93.75 Per Cent Rale Collection In Whangarei County

Northern Advocate, 12 April 1940, Page 8

93.75 Per Cent Rale Collection In Whangarei County

For the financial year just ended, the Whangarei County Council collected 93.75 per cent, of current European rates. This is slightly less than the 93.88 per cent, collected for the previous year. Collections were: Year ending March 31, 1933, 77.15 per cent.; 1934, 74.5 per cent.; 1935, 85 per cent.; 1936, 81.65 per cent.; 1937, 86.57 per cent.; 1938, 90.5 per cent. Current general rates collected during the year amounted to £19,296. and during the same period, £675 of arrears were collected. Of the general rates collected, £7791 was paid to the Whangarei Hospital Board, leaving only £11,505 for county purposes. Current native rates outstanding at the end of the year amounted to £1349. Riding Percentages. The ridings showing the highest percentage of rate collections were Maunu and Maungakaramea, both with 97 per cent. Hikurangi showed a 95 per cent, collection, while Kiripaka, Mangapai, and Waipu each collected 94 per cent. Wairua showed a 93 per cent, collection, Manaia 92 per cent., Otonga 91 per cent., with Mangakahia the lowest at 89 per cent. Highways Expenditure. During the past year, £11,022 was expended by the council on highways. Of this expenditure. £BIO6 came from the Main Highways Board, and £2916 from county funds. Expenditure on highways has varied considerably for the past nine years, ranging from £5899 in the year 1933-34, to £16,395 in the year 1936-37. There are now 150 miles of highway in the county, while in 1935-36 there were 202£ miles. The average cost per mile for maintaining the highways has risen from £SO in 1934-35, to £73/10/ last year.