I2C 



Parliamentary Publications. 



shire, and of the Cranbrook and Tenterden Light Railway, in 

 Kent, being- desirous of obtaining a special advance from the 

 Treasury, applied to the Board for certificates as required by 

 Section 5 (1) of the Light Railways Act. The Board, after 

 due inquiries, were satisfied that the proposed railways 

 would benefit agriculture in their respective districts, but 

 that owing to the exceptional circumstances they would not 

 be constructed without special assistance from the State, and 

 they gave their certificates accordingly. 



Annual Local Taxation Returns [England and Wales), 1898-9. 



These accounts of the receipts and expenditure of the various 

 local bodies in England and Wales are issued in seven parts,* 

 of which the last forms a summary of the information detailed 

 in the other six. This summary shows that the aggregate 

 receipts (excluding loans) of all these local" authorities in 

 1898-9 were £72,178,419, and the expenditure out of these 

 receipts £71,191,858, both these totals having steadily- 

 increased during the last five years. 



The chief item in the receipts was rates, which amounted 

 to £38,602,673, equivalent to 4s. 9*gd. in the pound on the 

 rateable value, or £1 4s. yd. per head of the estimated popu- 

 lation. The metropolitan rate, 5s. y66. in the pound, was 

 considerably above the 4s. 7d., which was the average in the 

 rest of England and Wales. The metropolitan rate was 

 below that of the three previous years. 



The poor-rate valuation, on which the above rates are 

 calculated, was £172,065,842 at the beginning of the year. 

 The details of the accounts in connection with the relief of 

 the poor, and of the valuation for poor rate in different 

 unions, are contained in Part I. of these returns. The total 



* The numbers and prices of these Parliamentary papers are as follows : — Part I., 

 No. 193, price lUd.; Part II., No. 324, yd.; Part IIP, No. 324, I., 5s. lid.; 

 Part IV., No. 324, IP, gd.; Part V., No. 324, III , yd.; Part VP, No. 324, IV.,6J,d.;. 

 and Part VII. (summary), No. 324, V., is. 2d. 



