GORE NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 25347, 26 April 1944, Page 7

GORE NEWS

BOROUGH COUNCIL *T should say that when outstanding rates and rents have been written off we shall be in a very happy position. I will go as far as to say that the financial position has not been as good for many years,’* said the Mayor (Mr W. D. Shelton) at a special meeting held before the ordinary three-weekly meeting of the Gore Borough Council on Monday night. . ' The town clerk submitted the balance-sheet for the year elided March 31, 1944, which, if found in order, will be adopted at . the next meeting. The credit balance at March 31 was £2171, compared with £1737 last year. The principal items on the credit side of the ledger are: Rates and penalties, 1943-44, £15,886; arrears of penalties, £1009; rents for reserves, £891; abattoirs, £1771; heavy traffic fees collected, £1320; baths (£l2O donations and £194 takings),. £314; release by Public Trustee of sinking fund debentures, £2200; domain account—trees and transfer, £943; subsidy on rates, £430; subsidy on main highways, £233; subsidy on E.P.S., £209; auctioneers* fees, £346/10/-; proportion of heavy traffic fees from Invercargill, £545; baths loan refunded to general account, £2OB. These with smaller items and the addition of the balance for the year ended March 31, 1943, make up a total of £29,777.

The chief items of expenditure are:— Salaries, £1635; baths, £1293; lighting and town hall, £473; streets, main highways and footpaths, £3340; water supply, £1712; fire prevention, £725; street lighting, £305; sanitation, £1357; abattoirs, £1426; interest and sinking funcj, £5472; cemetery, £426; gardens, £948; reserves, £254; Croydon domain, £198; debentures repaid, £2200; Southland Hospital Board levy, £2126; pool fees for heavy traffic to Invercargill, £1209; Liberty Bond investment, £lOOO. These with other items make up a total of £27,606, leaving a credit balance of £2171.

Recommendations of the Works Committee for the extension of footpaths were adopted as follows:—That the whole of Broughton street on the west side, from Devon street to Anzac street, should be completed, a portion each year, the suggestion being that provision be made in the estimates to take the footpath from Devon street to Canning street this year; that kerbing and channelling and the footpath be continued in Canning street to Broughton street pn the north side from where the work was stopped at the entrance to Duke street; that without making a precedent, kerbing and channelling and construction of a footpath should be carried out in Gorton street south, and favourable consideration should be given to the work for next season in the estimates.

Proposals were made for the following work to be provided for in the estimates and to be carried out next year:—Concrete kerbing, channelling and footpath, Broughton street to Canning street, east side, estimated cost, £225; Canning street, north side, from Duke street to Broughton street, estimated cost, £220; Bury street, both sides, from Wigan street to Rata street, estimated cost, £150; Gorton street south, west side, from Hyde street to last house nearest Bury street, estimated cost, £3OO.