LOANS OVER-SPENT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 128, 26 November 1929, Page 11

LOANS OVER-SPENT

LOWER HUTT WOKKS

INTERESTING REPORT

A report on certain over-expenditure of loans was placed before the Lower Hutt Borough Council last night by the Finance and Estates Committee.

The committee reported that it had been advised by the Works Committeo that the funds provided for loan works have been insufficient for the follow-

uig reasons:—

(a) Bridge Loan.—Originally £8000 was provided in two loans, one of £6000 and one of £2000, for the borough's share of the cost of this work. Certain charges which had not been estimated for and could not have been foseseen, such as surveyor's and engineer's fees, legal expenses, and advertising, and additional cost of paving, would have to be provided for.

(b) £7000 Sewerage Loan.—Overexpendituro on this loan amounted to £1720 and is accounted for by the fact that the estimates were based on the work being carried out in summer time, whereas it was actually carried out in the winter and to a considerable extent with unemployed labour. Throughout the whole length of the King's road sewer considerable trouble was experienced not only with heavy water but with the soil itself. Even though the trenches were close timbered the surrounding soil caved in for several feet outside the trench, disturbing the adjacent gas main and connections and destroying parts of the footwalk. The replacement of the gas main alone cost well over £100. Trouble was also experienced at Kossiter avenue both with the lifting station and the sewers. The water met with here was excessive, and the sub-soil and foundations were running sand. The laying of rock foundations was essential, whilst wet weather caused the caving in of trenches on several occasions, necessitating replacement of fences and hedges which fell in. The big earthquake caught them with no bottom in the lifting station and the violent oscillations caused considerable damage to it, and it had, subsequently been found that owing to thi3 shako a considerable length of sewer in Eossiter avenue had been upheaved nearly a foot, necessitating relaying. . .

(c) £3220, Borough Improvement Loan.—Certain sewerage . work done out of this loan. Waterloo road and Witako street were also carried out under great disabilities owing to underground water and timber. The reduction of the crown in Main street also cost considerably more than was estimated owing to the excessively boggy nature of Iho sub-soil, which had to be removed and entirely replaced with rock.

EXTRA MONEY REQUIRED,

The committee therefore recommended that steps be taken to raise, to meet case a, £.950; to meet case b, £1720. The loan in case c was alO per cent, loan of the £42,000 Borough Improvement Loan, and while it was doubtful if the Loans Board would sanction tho raising of further money under this heading, it was suggested that the possibility of getting an additional loan should be investigated.

Tho report was adopted.