KOWAI COUNTY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12151, 31 October 1917, Page 2

KOWAI COUNTY.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. In vi«w of the county council election to take place shortly, the members of the howai Couiu.y Council invited the ratepavers to meet, them at Balcairn on Saturday aHernpon. There was a fair attendance, over which Mr G. A. Lean, county chairman, presidedThe annual balance-sheet was submitted in printed form. The condition of the finances, was shown to be the most satisfactory for many vears past, the year ending with a credit balance of £B2(i 10s 2d. The receipts totalled £4440 2s lOd, the chief items being rates £3137 18s 9d, and Government subsidy £960 12 Bd. The principal .items of expenditure wero Hospital and Charitable Aid Board levy £lOl9 6s od, contribution to Patriotic Fund £125. public works construction £l3Bo 15s Su, and maintenance of roads and bridges £904 10g 2d. * CHAIRMAN'S ADDR ESS. The chairman said that this being the' last- meeting of the council before going out of office, it was only right that he should place before, the ratepayers a brief report of the work done in the county during the last three years. The great war was still hanging over the worid like a dense cloud, and the casualty lists in the papers everv day gave evidence of the intensity of the sti'arrgle on the western front, in which so many of our men had paid the great sacrifice. It was just about three years ago when Mr G. D. Greenwood, speaking in the same room, said a. man who gave his life for his country could give no more. Mr Greenwood's own son was almost;,'sie first to fall, and the other county 'soldiers who had given their live,? were James i'laker, Arthur E'derton, Charles Jones, John Stewart M'Neil, George Wyse Smith, Stewart, R. Carringt-on Brist-ir.-, Henry Batchelor. Edgar Boyce. John J. Williams, John James Mockett- and H. D. Quick. To all bereaved parents and other relatives in the district he extended the deepest sympathy. After the close of the war a suitable memorial of the fallen would be erected, probably at the district eemeterv.

Much good work had been done in the county tor patriotic, purposes, there being a Red Cross Committee in every centre of population. In connection with the work, special thanks were duo to Me.sdames Courage, Bailey and East.

"Within the past three years there had been a change in the office of comity cleric, Mr John Fitzpat-rick being the ■ now appointee. As wo>ald be seen by the. balance-sheet, the appointment had been productive of very satisfactory results. One item called for special comment, nai...'ly, £'965 12s Bd, the Government subsidy on rates. This was £465 12s 8d

more than tho account had ever beoii credited with under that heading the increase being due to the rates having been collected before March 31, which was not previously the case. Misunderstanding seemed to exist in the county as to the reason for the difference in the amount, of rate collected in the two ridings. The explanation was simple. In the south riding there were small holdings, with a number of roads on a bad formation to maintain. In the north riding there were larger holdings, and fewer roads, which were also made on a. better formation, and required less for upkaep. During the past term the north roads from "Waipara to Ashley, with the, exception of the Amber ley Town Board portion, and the road leading from Amberley through Braekeniield, Baleairii and Soft on to Ashley, had been declared county roads. This would equalise tho expenditure to a. certain extent. It still remained a fact that the north road was used almost as much by tho residents of the counties lying north of the Kowai C'-ounty, with motor-cars and traction engines, as by their own ratepayers. The road was a had ono to keep up, being on a sandy formation with no good metal available. As there were some fifteen miles of this road to maintain it was a suggestion to future councillors to move m the direction of compelling the outsiders who used the road to pay their share of tin?, cost of up-kcep.

The very large contribution levied by tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was a subject that had received a deal of attention from different counties. In his opinion tho contributions, raised in tho way they were, did not press hardly on anyone, and the hospitals were a credit- to tho Dominion. In conclusion, be thanked the members of iho council for the way they had assisted him during the past throe, years. The meetings might have been better attended, noveri heless, those who had attended bad done their best to carry out the works needed in tho county. Mr M'Lean concluded by moving a motion complimenting the clerk (Mr l''itzpatr!ck) and tho road staff for the good work they had done during the past Win. Mr 11. E. Wornall, in seconding tho motion, said that, as a very old ratepayer of the county, ho was pleased to see the council in such a good financial position. He complimented Mr Fitzpatrick on l.lt»- very clear statement of the. finances set. out in the balancesheet, and on the way in which ho had discharge,! his duties generally. The motion was carried with applause. Mr I?. E. Wornall moved a hearty vote of thanks to the retiring councillors for the praiseworthy way in which they had carried out tlnir duties during their three years of oflice. Tho motion was seconded by Mr A. Eoycc. and was carried.