THE HASTINGS BOROUGH

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 73, 29 April 1929, Page 8

THE HASTINGS BOROUGH

ALL ACCOUNTS IN CREDIT. AJR AIADDISON'S ANNUAL REPORT. At Fridav's meeting of the Hastings Borough Council, the Alayor, Air G. A. Aladdison, presented a report on the activities of the borough for the year ended March 31, -1929. Tliis report reveals a most satisfactory and gratifying position, i'or tlie distriet iuud con.stjtutes a fresh recorcl lor tlie town. The general aceount, wliich is tlie maui aceoimt ot the distriet fund, has also made a new ' lccorci, hliowing a halance of L3U,913, | nii incr'ease of £2243 over the previous 1 year. Every borough aceount is in credit, 1 states the Alayor's report and the re- j si lts prove that the affairs of tlie 1 lunicipalily liave been economically and prudently auniinistered. "The results of the year's work and the achievement of such a splendid credit balanee iil the distriet fund aceount, says the report, has provided tlie council with an oppoi'tumty to proceed with the formation of an additionat 10 j miles of permancilt roadways, without the nccessity of raising a ioan, and tliereby saviiig tlie ratejiavers in interest and sinking fund ihe sum of £20,587, and without making any increase in tlie general rate 011 aceount of tliis important work. Tlie council has al ready adopted my scheme for financing these road works, 11 d the work will be proceeded witli 111 the near future, and tlie engineer cxpccts to have the work completed within the next 12 months. "I doubt if any municipality of the same area and population or same mileage of streets in New Zealand is

so advantageously circumstanced or so well served municipally as our town. The report adds tliat £21,071 is eartiing interest on fixed deposit in the bank and the total general rates outstanding at the encl of the year amounted to £239 2s 10c! as against £376 16s 5d in 1928. Tli report touches on improvements to the public reserves, relief works, water extension afforestation activities jtc. Referring to the separate accounts, the report shows that at the end of the year the hospital levy aceount was in credit to the extent of £116 10s ocl, as against £101 2s 9d in 1928. Tlie ciedit of the Rivers Board aceount _is £120 lSs 5d, as against £91 is 3d 111 1928, and the Napier Harbour Board aceount is in credit to the extent ot £171 ls lOd. As no rate is now requircd, this amount is being transfurred to the general aceount. The librarv aceount is 111 credit_ to the extent of £551 16s lOd, as against £101 4s ld, this increase being due to unclaimed deposits, amountmg to £-3J being transferrecl to tliat accoiint. There were 233 new adult subscribers, bringing tlie total to 681, for whoiri tliere are 5427 books in Uie lending librarv and 918 in the reference hbrary. Tliere are in addition 405 children subscrihevs ancl a total of 1577 books in tlie children' s department. The credit halance of the water aceount is £2890 2s 5d, of which £2000 has been transferred to tlie general aceount. In 1928 the credit was £—010 0s 2cl. The credit balanee of the theatre and pictures aceount of £4460 6s in 1928 lias increased to £5163, and this after ventilating the gallery, heating the dressing rooms and transternng £573 4s 9d to balanee the Mumcipal Buildings aceount and £505 4s 6d to the general aceount, In regard to the Assembly Hall, Iettings realised £320 as against £254 in 1928. Shop rents totalied £816. Alterations and renovations cost £851 and actually there was a deficiency ot £573 4s 9d but this was made up by tlie transfer from tlie theatre aceount, wliich Ls part of the same loan aceount. The receipts are now sufficient to elirninate assistance from other accounts and it is not anticipated that there •vill he any future deficiency in regar i to these municipal buildings. The balanee in the housing aceount has increased from £265 14s ld to £327 15s 9d and the cemetery aceount Ls in credit to the extent of £107 15s 70 as against £1S9 14s 9d last year. The laying down of bitumen paths acccunfed for tliis decrease. Tn regard to the loan for sewer aii:I water connections, the balanee of £564 10s 11 d has been transferred to the general aceount and outstanding advauces amounting to £358 ls 7d will be transferred to this aceount as they are repaid. The credit of the £3350 sewer and water loan totals £1282 12s and of tlie £6600 (lrains loan, the credit is £S 76 1.2s, Tliere is a credit of £3866 2s lld in the £35,600 roads and footpath loan. Tlie total amount of the public debt at tbe end of the year, was £389,841 3s 7d. Interest and " sinking fund cbarges are paid by various accounts on loans totalling £109,038 and rates are levied in respect of the charges on £278,251 . Air Aladdison concludes his report as follows : — "On tlie eve of my retireincnt from the mayoralty, it is a most pleasing moment for me to he able to hand over the coiitrol of the borough to a new administration. with tho finances in such a satisfactory and healtliy condition. "The position is attributable to tbe very close and constant scrutiny 'tliat bas been given by borough councillors, and tlie lieads of departments Lo borougli affairs. I can certainly leave office with this satisfaetion that so far as I am aware tho ratepayers' money has not heen misused in any wasteful sehemes and the income has been employed on works for the sound and economical progress of the town." Air Aladdison also expresses his deep and sincere appreciation of the wholeliearted co-operation received from eouneillors and memhers of the council staff, citizens of Hastings. "I came' into office with the earuest intention of serving the town and its people to the best of my ability, and although no doubt tliere are others who could more ably have filled the position, nevertlieless I have* done all in my power for tlie advancement of Hastings and for the well-being of the citizens," concludes His AVorship.