KARORI LOAN POLL.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2760, 2 May 1916, Page 6

KARORI LOAN POLL.

Sir,—Your correspondent, "Wideawake," in Saturday's'paper, and again this morning, has under this assumed name made an attack on the owners of the Evelyn Estate for being paid for some drainage pipes. Under ordinary circumstances, correspondents who have not the courage to sign their names condemn the cause they advocate, but as this matter has been alluded to by others, and may influence some votes, on behalf of the owners I now reply. "Wideawake" is probably a large owner of land, annoyed at having his irates increased, unwilling to subdivide his land, and indifferent to the desire of the smaller holder for the necessary conveniences of water and drainage. The question of the pipes is a very simple one. There are some 80 chains of streets in the Evelyn Estate, and some 34 chains of pipes bave been laid downs The streets cost £7500, and taking the corporation price of -£10 a ohain, the drains cost. £340. : In addition there are some manholes. These drains were put down by the owners with the intention of supplying a private system of Water and drainage, and not at the request of the local authority. In their disconnected state they have not been of the slightest aid in selling sections. When the City authorities decided to undertake the work, it naturally took over the pipes, inserted a clause in tlie Bill giving power to the City Engineer to value them, and if found suitable, to pay for them. Most fair-minded people will agree with the Mayor of Wellington that this is a proper transaction. If "Wideawake" is a small ratepayer, and not what I surmise, a largo one, and has property to the capital value of £500, his water and drainage rates, assuming the full pledged rate for drainage is levied, ; will.amount to 365. If the sum of £340 properly due for the drains' is not paid, the loan of £29,000 would benefit to this extent. As £310 is about one-ninetieth of tlie whole, his share, therefore, would be four pence three farthings. This sum is, 1 believe, what the Socialist would receive if all' the wealth. of the world were equally divided.—l am, etc., " . THOMAS WARD.