RATEPAYERS' MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12861, 9 May 1905, Page 7

RATEPAYERS' MEETINGS.

ONE-TREE HILL. Tin-: annual meeting of ratepayers' in the One-tree Hill road district, ovei which the chairman of the Road Board (Mr E. *v. Burton) presided, was hold in the fcpsom Hall on Friday evening last. The annual report, which was adop-oct, stated that the records as to the increase in the number of holdings and houses ant in land value?, as in previous years, hail been maintained. During the past yen t«'cr» had been no .special hospital and cliuntauic aid rate as formerly, lie only special rare being in respect to the loan account, weaving aside tlio loan rate, the total income from rates for the past two years spoweu an increase in favour of last year ot fcitu lis, the ligures being £657 lis lOd for 190.501, and £019 2s lOd for 19j4-05. The total increase in revenue, outside of contributions from special sources, amounted to £Wo I°* yd. On the other hand, the expenditure hint also increased, owing to the growing wants of tho district. The street lighting bill had nearly doubled, viz., from £66 lbs Ilk or 19UJ-0* to £70 17s 5d for 19U4-05. _ Road formation and maintenance reached £970 7d. as against £.46 lis 7d for the previous year, an increase of £124 1?. In tins, however, was included the tarring and sanding of the footpaths on tho Emerald Hill estate, £133 ss, which was wholly covered bj a like contribution from tho owners of tho property. With regard to tramway tares, i tlio managing director of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company had agreed to re- , commend to his directors the issus of lid tickets, in books, for use between Newmarket and tho Epsom barn, or 3d return tickets between the same two points. Tho question of drainage would have to be immediately dealt with. During the past year by-laws had been brought into force under the Public Health Amendment Act, fixing the sUe of building allotments at a minimum of aquarter of an acre. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance on the general account on March 31 last of £161 7s 4d. A hearty vole of thanks was accorded to the Hoard for its services to the district during the past year. HUNTLY. Tin; annual meeting of the ratepayers of (lie Jluntly Road district was held in the district school on Friday evening. The attendance was very poor, Mr. J. P. Bailey presiding over a meeting consisting of very few more than a bare quorum. In his report the chairman stated that the work done was proportionate to tho revenue, and that, though the Hoard recognised the urgency for many improvements, that body, on account of its limited revenue, had been unable to cope with the work. No radical change had characterised 'their operations, but for the future tin 'work of the surfaceUlan would be confined to certain boundaries, all work outside of which would lie done by contract. The treasurer (Mr. K. \V. Tattley) presented his balance-sheet for the past year, which, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. K. S. Wight, was unanimously approved, subject to audit. The general account showed an income of £493 5s sd, with an expenditure of £283 lbs (3d, thus showing a balance of £204 8?. 9d. The thirds account stood at £220 15s, debited against which was £133 4s, there being thus a credit of £87 lis. The summary of assets was as follows:—Hank balance, £276 17s 8d; cash in hand, £24 2s Id; outstanding arrears of rates, £2 12s 6(1; ditto for 1903-4, £5 19s lid; ditto for 19045, £52 5s scl ; total, £361 17s 7d; while the liabilities in the shape of unpresented cheques £13 10s 9d, and contractors' dc posits £9: total, £22 10s 9d.—[Own Correspondent.] i DRURY. The annual meeting of ratepayers was held in the Public Hall on Saturday last, Mr. J. C. Hill, chairman of the Board, presiding. There was a fair attendance. The abstract of accounts was read by the clerk (Mr. E. Morgan) as follows:—Balance, income, March 31, 1904, £9 0s 6d; general rates, £132 3s 4d; arrears, £1 lis 6d; 10 per cent, additional, 8s 7d; Government subsidy on rates, £74- 12s 8d; transferred from loan account, £20 12s 6d; from hospital and charitable aid account, £1 0s 4d; hotel license, £25: slaughter, 10s; dog registration, £1 7s 6d ; sale of stone crusher, ! £75; interest, £1 7a 6d; sale of lamp, 10s; rents from reserves, £3 9s; refund from infectious diseases hospital, £2 18s 9d; J. Farrar, cost of scoria, £1 4s 4d; Court . costs, £4 43 9d: total, £405 Is 3d. Expenditure: 'Salaries, allowances, printing, and' general office expenses, £32 3s lid ; notice boards re by-laws, £2; accident insurance, £1 0s 7d; advertising, £5; Court costs, £4 4s 9d; miscellaneous, 19s: licensing costs, £5 lis 9d; audit, £1 13s 4d; valuation, £3 Is 6d: dog collars, £2 7s 9d; interest on loan, £35 17s 4d; hospital and charitable aid, £35 6s; clearing laud. £2 7s; bank commission, 10s; interest, £1 lis 6d; refund Papakura Town Board, £8 5s lOd; roads and bridges construction and maintenance. £116 3* 2d; balance, £14« 17s lUd: total, £405 Is 3d. There were also some items of expenditure under the "loan account. Under this head £43 £* was returned to the Treasury, as it could not legally he spent on the tramline road near the Humia station. Contractors' deposit account showed a credit of £2 3s.

The statement of assets mid liabilities showed:—Assets: Cash in bank and 111 hand. £151 Is lOd; rates recoverable, £19 8s 3d. Liabilities: Contracts let. £117 9s 3d; other accounts, £20; statement of public debt, £1024 lbs 9cl. Considerable discussion followed (lie reading of accounts ro the alleged selling of the stone-breaking machine at below its cost and value, and the apparently division of expenditure of funds. Some of the speakers suggested that the division of the district into wards or subdivisions would be the only satisfactory solution of file trouble. —[Own Correspondent.]