WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2149, 13 July 1920, Page 3

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

In reference to the proposed water and drainage scheme for the borough, the Mayor said at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council that he had hoped to have had further particulars from the engineers, Messrs Climie and Son, to put before the Council, hut so far no reply had been received from them. Whilst in Wellington last week he had interviewed the Public Trustee in reference to procuring the money should the loan be carried, but the Council’s application for same had already been considered by the Board, and had been declined, the reason for this, the Public Trustee had informed him, being that the Board understood that the whole of the money was required in one sum. The Mayor said that he informed him this was not so, and that it could be paid over in instalments covering a period of two to'two and a-half years, and lie promised that the Board go into the matter, when it would receive favourable consideration. He had also interviewed Mr T. F. Martin, solicitor to the Municipal Association, as to whether the Council could compel house owners to connect up with the sewa'rage. Mr Martin said there was no such provision in (lie Act, but .that local bodies could make bylaws providing for compulsory connecting up, and this was the course usually adopted. In reference to water, property owners could not be compelled to instal same, but there was provision in the Act whereby those who refused to connect up could be charged half water rates. The Mayor said that he had hoped to call a meeting of ratepayers to consider the question this week, hut this could not be done until a reply was received from the engineers. He wanted to get an expression of opinion from the meeting of ratepayers as to the chances of the poll being carried, as it was no good going to a big expense if there was no chance of the loan being sanctioned by them. The meeting- of ratepayers would be convened as soon as all the details were ’to hand.