MIRAMAR FINANCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1348, 27 January 1912, Page 5

MIRAMAR FINANCE.

THE PROPOSED SPECIAL LOAN. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. A mooting of ratepayers of the Mirwmar Borough was held in the Town Hall, Miramax, last night to consider tho proposed loan of >£18,000 to provide electrio power within the borough for trams, street lighting, private lighting, water, drainage, and industries. The Mayor (Mr. J, Brodie) presided, and all tho councillors were present aa well as a fairly large number of ratepayers. 1 In opening his remarks, tho"Mayor said that considering tho time and patience given to tho present scheme by the council, a better attendance of ratepayers was warranted. The meeting, he exrtlained, was purely an informal one, as tho necessity for calling a publio meeting on such an occasion had been done away with by the Act of Inst sossion ; Coming to the scheme itself, his Worship said that it had been recommended by both Mr. Mcstaycr and Mr, Black, well-known engineers. Tho time was coming when the borough .would havo to spend £1000 a year on powor for drainage and for pumping water to higher levels, and, for a little extra cost, they could provide for street lighting, private lighting, tram», and industries. The cost of the new scheme would bo ,£2530 a year, and, with £500 capital charges added, would malco a total of JC3030 a year. Ilefore very long, tho borough have to spend more money in extending the street lighting, and if this was dono under the proposed scheme, and if private lighting were also undertaken by tho borough, it would mean a Raving of something like £1000 a ,year_ in this connection alone, while, in addition, ratepayers would be getting a much better light than if served from tho city, as the loss in transmission would be practically done away with. Further extensions to tha lighting could bo carried out without any loss to the borough. And, moreover, tho borough would be in a position to supply power for industries. Referring to the effect the new schemo would havo on- tha trams, his Worship said that, , allowing for tho expected increase in population, if the scheme were adopted the cost of the trams in three years' time would bo £1180, as against JC1760 if they carried on under the present system. If tho poll were carried on January 31,- it would strengthen tho borough's position for amalgamation. Councillors were unanimous in advising tho ratepayers to adopl this scheme. If the. £18,000 loan were carried, £10,500 would bo allotted for additional power, including £5100 for eleo. trie light installation, of which latter - sum £1800 would go to the city for plane , already installed. The remaining £7500 ' would Ijo for tram cars and sheds, which, in his Worship's opinion, would be never . required. ; Councillor Richards stated that in 1910, ; when the scheme first came before couniml 8 ' ey wero unanimous about it • engineers showed thai i 45-000 would bo saved if tho scheme were ( carrion out, aud personally he had no ; hesitation in recommending it to rate- [ payers. In conclusion, Councillor Richardß ' opined that there would be no actual in. , crease in the rates. Councillor Bowio spoke of tho 6clicme as tending to reduce rates rather than to increase them. Under the schemo they would havo a better tram service, improved street lighting, aud a saving of £2000 a year. Councillor Laurcnson • considered that the question was jono of progress, it [ was a question of whether- they were going to'stand still or go ahead. Amalgamation with the city was bound to cmue 1 sooner or later. The carrying of this ■ scheme would bring that end nearer, aud • would secure tho borough better terms.1 Councillors Stone, and Bell also spoke. Mr. F. Town send askod tho Mayor if tho council considered it advisable thai . the ratepayers should be committed to , raising a loan of £18,000 at a timo when ' things _ were in such an unsatisfactory ' state in tho district. Thero were, lie : said, numerous empty houses on tho • flat. 1 Councillor Brodie said tho saving that ; would bo brought about warranted th» ! loan. He admitted that there were eomo " empty houses, but Mr. Townsend knew I the reason why. .< Mr. Townsend said some of the housei | ho referred to wero quite fit to live in. ; Miramar was already loaded with loans, ' and he thought the present schemo illadvised. The Mayor asked Mr. Townsond, if ha was Mayor, would ho not havo put this , proposal before the ratepayers? Sir. Townsend said lie was not there to answer questions, but ho had moro to ask. Had the council considered tho question of extending the tram service from Seatoun to Worsor Bay? Tho Mayor replied that the matter had i been given consideration. He had now another question, which ho hoped Mr. Townsend would answer. Would Mr. Townsend tell the meeting why tho tram terminus, originally fixed for Church Stroet, had been altered to its present position? Mr. Townsend's reply uas to the effect that the alteration had not been m&do during his term of office. The Mayor: Oh, but it was. After other members of the audience . had asked different questions, the meet- ■ ing closed quietly about 10. p.m.