The Borough Finances, Etc.

Southland Times, Issue 14813, 14 December 1900, Page 2

The Borough Finances, Etc.

As soon as the Invercargill Council met yesterday evening the Mayor said that under the old law it would have been necessary for him to retire at that meeting ; but under the new Act he had the honour of remaining in otfiee until the second Wednesday in May. It was customary for the Mayor on the expiration of his term to give a summary of the year's receipts and expenditure He thought that his term had been the busiest that an}- Mayor had enjoyed. This was largely owing to tho patriotic movement and tho organisation of the Indian Famine Fund. Coining to the year's receipts and expenditure. The expenditure on reserves for the year ending 31st March, 189!), was £600 Is 3d ; 1900, £503 4s 6d; eight months to date, £274 43 4d, and the estimated expenditure to 31st March, 1901, £140, or a total of £414 4s 4d for the year. These figures showed that the reserves expenditure had been considerably reduced, and if his successor, . whoever ho might be, would only keep as firm a grip of the purse strings that account would soon be in credit. The receipts of the abattoir account were from Ist January, 1900, to date £677 9s and the expenditure £371 T>s lOd, showing a prbflt of £106 3s 2d. The comparisons of the bank accounts on 13th December of each year were as follows : —Borough ; Dr. '98, £8906 Us; '99, £9959 14s 4d ; Y OO, £9675 16s 9d. This account had therefore improved by somo £300. Gas: Cr. J 9B, £682 4s lid; '99, £231 18s Ud; '00, £447 14s lid. Water: Dr. '98, £117 8s 2d ; '99, £80 10s 8d ; '00, £346 19s 2<l. Iv connection with this account it would be remembered that some £600 had been spent on reservoirs and pumps, otherwise it would have shown a credit balance of £300. Harbour : Dr. '98, £2013 14s 5d ; '99, £3012 2s 7d ; '00, £3623 2=s sd. There had been an extension at the jetty which necessitated a largo expenditure. This account was going to tho bad and would continue to do so unless further shipping could be induced. '?hc actual overdraft at the bank, all accounts included, on the periods named were: -'9B, £3501 J7s Ud;'99, £5448 17s 4d; 00, £6726 Ss 9d. This year's figures did not include the special loan account, and so far as the working of the office was concerned he had to admit that Mr Young and his capable staff got through an extraordinary amount of work and the whole department was a credit to them. Tho relations between himself and the various officers have been most amicable, and they had all carried out their duties in a faithful manner. In connection with the Indian Famine, Patriotic, and More Men and Horses Funds the receipts were £5227 14s 9d. The principal disbursements of the two latter funds were : — Lord Mayor's fund £500, Mr Pilcher (Capetown) £200, votes to returned troopers, £46 14s 6d, outfits to Southland members of fourth and fifth contingents, £800, horses, ditto, £1013 6s 3d. They had a fixed deposit at bank of £2000 and a current account of £414 6s sd. To give some idea of how his time had beea occupied be might mention that he had presided over 289 meetings during his term of office as Mayor. Ho hoped tho same pleasant relations that existecl between the Council and himself and between the officers and himself would continue.