HATAITAI AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2443, 23 April 1915, Page 7

HATAITAI AFFAIRS

ELECTORS'- ASSOCIATION'S REPORT. Much ground is covered in the report of the committee of the Hataitai Municipal Electors'. Association, presented at the annual meetilig last evening. With regard; to ,the. s'fihopl. sitg,-,. '.the' committee expresses appreciation of 'the' board's action in securing a convenient-ly-situated piece of land, and feels that its continued efforts in this matter have been . rewarded. As the result of tho association's endeavours to secure water for gardens at a reasonable rate, tho City Council during the year decided to sell water-meters to citizens for £3 each, to be paid for at the rate of 6s. per year. Last report stated a list of residents ..who had agreed to form a volunteer fire brigade for Hataitai had been sent on to the City Council. The proffered services of those volunteer firemen at Hataitai have never been recoghised. A few hundred feet of hose and a few trained men would be a source of safety, to the. neighbourhood, as well as lightening the labours of the City Brigade, and the committ-eo hopes that the council may yet see their way to agree to the proposals made. On the whole, the wandering-stock nuisance has been considerably less than in former years. For some weeks, however a young bull wandered tho streets, to the dancer of women and children. The committee decided that in the event of any member destroying tho boast and litigation following, thou the other members of the committeo would pro-. liortionall.v bear the cost.

Trees and shrubs were planted in Upper Waipapa Road and at the junction of Hataitai and Huia ftoacls by members of the executive and others. Several residents have cultivated the piece of ground outside their front fences with pleasing effects. This is specially noticeable in Upper Waipapa Road and Konini Roads. In tho latter road the beautifying outside Mr. Sinclair's house is very noticeable. It is, however, a problem how best to cover the unsightly clay banks with vegetation. Perhaps 6omo ;■ resident could suggest a method. With regard to the Courtenay Place Reserve, the committee is of opinion that every effort should be made to' preserve the present plantation, of which kind thero are far too few in the city, and think that any proposal which _ includes tho cutting up of the plantation should bo strongly opposed. The committee thinks the Constable Street tram extension should only be undertaken in one_ way, viz., by tho sanction of the citizens, and that the necessary money for construction should be provided by loan and not from revenue or overdraft, and they therefore record their protest against the action of the council in commencing a work entailing so much expenditure without first submitting same to the citizens.

The committee 16 of the opinion that some explanation should be forthcoming as to the need for the watershed and tunnel for a reservoir at Orongorongo, seeing that when ratepayers five years ago were asked to vote for the £90,000 loan for Morton's Dam, and the duplication of the mains, they were distinctly told by the city authorities that such expenditure would suffice to meet the needs of the city's growth for some forty years to come. Before tho council authorise the commencement of the above work, ratepayers should certainly bo furnished with an estimate of the total cost they, are again being committed to.

,The committee are pleased to note the strong support given by residents to the National Reserve, the membership of the Hataitai unit being now 140, and increasing. Thanks are accorded the Roseneath, Jtilbirnie, and Lyall Bay Associations for their assistance on tho tunnel question. Also to the Roseneath Association for its support' on the question ot' a school.

The committee make a strong appeal to all residents, and especially to tho many new residents of tnis progressive suburb, to become members and augment the usefulness of the association. The business of the meeting will bo to receive this report and statement of receipts and payments and to elect a president, three vice-presidents, and ten members of committee.