AMALGAMATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 299, 6 September 1918, Page 7

AMALGAMATION

ONSLOW WILL PROBABLY JOIN WITH CITY

rfARORI ALSO CONCERNED

Somrt lifctlo time ago Messrs. James lAmes (City Valuer) and C. Collins (City Treasurer) wdro appointed a special committee by the City Council to inquire.'exactly into tlio financial position of tlio. Boroughs of Onslow, Karori, and Miramar, in view of amalgamation contingencies. liv response'to an inquiry made by a Dominion reporter, it was ascertained that the officers named had the work in hand, but would probably not ropqrfc until some time later, as they could only pursue the work when their other duties permitted. ■ Referring to tho matter or tlio amalgamation with Wellington City of thaadjacenit boroughs, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) stated that it was practically assured tlio Onslow Borough would come iu during tho present financial year—probably about three weeks or a month before tho next general election (which occurs on tlie last Wednesday in April). Mr. Luke also went as far as to say that Karori Borough ' would probably come into the city at the same cinid. In view of the changes which are about to take place in the boundaries of the city, "it is interesting to note some of the details of the new areas. Onslow—regarded as suro to join up— ha' an area - cf 2000 acres exactly. These lands carry a population of 2191, or, roughly, oniyi ono. person to tho acre, which fact offers Wellington a northern outlet .for. its expanding population. Itj is realised that means of'reliable and rapid transit alone have kept tho borough from .participating equitably in the growth of tho Wellington metropolitan area. ' The property contained in the borough' has a rateable value/.of £625,613, and .the value per Head is; £239:175. lid. lAt present Onslow 16 not very well equipped- municipally. It has no drainage system, and tlio water supply is still for the greater, part on the watershed formed by each, individual resident's roof-tree. Tho talk of providing, up-to-date, systems of drainage and water supply will be thrown upon , the broader shoulders of the city later on, when amalgamation has been consummated. Onslow, .too, must, sooner or lately be. linked -up with the electric, car service, via Kaiwarra or Wadestowiii. Wlien it'lmt is done, Onslow's total indebtedness of £12,949, and her debt per.head, now only a modest £5 18s. 2d., will go up with a bound, even, perhaps, approximating that of the city (£26 9s. Id. per head). Similarly, the total annual charge, now 7s. sd.- per head, must increase sensibly as Dow services are provided, and improvements mndo in the roads,' etc. ■Tho revenue from rates amounts to £4078, with an. individual rate of £1 17s. 2d. per head. ' \ . Karori. has a total indebtedness of £74,873, which per head of population equals £45 9s, 2d. .From rates the borough receives £8752 (or £5 Gs. 3d. per head). The total annual charge is'£sG3o (or £3 Is. per head). . In the case of Miramar, tho position 5» not so clearly defined for various

- reasons, and vet, on'paper,' this l , borough should be .the first to weliomo , , amalgamation with tho city. It is at present dependent entirely on the good graces of the Wellington City Corpora- , tion for its tramway rolling stock, power to drive itj and electric lighting; it use? the city outfall-for its draj'i.age.from the Miramar flat, and has io ■purchase its water from the city at so , mucli per thousand gallons, In short,, the borough would bo in a rather parlous condition _wore it not f.or the way it is allowed' to lean oils the city. True, it lias to .pay to do so, but that does not make it any the more independent ?vi m ? ervlces municipal life. " '''Ist the average debt per hoad of residents of Miramar is £49 17s 7d it is only £26 9s. Id. iu Wellington! £o 18s. 2d. lrij Onslow, and £45 9s. 2d. in Karori,', and Miramar is the most heavily-rated borough in the district. The lite per head (average) on the totaL revenue (£11,565) works out to £5 7s, 2d. Karori's is slightly less, '£■> 6s. 3(1; Wellington City, £2 7s. Bd.; and Onslow, £1 17s. 2d.. Miramar is happy in the possession of tramw;ay lines and water and drainage reticulations, but the rate per head shows how the public i.3 paying'for such advantages, the real value of which depends, at present at all events, on the 'good will and consideration of the Wellington City Council. .' Tlio feeling among the residents of the' borough'is said to distinctly favour amalgamation with the city.