ONSLOW BOROUGH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1732, 24 April 1913, Page 7

ONSLOW BOROUGH.

WATER-SUPPLY LOAN PROPOSAU, , Simultaneously with the municipal elections on April 30. Onslow borough, ratepayers will bo asked to state at a poll whether they approvo of raising a loan of .£IB,OOO for waterworks, or, in tho alternative, a loan of JJI6OO to repay sums already expended in acquiring a catchment area. A meeting of Onslow residents was held in tho Khandallah Pnblio Hall on Tuesday ovening to consider these proposals. , . The Mayor (Mr. F. Holdsworth) proskied* aim explained tho proposals m detail. Ho said that the catchment area " hod boon obtained and paid for. Tho ,£IB,OOO asked for was lo provido for headworks and for tho reticulation of tho borough. With a 25-foot wall in tho dam a little over half a million gallons of water could lio storod. Tho estimate of cost included .£930 for tlio purchase of 400 meters, which would bo either sold outright or leased to householders. Tho borough engineer's proposals had been reporieil upon favourably by Mr. Mcstayer. tn urging that the loan should bo endorsed, Mr. Holdswortli said that under tho schemo nil abundant supply of water would be provided during almost tho whole of tho year. Willi a high-prcs-biiro system they would bo guarded against tire. Councillors Stafford, Bates, and M Arthur supported the scheme. Numbers of questions anu in tho course of tho replies given it was stated that the maximum rate of interest would, bo 5 per cent, and tho 1 per cent, sinking fund. The present rato was 1 !)-lGd. per XI unimproved value, and tho maximum water rato would bo 1 5-32. Each householder taking the supply, it was proposed, should nay 10s. per annum, and be allowed 15,000 gallons free of extra charge. , ~ , Mr. J. H. Richardson suggested that they should not borrow now whilo money was so dear. Tho Mav<r >aid they iutended to wait n little while. \ Mr. Richardson thought tlioy should wait longer. The debato a? to delay or immediate sanction of tho loan was long continued, and eventually Mr. H. A. Kirkealdio moved, and Mr. 11, 13. Anderson seconded, 'That the meeting approve tho proposal." The motion was carried on tho voices. Another meoling to consider the. loan proposals is to be held to-morrow evening at Ngaio.