DRAINAGE OF THE BOROUGH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2136, 11 March 1908, Page 3

DRAINAGE OF THE BOROUGH.

AIR. ALLSTATE It’S SCHEAIE CONSIDERED.

SCIIEAIE GENERALLY APPROVED.

DISCUSSION AD JO Ult NED

The seliemo for lliii drainage of Gisborne proposed by Air. R. L. A.lestayer was fully considered at last night's meeting of the Borough Council. HO USE CON N ECTIOXS. Regarding the cost of house connections, Air. Alestayer wrote as follows; —“It is very difficult to arrive at any fair estimate of such cost, as so much depends upon the situation and character of the house and tastes of individual owners; but speaking generally, 1 should estimate the .minimum cost for ail ordinary cottage property with one w.c., hath, washtubs, sink, gully-tran, and furnished with main and terminal vents, at from £8 to £lO, according to the length of 4-iucli drain required. If the wastes from hath, wash-tubs, and sink could not be brought to one gully, then the cost- would bo more. This price does not include anything for internal work, as it is assumed that all the wastes are properly trapped and brought to the outside ol the house.” - • , Cr. Bright siid that a professional man had informed him that the most economical installation would cost £2O. The letter was received. APPROVED 13V DR. DE LISLE. The District Health Officer wrote stating that ho had carefully gone through Air. Alestayer’s scheme. He approved the suggestion to build the system in sections, and said lie lelt sure the Sliono system was the best one for the town. He did not approve the septic tank at Kaiti. The suggestion to borrow £50,000 to drain areas 1,2, ami 3 was excellent. A hundred cases of typhoid would cost as much as the interest on £50,000. Ho quoted figures showing that Napier undertook a drainage scheme costing £56,000 when the ratoablo value was £54,787. Dannevirkc instituted a water system costing £21,000 when the rateable value was £9271, and AVoodville put in a water system costing £10,951 on a ratoablo valuo of £SO97. The rateable value of Gisborne was £90,000. Received. FINANCE COAIAIITTEE'S REPORT.

Tlio following statement of the rental valuations in the different areas was submitted by the Finance Committee : Area— 1 £21.800 Area— 2 12,600 Area — 3 14,500 ' Area— 4 0,000 Area—lo 7,000 Area—l 3 8,500 Area — 5 3,600 vVyi'A-, Area— 9 1,700 V- a Area—ll , ,6,400 tf \ » Area—l 4 „..4... % 2,500 rV£'S§ ?PP * Area— 6 1)900 Area — 7 ..1 \ 350 Area —- S 250 Area—l2 ' 1,100 ' " £90,500

To carry' out Air. Alestayer’s sewerage and drainage seliemo to cater for a population of 12,000, borrowing immediately £50,000 for outfall mainsower and draining parts of areas 1, 2,3, would eiitail a rate of a trifle over lOd in the £ upon the value af tho whole borough, excluding areas 6,7, 8, and 12, which it is not intended .to drain at present, being interest at 5 per cent., £2500, and pumping charge £llsO, total £3650; or in the alternative a rate of 2d in the £ over the whole borough for outfall sewer, and a rate of Is 3d in tho £ over areas 1,2, and 3, to provide interest and pumping charges within five years’ time, when portions of areas 4, 10, and 3 3 are brought in, and another £20,000 borrowed. Upon present values a rate of a little less than Is 2d in tho £ on the whole borough, exclusive of areas 6,7, 8, and 12, would be necessary to provide interest and pumping charges, viz., £4815, and within 10 years’ time, when parts of areas, 5, 9 11, and 14 are served, at a total cost of £90,000, the rates required would be (again basing it on present value) a little over Is 4d in the £ to meet interest and annual expenses, say, £SBOO. These figures are based on the highest rate-, but there is every- reason to believo that in reality they'will be much less. Tho Mayor said that the sum of £I2OO now paid for the niglitsoil service could be saved if Air. Afestaver’s scheme were carried out. The suggested scheme was used in AVellington, and was suggested for fresh works at Napier and Auckland. Cr. Bright moved that the Borough solicitors he asked to supply data regarding a loan for an outfall sewer to bo secured by a rate over the whole borough, for a loan over areas 1,2, and 3 for sewers, and also for a special loan to cover sewer connections. In most towns it had been the practice to advance to ratepayers out of a special loan the cost of sewer connections, the amount being repayable during five years. Cr. Whi nray said this action was merely gilding the pill. Cr. Pettie thought the scheme would be received better if only areas 1,2, and 3 were rated for the outfall sower.

Cr. Williams said ho would like to sec the whole of the areas except C, 7,8, and 12, which would not be helped for many years, rated. He argued that this was reasonable because most people did their business in areas 1,2, and 3, and the school also was there, so that all ratepayers were interested to a degree in the areas. It had also to be 'remembered that the ratepayers of the areas in question would lip putting down sewers far larger than necessary for themselves only At least those outside the areas in question should make contribution to the cost. As regards the scheme not taking off storm water, it was merely a matter of cost— it would be very expensive to pump away all the town’s storm water. Cr. Sheridan remarked that it was very probable that those paying rates in areas i, 2, aiul 3 would pay rates in tho other areas also. Cr. Maun said that the resolution should - hot be confined to only onescheme. Or. Miller said those outside should pay something more than the rate for the outfall sewer. Many of those using the business portion of the town paid no rates in the town area. Cr. Whinrny said ho thought the scheme was premature, and he saw no reason why other Councillors should so much desire it. The town had a perfect soil for deodorising foul matter. It was a question whether they could afford it. They had to consider that large harbor works were looming in tbe distance. The drainage scheme could very well be postnoned fer five vears. One very heavy charge was the cost of pumping. It would be well to consider whether it would not be better to wait until power from Waikaremoana was availaide. There would be a great deal of expense in connection with the waterworks, both as regards improvements and repairs. There was no provision in Mr'. Mestaver’s report for compensation to persons through whose property the sewage pipes went. Gisborne was perhaps as .healthy as any place in the Dominion. Cr. Somervell said that the shingle and sand foundation of Gisborne had kept it healthy in the past, but the time was approaching when a sewerage system was necessary. The matter should bo placed fully before the ratepayers. It would not be long liefore other areas demanded drainage Cr. Pettio said what they should endeavor to do should lie to arrive at a unanimous decision. Cr. Williams said that it would he well to remember that draining 1,2, and 3 would entail a rate of Is sd, and that when the other areas were drained there would be a rate of 2s 1 od over them. The discussion was then adjourned to enable Councillors to go thoroughly into the matter.