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Statement of the Public Debt, showing the Total Debt Outstanding under the head of each Loan raised. £ s. d. General Account. —Bank overdraft, 31st March, 1879 ... ... 4,589 7 4 Waterworks Loan ... ... ... ... ... ... 9,184 0 2 Swamp Eeclamation Loan ... ... ... ... ... 4,633 19 4 £1,8407 0 10 Napier, Ist April, 1879. M. N. Bower, Town Clerk. Audited and found correct. Harmood A. Banner,") 4 -~, 26th April, 1879. Edwin J. Turpin, j Auditors.

Auditors' Eeport. Gentlemen, — Napier, 28th April, 1879. Having certified the correctness of the Borough Accounts, as shown by the books and supported by vouchers, rate rolls, and lists of uncollected rates, for the year ending 31st March, 1879, we have nothing further to report, except calling your attention to the uncollected rates of 1875-6-7. These, we think, should be collected at once, or written off the books if bad. We are, &c, His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Harmood A. Banner, ") . ~, of Napier, Hawke's Bay. Edwin J. Turpin, j Auditors.

Town Clerk's Eeport. Sir— Town Clerk's Office, 26th April, 1879. I have the honor to submit herewith the following Eeport for my department during the past year, ended 31st March last. I have, &c, His Worship the Mayor. M. N. Bower, Town Clerk. By-laws. —During the past year the following by-laws have been passed and brought into operation, viz.: — No. 14. —To regulate the meetings, proceedings, and general conduct of the business of the Council. No. 15.—T0 regulate chimney-sweeps. No. 16.—Waterworks by-laws. No. 17. —To regulate the limits within which it shall not be lawful to roof houses with shingles. Swamp Reclamation, Private Sections.—-A contract has been entered into with Mr. Thos. Coirnor, to reclaim all the private sections in the Napier Town Swamp, for the sum of £12,699 13s. 3d. He is now proceeding vigorously with his contract. Special Loan (£70,000), 35 years. —A poll of the ratepayers having been taken, the floating of a loan for £70,000 for thirty-five years, at 6 per cent., has been authorized. The debentures, duly signed, were forwarded to London through the Union Bank of Australia, and will probably reach England about the 12th May. Endowment (2,000 acres). —Application having been made to the Government for an endowment in the Puketoi Block, and they being unable to comply therewith, have granted a block of 2,000 acres in the Ahuaturanga Block, near Woodville. This not having been surveyed, however, no Crown grant can as yet be issued. Extension of Waterworks. —The extension of water supply to the Spit having been authorized by the Council, the necessary plant was ordered from Messrs. McEvvan and Co., of London. This has arrived here, and will, it is expected, be in working order some time next week. The sum of £763 12s. 9d. was paid for this. Permanent Levels, Drainage, and Sewerage. —The services of Mr. C. N. Bell having been engaged by authority of Council, that gentleman visited Napier, and has since forwarded an exhaustive report thereon, together with plans, which are still under consideration by the Council. Munroe Street has been planted with trees, and the south portion of Clive Square filled in. Rates, Sfc. —Nearly £1,500 of general rates due remain uncollected ; and it is respectfully submitted to the Council whether some fresh provision for the more effectual collection of rates should not be at once authorized, it being impossible under the present system for the Collector to perform his duties efficiently in this respect. In other Boroughs, notably Auckland, the rates are made payable at the Town Clerk's Office; and, if this were done, a great deal of the unnecessary delay now experienced would be avoided. Map of Town. —The attention of the Council is drawn to the provisions of clause 190 of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1870," which direct that a plan of the town should be prepared for the public use, showing the various gradient levels, &c. If this plan also showed the position of gas pipes, gas lamps, water mains, fire plugs, air valves, stand posts, and Corporation reserves within the Borough, it would prove a great public benefit. Fire Brigades. —An engine shed Iras been built for the Port Ahuriri Brigade, at a cost of £120. An insurance for £200 has been effected for the buildings of the Napier Eire Brigade. Valuation of Town. —The town has been valued by Mr. Turley, and the valuation shows, say, £53,000. It has now passed the Assessment Court, and a general rate of one shilling in the pound has been made for the year 1879-80. M. N. Bower, Town Clerk.