This report of the meeting was published in the Manawatu Herald on 20 May 1893 - obtained from PapersPast, National Library of New Zealand.
The general expenses, including Hospital £336 odd and Charitable Aid £290 odd, amount to £1060, but every Riding is in debt ; and will be in debt except Te Horo; the Tokomaru Riding begins with a debt of £306 and is estimated to end with a debt of £246 ; Wirokino Riding begins with £341 and ends with £76 ; Otaki Riding begins with £306 and ends with £104; To Hero begins with £51 but ends with a credit balance of £195.
This shows that there is an estimated deficiency of £426 to be provided for, which would not be so alarming unless the overdraft at the bank is large - this however is not mentioned.
What appears most unsatisfactory is the small amount of money available for County road, in Tokomaru only £109 is provided, in Wirokino £109, in Otaki £109, and in Te Horo nothing!
The amount set down for contingencies is only £34; so that the least misfortune to bridge or road means a heavy addition to the load of debt that is already provided for the ratepayers to bear.
This estimate brings, out the fact that upon the estimate the County authorities think proper to make for the maintenance of the public works within the County, charity claims more than one half of the rate, it being estimated that.-the, cost, for County work is £424, for charity £626.
This should direct the attention of one district at any rate, to the most unsatisfactory way the people are drifting to pauperism, of the worst form, and should be a caution to every public body to keep these claims well investigated.
We are aware that the Horowhenua County Council are only indirectly responsible, as they are attached to the Wellington District, but at the same time they do not seem to have been energetic in resisting, what appears, most unreasonable demands.