Logfiles doesn't seem to function properly

[spirit]

The logging in files doesn't seem to function properly after a "log rotate"
(messages, boot.log, cron, mail.log and suexec_log).

Logging functioned properly in the beginning, however after a few log-rotates the files are not written into the normal file e.g. "messages" but into "messages.1" of "messages.2" which are already in use and should be kept for another few weeks.

I'm clueless. Does anyone have a solution of hint?

Thanks in advance.

[edit]

OS: Centos4

 

[spirit]

The problem with the CentOS server is solved but now we have a simular problem with a Debian3.1 server. It leaves files empty:

/var/log/cron
/var/log/exim/paniclog
/var/log/maillog

etc etc.

a restart of syslog does not bring a solution.
The command I use in Debian: /etc/init.d/sysklogd restart

This is de logrotate file:

#!/bin/sh

test -x /usr/sbin/logrotate || exit 0
/usr/sbin/logrotate /etc/logrotate.conf