WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 708, 13 January 1910, Page 3

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL

POLL TO BE TAKEN

A special meeting of the Foxton Borough Council was held in the Council Chamber on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of discussing the water and drainage schemes submitted by Mr Climie. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (G. H. Stiles, Esq)., and Crs Gibbs, Ritnmer, Coley, Robinson, Speirs, Levett and Stewart.

Apologies for absence were received from Crs Ross and Adams. The former said the schemes had his support as he considered that nothing so retarded the progress of a town as bad drainage —or in Foxton’s case, no drainage at all. All ratepayers who had the interests of the town at heart should vote for the loan.

His Worship the Mayor moved that this Council approves of the water and drainage schemes submitted by Mr Climie c.K., and that the necessary steps be taken to obtain a poll of ratepayers in the special rating district upon same. The motion was seconded by Cr Coley. In speaking to the motion the Mayor said he considered that the scheme in question was the most important matter that the Council had yet had before it. At the last general election, himself and the majority of the Councillors had pledged themselves to support a water and drainage scheme and as an outcome of their endeavours the report before them that night had been prepared by Mr Climie. He was strongly of opinion that the time had arrived when Foxton should iustal such works and he considered that the schemes should be placed before the ratepayers as early as possible. The scheme outlined takes in the whole of the present sanitary area and he was strongly of opinion that the area should not be reduced in any way. On going roughly into the question of what rate would be required to be struck to provide interest and sinking fund for a loan of ,£20,000 he had found that it would require a rate of about 4>4d in the £. Against this must be put the present sanitation rate and also a water rale which would be charged. It must also be borne in mind that when th e town is provided with a water supply there would probably be a reduction made in the insurance rates. 01 course, he said, it would be impossible to say with any certainty what portion of the rate would have to be collected as this would be partly dependent upon how many availed themselves of the water sujppkrand also the terms on wEich a loan could be raised. There was a great amount of preliminary work to be done before the question could be submitted to the ratepayers and it would take about two months before a meeting of ratepayers could be held to consider it, and he therefore favoured getting the matter under way at once. Cr Levett asked if it would not be possible to add a certain sum to the loan for the purpose of making connections in cases where ratepayers were not in a position to pay the full amount at once, and allow them to pay the amount by instalments. He also asked if it was intended to place the water and drainage schemes before the ratepayers together or alternate proposals—Water or water and drainage. He would like to see alternate proposals. The other Councillors present spoke in support of having a poll taken as early as possible. The motion on being put was carried unanimously.

At the last election the Mayor, and Crs. Adams, Gibbs, Robinson, Stewart, Rimmet and Levett pledged themselves to support a water and drainage scheme for the borough, and Cr Coley to support the installation of a water supply.