THE DRAINAGE LOAN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 2, 27 September 1907, Page 3

THE DRAINAGE LOAN.

.—-: » APATHETIC RATEPAYERS. Wellington ratepayers are peculiar people. .Offer tliem tlio attraction of a football match or a prize fight and they will tramplo each other to the ground in their' eagerness to get a front seat.. But solicit thoir attention to a municipal enterprise involving thousands of pounds and they arc blind and doaf, "Just now a proposal is on foot ■to borrow £100,000 for drainage extension in the Melrose district; 'and 'the statutory meeting 01 ratepayers to consider the matter was held on Wednesday night. But it was not a- meeting of ratepayers. The total attendance in the Town Hall concert room was seventeen, including tho Mayor and seven Councillors, the Town Clerk and City Engineer and three rcportcr.s. There was no discussi'dh; and the proceedings were over in fivo minutes. In briefly outlining the scheme, the Mayor (tho Hon. T. \V. Hislop) stated that it was the first step towards fulfilling the' obligations of tho .city under tlio agreement mado with Melrose. The Engineer's report, which had boon published and was familiar to tho public, comprised a scheme for the drainage of tiio.whole of tho oki Melrose borough, exclusive, of the portion described.in the first schedule o, the Wellington (City) Suburbs Sahitaby the Engineer would, bo- required for the .work was £01,538, exclusive of interest,- which would have to be ■paid during' construction. • But it was possible that they might be ablo to rais'o the money in such a way that the Vholo of tho, interest would not be required. The amount mentioned by the engineer would be required almost from tho .beginning of tho construction, but' the Council thought it necessary to make provision for the futuro needs of the district, and therefore authority would bo asked to raise a loan of £100,000. After complimenting-• tho City Engineer.- (Air. Morton) on his comprehensive and valuablo report, the Mayor proposed tho following motion: "That this meeting of ratepayers approves tho proposal of..the Council of tho City of Wellington to raise a special loan of £100,000, for tho purpose of providing a system of drainage for tho Melrose district, being the whole of tho old 'Melrose borough, exclusivo of tho portion thorcof described in thc v first schedule of- The Wellington (City) Suburbs Sanitation Act, 1893, and constructing privato drains and, house connections with sowers and drains in that: district, oft tho deferred nayraont system under tho Municipal Corporations Act, 1900." In seconding, Councillor J. P. Luke stated that drainago schonics for tho suburbs would not only irnprovo thoso localities, but would allow a beWer standard of connections right through tho city, and ho hoped to see tho whole work - completed soon. Ho also urged the Mayor to introduce a scheme for consolidating the whole of tho loan districts, which would bo a great improvement. The motion was'carried. Tho next stop will ho to take a poll of. tho ratepayers. The date, which-will bo'.advertised, will probably bo October IG.