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WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The annual meeting of the County Council was held to-day, when there were! present—Hon. R. Campbell (Chairman)j Messrs. D. Sutherland, W. Sutherland, Falconer, Todd, and Thomson. Before proceeding with the business, The Chairman said they had met in accordance with the Ordinance for the purpose of electing a Chairman, the position which he then occupied. Before he vacated the chair, he had to express his most sincere thanks to all members of the Council for the assistance they had. afforded him in maintaining the dignity of the position he occupied. He felt sure that no person presiding over a public body had had so easy a task to perform as he had experienced. This was mainly due to the members of the Council, who had given him every assistance. He had asked Mr. Martin to prepare a rough statement of the Council's financial position. It would be better for him to read this to membei-3 than to make any remarks of his own. He then read the following statement :—" The total revenue received "by the "Waitaki County Council since the 'initiation of the county in January, 1877, up to date has •been L 42,552 19s 6d, made up as follows land revenue, I L 19,572 13s 9d% Qtago land, rgveaue,

L 1,952 9s 5d ; subsidies L 13.375 2s; licenses, L 1,869 ; gold revenue, L 352 Is lid ; rates, L 3,107 lis ; dog tax, L9Bl 10s ; bank interest, L 1256 6s 7d ; other sources, LB6 4s lOd. The expenditure during the same period was L 37,410 18s 4d. This has been distributed as follows : —New works on roads, L 16,711 0s 4d; bridges, L 7,277 19s 4d ; maintenance of roads, L 6,434 2s 4d ; engineering, L 437 10s ; inspection, L 743 7s 4d ; clerical, LS27 4s Sd charitable institutions, L 1.330 14s lOd ; libraries, L 260 ; cemeteries, LllO ; refund to School Commissioners, LG2S 7s 4d ; acclimatisation, Lso> rangers, L 129 ; valuation and election expenses, rent, printing, stationery, advertising, Chairman's salary, members' travelling expenses, L 2,474 12s 2d. This leaves a sum of L 5,142 Is 2d as a balance in hand. The County at this date last year commenced with a credit balance of L 16,707 15s 7d. The revenue for the past year has been L 7372 9s' lOd, as against L 12,910 4s 7d for the previous year, the falling off in this year's receipts being principally from land revenue. The sum paid last year on this account was L 3979 18s Id, while Ihis year-we have only received L 512 2s sd, showing a decrease alone of L 3467 15s Sd. In the statement submitted to you last year there was an amount of L 6506 17s lid received as subsidy from the Government, but this included one and a half year's payments, which, of course, shows against the revenue for the year just ended by over L2OOO. Taking the different' heads comprised in the revenue of the County shows that laud revenue has contributed L 512 2s 5d ; subsidy, L 4604 7s 5d ; rates, L 526 17s ; dog tax, L 266 10s ; gold revenue, Ll4O 4s 3d; licenses, LGS3; interest, L 502 2s 9d ; and from other sources, L 137 6s ; or a total of L 7372 9s lOd. The dog tax, so far as the present accounts stand, shows a decrease from last year, but when the Collector has passed in his returns in full, the sum is expected to reach over that collected for the preceding year (L 304). The amount received from from licenses is in excess by L9O 10s. The only rates outstanding for the year is LI 8s 9d, which, I am informe 1. will be paid shortly. The expenditure for_ the same period is L 18,924 13s, or considerably more than twice the revenue. A sum of L 625, in round numbers, has beon paid during the year to the School Commissioner of Otago for rent of Educational reserves in the County, which had been erroneously credited the County. L 230 has baen expended on account of charitable institutions and public libraries, and the total expenditure on roads and works is L 16,346 3s lid. The departmental expenses, including all salaries, members' travelling expenses, rent, valuation and election expenses, is under 10 per cent, on the cost of works carried out, which is a very moderate charge. Surface labor during the year cost L 2549 2s. The County has now paid L4OOO on account of the Upper Waitafci bridge contract, leaving LIOOO still due according to arrangement, The amounts due on contracts in hand are—Otepopo Riding, L 157 6s 2d ; Kakanui, L 437 9s ; Moeraki, LSO ; Otekaike, LSB 9s ; Awainoko, L 75 14s Id ; and for outstanding open accounts, say L 350, making a total of L 2128 18s 3d, which, if deducted from our present balance, L 5142 Is 2d, leaves for future expenditure L 3013 2s lid. The ratable value of the County is L 174,548 12s Cd, as against L157,91-l 3s 6d for the year 1878." What he wished to impress upon them was the necessity for husbanding their resources. A study of the position of the Colony would show them that the present subsidies could not be continued after the present year. The Colony could not afford it, and he felt convinced that the subsidies would be abolished. Before he sat down he wished to express his satisfaction at the manner in which the County officials had performed their duties. Bach of them had been most assiduous in their desire to assist him, and to their efforts was due a large amount of the credit for the excellent manner in which the government of the county had been earried out. (Applause). He regretted that he had not been able to devote so much time to the affairs oS the Council as he could have desired ; but he had done his best to forward the interests of the County. (Applause). In reply to questions from members of the Council, the Chairman said he positively would not stand for re-election. Mr. W. Sutherland proposed, and Mr. Thomson seconded, the election of Mr. D. Sutherland as Chairman for the current year. The motion was carried unanimously. The new Chairman th,en took the chair, and expressed his thanks for the honor which had been conferred upon him. He hoped, the proceedings of the Council would be carried on in the harmonious manner that they had been under the presidency of the retiring Chairman. There was just one thing that he wished i to impress upon members, and that was the necessity for husbanding their resources. This had been his aim as. a member of the Council, and it would still continue to be so. They had tG govern a district always liable to floods and consequent damage, and they should so manage their affairs that they would always keep a balance to thei.v credit in the bank to meet cases o| urgency. They should not follow the bad examples of several Municipal Councils, and even many County Councils, by so extravagantly expending their funds as to reduce thera to such a position that they could not draw a L 5 cheque. The administration of public money should bo attended with care and judgment, and he hoped the Council would adhere to this course in dealing with the County funds.. I On the motion of Mr. Falconer, seconded by Mr. W, Sutherland, a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to the retiring Chairmail for the able and,efficient manner in whioh he had discharged the duties of his office. The Hon. R. Campbell briefly acknowledged the compliment, and the Council rose.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OAM18791126.2.13

Bibliographic details

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1125, 26 November 1879, Page 2

Word Count
1,281

WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL. Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1125, 26 November 1879, Page 2

WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL. Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1125, 26 November 1879, Page 2

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