WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1250, 26 May 1914, Page 2

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

A special meeting of the Foxton Borough Council was held last night in connection with the water and drainage loan proposals. There were present : The Mayor (Mr G. H. Stiles) and Crs. Coley, Whibley, Kempster, Freeman, Read, Speirs, Henderson and Chrystall.

The Mayor said that in view of the referendum of ratepayers taken last week, the first steps necessary were to rescind the motion at present on the books in connection with the special area and to pass another resolution making the whole borough the area to be pledged as security tor the loans, and then to pass the necessary resolutions authorising the advertising of the proposals. In connection with the advertising, it was necessary to pledgel as security a rate sufficient to raise the full amount required to provide interest and sinking fund on the whole loan, but although the full rate would be pledged it would not be necessary to collect same as provided therein, as sanitation and water charges; would be levied, and only the balance necessary to pay the interest and sinking fund would be collected. For the gravitation scheme the rate necessary to be pledged would be four and one-eighth of a penny in the £ for water and a penny farthing for drainage, a total of five and three-eighths of a penny in the £, but only three and oneeighth of a penny in the £ would need to be collected by special rate, the balance being made up by sanitation and water charges. It was proposed to make a uniform charge of 25s per annum per house for sanitation, this lee to be charged only to those who will be benefited by the service, and this sum would provide an amount sufficient to pay the interest and sinking fund on the sanitation loan. It would only amount to eight shillings more than is at present being paid for sanitation. The amount that ratepayers would have to pay if the loans were carried would be approximately : a special rate of three and one-eighth ot a penny in the £ on the unimproved value of their properties, and if same are situated within the reticulated area also charges for sanitation and water.

[The above figures are, of course, only approximate, as circumstances may arise in connection with carrying out the schemes that would necessitate a slight adjustment.] The motion previously passed restricting the area to be pledged as security was rescinded on the motion of Crs. Read and Henderson and a resolution moved by the Mayor and seconded by Cr Whibley making the whole borough the area to be pledged, was carried. The motions authorising the advertising of the proposals were then passed. The Mayor stated that a public meeting would be held prior to the poll being taken. The following estimates will further explain the Mayor’s figures quoted above : ARTESIAN SCHEME. The total cost would be as follows: Plant, tower and reticulation £13,452, sewerage scheme £7,728, contingencies £750, first year's interest and sinking fund £i,359, total £23,289, or in round figures ,£23,300. The amount necessary to provide all annual charges would be ,£1,961, made up of interest and sinking fund £1,398, 10 per cent, additional required £l3B, attendants, oil, gas, etc., £350, upkeep £75. The seven per cent, water charge would provide ,£673 and a sanitation fee of 25s per pan would amount to £570, leaving ,£7lB to be raised by way of rate. To provide this amount a special rate of i 3 /id in the £ would have to be collected. GRAVITATION SCHEMECombined water and drainage ,£31,660, filters £l,lOO, contingencies £I,OOO, first year’s interest and sinking fund £2,146, total £35,906, in round figures £36,000The annual charges would total £2,526, made up interest and sinking fund £2,160, ten per cent, additional required £216, upkeep and new work £l5O. The water and sanitation fees would be the same as in the artesian scheme £1,243, leaving £1283 to be paid by way of special rate, which would amount to three and oneeighth of a penny in the £ on the unimproved value of the borough.