MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13170, 7 May 1906, Page 7

MEETINGS.

i MOUNT ROSKILL RATEPAYERS' ' MEETING. : At the annua,! ..meeting of the ratepayers of the "Mount Roskill Road Board district, held on Friday evening, the annual report was adopted. The report stated that although tin; lowest rated district- in Auckland, Mount Roskill had made great progress in the way of good roads and footpaths, as well as securing water and gas. The work done during the year included completion and formation of between two and three miles of footpaths, tarring and shelling about two mi.le.-s grading and improving the eastern end of Mount Albert Road, taking off the cap of the hill, and filling the hollow in Mount Roskill Road, and other smaller works. The capital value of tho district is £225,000. 'Hie general rate wan «> low that only £453 was raised, while the expenditure on th. 20 miles of roads amounted to £729 19s. Id, and there was still a credit balance to start the new year. This was due to the great liberality and assistance given by way of contribution, by the ratepayers, who donated £224. During, the year another large block of land was cut up in the district, on which about a mile of loading and footpath was done. The Board considered there was a prospect of Ridge Road being made during the. coming year, aid the Government reserves cut up and disposed of. Although a rate was struck of £d in the £, to meet special interest on the waterworks expenditure, it had not been collected, which tho Board considered a record; more especially, as at the-end ol the first financial vear the water account showed r credit of £60 12s 6d. Three new gas lamps had been erected during the year, and three ordered. The -Jd rate would have produced £250 7s lid, but was not collected because, after paying all demands, there was still £38 6s 3d to credit of the water and gas account. During the current year the Board hoped to reduce the rate tc a quarter oi less, which will make it tho lowest in New Zealand. The balance-sheet showed receipts £1141 4s 4d. After deducting the expenditure, there was a. credit balance of £87 Is lid. The assets were.put down at £676 la Id, and the liabilities at £162.

