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It does not follow because the present quarter's rate is 1s. 8d. in the £
that of necessity the rate for the year will be 6s. 8d. in the £. The
same statement was made in the June quarter of 1894, when the first
quarter's rate was 1s. 8d. in the £, and in several instances rents were
increased in consequence; but the total rate for the year was only
6s. 3d. in the £, as shown by the above statement.
It is quite evident that the Vestry's demand will not exceed a rate of
2s. 9d. in the £ for the year, viz. General Rate 2s. 6d. and Sewer
Rate 3d. 2s. 9d.; but your Committee have no knowledge of what
the Poor's Rate will amount to, neither have they any control over
this expenditure ; and therefore should the rates for the present year
exceed the rates of 1893-4, the Vestry will be in no way responsible.
The present agitation appears to your Committee to have been brought
about by the act of the old Vestry in reducing the General Rate by
2d. in the £ for the quarter ending 25th March 1895, in anticipation
of a contribution under the Equalisation of Rates Act of £5,421 6s. 4d.
This contribution was received on the 2nd February 1895, but the
old Vestry reduced their demand upon the rating authority by
£3,600 in December 1894, leaving only an increased income for the
year ending Lady-day 1895 of £1,821 6s. id. This action on the
part of the old Vestry was in the opinion of your Committee unwise,
having regard to the fact that they had contracted for the construction
of slop bays at the Town Depot at a cost of £2,100
Repairs to Hydraulic Machinery 300
School Board Precept, under-estimated by 900
Making a total of £3,300
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