CITY OR COUNTY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2918, 2 November 1916, Page 9

CITY OR COUNTY

A CALL FROM DAY'S BAY WATER AND DRAINAGE DEPUTATION TO THE MAYOR. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. I). M. Find! ay, A. W. Press, A. T. Markinan, C. Hawsoti, H. Williams, T. Sprott, T. Mayer, G. P. Saunders, and A W. Ulair, representing the residents of Day's Bay, waited on the Mayor ; (Mr. J. P. Luke) yesterday morninp;, with regard to tlio questions of installing water and drainage systems, and the suggested absorption of the area (now in. the Hutt County) by the (Jity.

Mr. ,D. M.- Findlay, who was the chief spokesman, Introduced himself as tho chairman .of'the Day's Bay Ratepayers' Association, and reviewed tho arguments (now familiar to the public) in support of tlio proposed sohemos for providing water and drainage for tile area known as Day's Bay, discussed at a meeting held on Saturday last. From the City Council's point of view, he said, there were two important reasons why the City Council should act ill the matter. It had a great stake in tho district in tlio splendid reserve that had been purchased almost' entirely out of its own funds. The City had, he understood; not called on the Government to pay its promised quota, but with the assistance of some private subscriptions had bought up the scenic area that surrounded their, homes. A Popular Resort. Another, and perhaps a-wider, consideration was that Day's Bay was and always must be a popular place with the people of Wellington, and had important'interests as a recreation ground and favourito resort., Thore was, perhaps, no spot so favoured f<3r health and recreation .as Day's Bay by the residents of Wellington—in that regard it was paramount. They regarded it as something of an anomaly (and that feeling would increase as the district grow) to bo included in a county and under tho dominion of a County Council which, as a rule, dealt in broad acrcs. It was, almost in tho nature of things, that they should be neglected as they had been in tho past. Under the present conditions it was considered that tho body they could most satisfactorily deal with was" tho Wellington City Council. Mr. A. W. Blair said that the only possible objection to the scheme could come from the Hutt County Council, an objection that was natural to any body whose lands wore being subjected to dismemberment. But there was no such objection, and any differences between the Hutt County Council and the City could be easily adjusted. One difficulty was that in adopting Mr. Morton's scheme they would bo using part of tho City reserves, , and the anomaly would be that tlio City would be providing water for a number of residents of the Hutt County, a favour they could scarcely expect of City ratepayers with adequate payment being made to tho City. Tho City was in receipt of an income from water at the present time —if water rights were given without compensation difficult questions might arise. This, in itself, was a very cogent reason why they were taking steps to make the bay part of the City. The Mayor Sympathetic. The Mayor said that, as far as lie was concerned, they ought to take in Day's Bay and all the suburbs adjacent to the suburban boroughs, not only for the benefits that cams with expansion, but moro particularly in Tespect to such facilities as water and drainage and other adjuncts connected; with an .up-to-date City. The ppsitioi : regarding Day's Bay was a peculiar one. If they had sufficient population they could become a town board, and have their own water and drairmge schemes. The place was reasonably closely settled, and on that account it was imperative that it should havo water and drainage. The park had cost AVellington a great amount of money. Mr. Findlay was right when he paid that the council had not called on the Government for its £3000. Had it (lono so, the Government would have insisted on the land being vested in the Scenery Preservation Board, and ail asset of tho general so the Government's promised contribution was forfeited in order to have the fee simple vested in the City Council.'This he thought was a wise step, for if the land had got into tho hands of speculators a very valuable recreation and picnic resort would havo been lost to tlio city.V'l know a good many people in.Wellington do not agree with me in this," said Mr. Luke, "but under ordinary conditions of financo there would be few objectors." The Ideal Sclicme. Continuing, the Mayor said that Day's Bay had cost the city over £11,000. ■ Tho was not a largo one, but was sufficient for the requirements of' tlio residents and. the pavilion; Tho schcme was not an. ideal scheme. Tho ideal scheme would be to fink up all that side of tho. harbour with the Orongorongo-Wainui water supply. But such a big. schemo was not for to-day. Ho maintained that improvements were needed as much at Day's Bay as thouoih. they were, citizens of Wellington, for should anything happen in the way of disease or complaints as the result of having no drainage, it might make inroads to all parts' of tho city. They could not do the work by means of existing legislation, but suggested that tho Hutt, County - Council and tlie owners of property at Day's Bay should, confer with a- view to shaping legislation for next session that ivould give'the city statutory power to carry out the work, and maico that portion of liarbpur : sido part of the city. He did not think thero would be any difficulty. They would need'to bo specially rated—that would only bo a fair thing as they could not expect Wellington citizens to rate themselves for what the deputation needed. He believed that the council would favour legislation being projected for making Day's Bay part of the city. In such matters ho did not think tliey' should mark time. ' One difficulty Mr. Mortort had pointed , out was tho trouble in getting water-pipes, and other stuff for the work. The city itself could not get pipes. Another difficulty was getting enough skilled labour at the present time. .He was sure, however, - that the council would help them heartily. No Present Power. Mr. J. O'Shea, City Solicitor, said that it would bo necessary to proclaim tho bay a special rating area for drainage, but not necessarily for wator, which might come in under the ordinary water rates of the city. The lawgave the city no power 16 do work for an outsido borough. , Tho Mayor: How could it be done? Mr. O'Shea: By getting tho engineer to act as their (tho Hutt County Council's) official, ilr. O'Shea hinted that as the Hutt County Council only made one rate demand a year, fusiQn might have to stand over for a year, in which case they could not liaVo tlio thing fixed up until April, 191 S. In conclusion tho Mayor said that if they could got the material and' Mr. Morton could get the mow, they could work unitedly and sweep every' impediment to one side and get into the work, ' •