MANGERE ROAD BOARD. The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Mangere Road Board district was held at the Mangere Hall on Thursday evening. Mr. J. E. Taylor (chairman) presided, and there was a good attendance. The annual report showed that, including the balance brought forward from the previous year, the receipts were £241 15s lew than last balance-sheet showed. This was accounted for by the fact that hist year a larger balance had been brought forward from the 3d rate collected in 1904. " The difference •in the balances brought forward for the two years amounted to £160 lefts in the present balance-sheet. Besides this, £52 less si;bidy had been received from the Government on rates, and £49 less from run fees, fully accounting oi the £241 15s, by which the receipts for the year were reduced. Notwithstanding this decrease in receipts, and the special new works, there is a balance of £233 18s in hand,- which is only £46 less than the balance carried forward last year. During the coming year the Board would be almost entirely relieved of the cost of grading new side roads, while Swamp Road is practically completed, and will prove to be •a. great convenience to residents. Out of the revenue of £1200 (including balance carried forward) received during the year, it •was almost startling to find how much of it went in payment of administration and charitable aid. For these items, including £23 17s 6d to the cemetery trustees, there was paid away £306 7s 9d, and as the net receipts for the year amounted to £921' it would be seen that just one-third had been swallowed up in that way. Thus there remained only about £600 wherewith to pay for the upkeep of over 20 miles of roads in a large district. There were about 20 mile* of side roads completed, and these would bo of great use during, say, seven months of the year,, besides, saving at least £100 per annum in metal, repairs, and upkeep of roads. , The necessity for a stone-crusher was apparent, and it was urged that such a machine bo purchased as soon as possible to work at the quarry. The section system had proved a success, and the portions of district had been assigned as follows:—Mr. El let t, from Dramatao- to the Wesleyan Church; Mi. Hen wood, from Wesleyan Church to Maugero railway crossing, "and all side roads to Papatoitoi and Pukakj, etc.; Mr. McXenzic, from the pound to Crawford's farm, and all side roads and the Swamp Road; Mr. Scott, from Crawford's to,the end.of Robertson's. Through this system it was possible to show the expenditure in each section, which had been as follows: —Mr." McKenaie's section, '£85 16s Bd, besides £127 7s spent on Swamp Road; Mr. Scott's section. £43 14* 8d; Mr. Henwood's section £207 12s Id: Mr. Ellett's section, £50 3s 6d : the chairman's section. £96 15s 7d. and the bridge £8 13s—half share of this latter was'borne by the Onehunga Borough Council. The" valuations of the district have been largely increased, standing now at £241,223. as against £184,834, but the rates need not be increased. Tt would be necessary to levy the rate on the former amount. On the old valuation the id rate with which so much "work had.been carried out yielded revenue to the extent of £397 3? sd. If a. rate of 5-16 d in the £ were levied this year on the increased valuation it would yield £449 10s. or about £50 more than at present per annum. Willi a subsidy of £225 on this.,the total would be £675, as against £595 at present. The requirements of the district with this sum should be efficiently carried out, I and there should be a handsome surplus for new work, notwithstanding the reduced run fees. The Domain Board has requested the Road Board to take over the present water supply system, and if this is done it should be required that each consume! take the water by meter. Working on a rate during the past two years all necessary work had been carried out. the Board had new plant worth more than £100, and a respectabdle credit balance. A resolutionadopting the report and complimenting the chairman and the Board, was carried on the motion "of Mr. M. M. Kirkbride, M.H.R., seconded by Mi. W. Weatncy. jun. The new Board then met, when there were present:—Messrs. H. R. McKenzie, E. G. Ellett, A. Henwood, Chas. Baker, E. "Turk, Edwin Hall (clerk), and A. S. Holmes (clerk pro tern.). Mr. Hall took the chair, and asked for nominations for the position, of chairman. Mr. H. McKenzie, the only one nominated, was declared elected amidst applause, and received the congratulations of the late chairman. He thanked the members for the confidence reposed in him. A resolution sympathising with Mr. A. Wallace in his severe illness was passed. As to the Domain Board's water supply it was agreed that a conference be held between the two Boards, after which a public meeting will be held, and the result of the conference discussed.

AVONDALE ROAD DISTRICT.

The annual meeting of ratepayers in the AvtmclaJe road district was held last evening. Mi - . T. 13. (Jay, chairman of the Road Board, presided* There was a larger attendance than in former years, and much interest was exhibited .in the proceedings. ■ ■' The chairman gave a lengthy report on the year's workings, which showed that the sum of £841 ?s lid had been expended ik. pubic works] The maintenance of existing roads had taken a great portion of this money. The improvement and deviation p; of Archliill was now assured, as the Government had granted a substantial subsidy, and jurisdiction had been given to the brey ■: ' Lynri Borough Council for carrying out the work. Avondale's proportion of the cost would be about £120, and an increased rate • - would be necessarv tc meet this expenditure. The district was steadily improving, and as fast as the new houses lire erected they were occupied, but, unfortunately, the. railway communication, did .not increase in proportion to the growth of the : district. - - Mir. Bollard, M.H.K., was endeavouring tf remedy this, and it was tc- be hoped he : ' would meet with success. The total capital value on which rates ire collectable is £140,977. The income of the Board was Ms iollows:—Credit balance, £3 6s 3d; ! general rates, £512 18;. 3d; license fees, ;:' £63; dog registrations, £42 17s od; Go- , , veinmeni subsidy (1904-5), . £219 0s Id, (1905-6) £158 0 4«j; ; contributions to , works, £26 10*: total, £1015 12s i>t!. -Expenditure': Administration, £127 9.. 3d; . ■ miscelkneoub, £21 18s 4d; public works . £841 7s lid ; balance March 31, 1906, £24 ■^^$&M%W-Wv,',-.-■:■■■:■■ ..■.'■■•••■■■ : ' ':■■'■:■■:,■.■;: ;;•■ :--- : :. v:;\> : - -■