Borough Drainage, Water and Finance.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 132, 14 June 1901, Page 3

Borough Drainage, Water and Finance.

(To the Editor.)

g IK> tj may appear to savor of temerity if I offer some observations and criticisms, in view of the galaxy of talent—engineering, financial, commercial and legal—comprised in the bodv popularly known as “ Our City Fathers.” "But the spirit moves me, and I am going to venture, on the principle of 11 Nothing venture, nothing win. I shall not presume to discuss the engineering question further than to say that engineers, like doctors and lawyers, do not always agree; and that engineering schemes, everywhere, relating to drainage and water supply, are' modern inventions, aud are as , yet very much in the experimental stage. So that any community, and especially a small community like Gisborne, requires to be very careful before embarking upon a heavy expenditure for such works. I confess I do not understand the drainage scheme, and I hear many say the same thing; but I do fairly understand the water supply schema, which, so far as I'can judge, appears to be the only one practicable at present. Whether the ratepayers will be prepared to sanction a probable loan of £IOO,OOO to carry out both schemes, one cannot say; but I should think they are likely to call for very full information both as to schemes and finance before they sanction any loan. It appears to me to be a very odd thing that a small town like Gisborne cannot be

kept in cleanly, sanitary condition without, at any rate, a huge drainage scheme, the effective results of which, moreover, are at

least problematical. . A water supply is no doubt a more urgent matter. But one cannot help thinking that under proper building and other by-laws', with adequate scavenging appliances, thorough inspection, and punishment for non-compliance, the inhabitants of Gisborne could be got to put and keep their premises in a wholesome state. The principal evil undoubtedly arises from crowding buildings (in the centre of the town) and from throwing slop 3 and rubbish in the backyards. Privies can easily bo controlled; and a few examples made of offenders in other respects would soon effect sanitary reform, of the most certain and effective kind, by the removal and destruction of the slops and rubbish. The annual expense of even four carts, and other suitable appliances, with special inspection, and enforcement of by-laws, would be only a trifle comparatively. No one can venture to say that this cannot be done, and that the people of Gisborne cannot be got to make and keep their premises clean, or otherwise than polluted. I believe they only need to be shown how to do it, and to be helped effectively to do it, and the work will be done.

Given a good water supply, with streets swept clean as needed, and with all the waterways along the streets ptoperly asphalted, Gisborne, in my judgment, can be made as clean and heaUhy a town as any in New Zealand. Its extreme flatness is to my mind a fatal objection to any drainage scheme by means of pipes, etc., if anything like success is to be attained. The Council has not as yet, so far as I have seen, prepared any proper data upon the subject of finance to enable the ratepayers and residents to understand the financial position. Opinions have no doubt been expressed that a loan for the proposed works will not involve levying more than a small additional rate; but opinions, without definite figures given, are not to be relied on. Members more or less appear to be slightly hysterical, or feverish, and do not exhibit the coolness of judgment one expects in the consideration of this very important matter. £IOO,OOO, say, is required to cover the cost of both works and to pay off existing debt; and this money is to be borrowed, if possible, upon as easy terms as loans under the Advances to Settlers Acts or Government Loans to Local Bodies Acts. That is the cheapest money ever yet obtained for Now Zealand, and the interest is 4J per cent., with sinking fund of 1 per cent., the by such payments being extinguished in 3GJ years. If the money can be got on such terms, the figures will stand as follows: — For both schemes, annual interest and sinking fund at 5J per cent, comes to £5500. For the water scheme and repayment of existing debt, say £50,000, . the annual interest and sinking fund will be one-half, equal to £2750. To provide such annual payments a rate or rates of soma kind on the inhabitants equal to a rate of 3s 5d per £ on property is needed, yielding on present Borough value of £33,000, for both works, £5037 10s. And for water works, one-half, equal to £23IS 15s.

It will no doubt be said that a revenue will be derived from- a water rate, as distinguished from a rate on property; but the distinction is artificial, because the residents actually pay for ail- A water rate is a tax on the residents; and so is a property rate, in fact. There may be some small savings in the existing annual expenditure, such as interest on the existing debt, and possibly in some other ways, though not to any great extent. Anyway we cannot reckon on much from savings of that kind. I for one shall be exceedingly glad to have it proved, from proper data, how we cam borrow, without being called upon to pay in annual charges somewhere about the amount I have noted.

An extra £IOOO per annum spent in s asphalting the watorways, in thorough cavenging, and inspection by men who will do their duty, would be far better than any doubtful scientific system of drainage, which after all will not be found to result in effective sanitation, and particularly in keeping the back yards sweet. Why involve ourselves in heavy debt in such circumstances ? The water supply scheme we may have to face; and that surely in all conscience is a heavy enough burden for Gisborne to bear. But borrow, borrow, and after us the deluge ! appears to be the best our Councillors can suggest.—l am, etc., W. Sievwbight. Gisborne, June 12tb, 1901. P.S.—The present general rate on property is Is 3d per £ ; if to that be added a special rate of 3s od, the total is 4s 8d per £ ; or half ■special rate at Is BJd, the total is 23 per £. f Illustrations: A property of £IOO rental value would pay at 4s 8d £23 6s Bd. A proi perty of £IOO rental value would pay at 2s lljd £l4 15s lOd.