17s 9d,' and if to this stun is added from the general account, the. amount charged to material and plant, it "ill he apparent that nearly £BOOO was spent upon the roads during the year. In. the County fund account there was no overdraft at theclose of the financial year, as at this date the fund was in credit to the amount, ot, £51.0 12s sd. On. the 31st March. 1916, the previous year, the overdraft stood at £5563 3s 6c! 'The total amount of special rates collected for the payment of interest was £4IOO 12s 7d. Thp amount of interest paid to the Treasury, instalments to the- State Advances Department, and to the Public Trust Oliiee was £3695 16s lid. The following loans were raised during the. year from the State Advancer. Ollice. having a currency of 36A years at an annual payment (including interest; and repayment of capital) of £5 12s 2d per cent, via:—Aniwlu.U'. drain loan, £200; Arawhata-road loan, £700: Polls' road, metalling.. £600; Tarartia road extension, £950; Kawiti road extension, £ICO3; Kuku walor race extension £760; Koptitarua stream, £1250.