PUBLIC MEETING.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1923, Page 1

PUBLIC MEETING.

BOROUGH LOAN ITIOPOSALS. A public meeting of ratepayers was held in the Town Hall last evening to discuss the Borough last n proposals. There was a. lair attendance, tiio AI ay or presiding. It was notable that only four members of the Council were present. Air Perry said the meeting had been called to have some discussion and explanation of the loan proposed to be raised for street improvement anti drainage works of a permanent nature. Retelling to the proposed loan Mr Perry said the time had arrived when stops should he taken to drain some of the swampy sections in the north end of the town. The swamp that lies under cemetery hill had been much improved by the Hall street drain and further drains would make this area div enough for building sites. There was every prospect of the town improving in Ihe near future and they should do their host to advance the. interests of the place. The townspeople should fake steps to further improve the conditions of the town, and show that they had confidence in the place they | lived in. The proposition to bo put ( before the ratepayers was to borrow I £O.OOO. a. modest sum, and quite witli;in the reach of the place. It was proj posed to pipe the drains running north • to south. Sewell Street would not be ! done at present. Brittain and Sale Streets would he piped, and thereby : thoroughly drain the northern portion jof the town. Fixing up the drains, i hen it would follow that the streets and footpaths would have to he properly formed. They hoped to get the loan at a low rate of interest.: He thought

the present time was a most propitious time to take action.

Mr If. Af. C'oulsnn was not altogether pleased to see so few of the ratepayers present. It was now 17 years since the water supply loan was carried. He felt he was safe in saying that the ratepayers would lie sorry to 1 iso the water supply. He had personally brought forward a smaller loan proposal for several years without success. He was optimistie of the future of the town. It was their duty to make the town as attractive as possible. D -the electors do not show the amount of interest they should then the town nil! not progress. He trusted tlmi tiny would be satisfied to-night. to make the town progress. Mr F. Meflregnr said in the last TO years lie had not seen anv attempt to

improve the hack portion of the town. They spent £.IOO a year in cleaning the : abominable drains in the hack streets of the town which would nearly pay for the interest of the proposed loan. Sonic said they should first have ail up-to-date theatre, hut he said they should first get, a good town. He hoped they would vote for the loan on ; Friday and bring their friends with them. j Afr A. O. Pilkington said it was | quite evident that the people quite I appreciated that there was the necessity for improvement. There was plenty of work to he done, luit the question was where to start. In the first place they had the water supply, which if not of the host, was good enough for the present. Next, was the drainage. Along with the question of drainage was' the big question of storm water. The sewage system and the storm water drainage could not work together. The next aspect was the improvement of the streets and footpaths, which required much attention. ’While the inner portion of the town was in fairly good order it was felt the residential portion of the town should receive most attention. The Council felt that they were venturing sufficiently far in tiroposing n CGnno loan. Approximately the division is that £.1.500 he devoted to drainage and £2500 to streets and footpaths, the latter to he absolutely permanent- work. Tie .fell sure the ratepayers would hack up the Council and support, the loan.

lfnn. TT. T,. Michel moved that the meeting views wit-li satisfaction the action of the. Council in proposing to raise a. loan for drainage and street improvement, and further agrees to support the Council at Friday’s poll. They had their hospitals and charitable aid paid nut of rates, a good Fire Brigade costing about £2OO a good library and a good recreation ground and fairly good streets and. foot-paths. Speaking generally the town was getting very good value for their rates. He felt there was no more cleanly managed local body than the Borough Council. Cook at the Town Hal! they were sitting in. which was an absolute blot on the town for the simple reason that they had not £SOO to spare. There had been some talk of building a municipal theatre, hut he did not. favour it. There was the little theatre they had., with a capital of £I6OO which did not pay a dividend last year and yet some of the Borough officers proposed to spend £6OOO on a municipal theatre, and said it would ho a very fine proposal. The proposal would not stand water, as the venture would involve the town in a heavy expense. There was not a borough in New Zealand that was attempting to carry out permanent works out of revenue. Tt was absolutely sound to grant the loan for permanent works, but they did not want to have the money squandered away. If they canned the loan they should yet it be understood that the household drains should he connected with the concrete sewers proposed to l-e put in. If the proposal fs carried he hoped they would appoint a thoroughly competent engineer who could lay out the work. "Whatever work is carried out they should form part of a scheme as \ a- whole. Tf the loan was carried it could be obtained and spread over three or four years. He was not in favour of the suggestion for a £6OOO theatre. "Don’t let them have that as a bugbear that had been pushed so hard by some of the Borough officials. He moved the resolution. Afr B. J, Evans seconded the me-

tiou and joined in congratulating tlie Council on the proposed scheme placed before the ratepayers. He thought ti e Council had been wise in fixing an amount that was within reach of the ratepayers and if it were found that more was required at a later date, they could approach the ratepayers again. He quite understood the attitude of the Councillors and approved of the proposals put forward. He thought the Council had shown wisdom in fixing the sum nt £6OOO, ns that amount could he easily financed. It was a very suitable time to borrow money, and the improvements were urgently needed in the town. In a short time they would be the terminus of the through train service, and there was even- prospect of a large increased population. The year was opening well. They heard from the man in the street that the dredge had obtained a record return, and the other prospects of the district were qually promising. He bought that with the explanation given by the members of the Council that the time was a very suitable one for the proposals laid out. The Hospital Board proposed to carry out their work on the same lines as the Council now proposed to carry out permanent works by means of loan so that the present day ratepayers should not have to carry out the whole of the burden. He felt the step proposed was a right and proper one. and gave it his hearty support, and hoped the ratepayers would mark their distinct approval by voting for the loan on Friday next. Air J. .T. Breeze said it was an urgent matter and he supported the proposal as sound, though he thought if they could got £IO,OOO they should get if. He supported the proposals ns put forward and trusted they would be carried hv a lare majority. The Mayor said ho felt- sure the Council would he very pleased by the expressions of approval voiced that evening. Tt was one of those things that should appeal to everybody. He thought they would find the town as a win He Would benefit by the proposed

expenditure. The motion was then put and car riial without dissent.

Mr Gibbons asked the Mayor if he would explain the reference made by Hun. H. L. Michel in reference to the concrete pipes. The. Mayor said in connection with concrete pipes those used for .storm water were, unsuitable for sen age, as they had been informed that the concrete pipes were affected by the use.

and that a separate line of pipes was licessnry tor sewage. The matter had been looked info previously and that was the advice given. The meeting then terminated.