PUBLIC MEETING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 31, 5 January 1884, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

The Proposed Borough Loan. The Schedule Accepted. The Public Meeting couveued by the Mayor m accordance with the resolution passed by the Borough Council was held last evening m the Town Hall. [ There was upwards of 100 ratepayers present. The Mayor, having opened the proceedings and read the advertisement convening; themeeting explained thai whon Palmerston was formed into a Borough that the/ had met with many difficulties. They had found it necessary to,raiseaof £10,000. This loan would not then be looked at, but those interested floated (lebPMture-s and ,ai length the BimkofNew Zi'alaii<l,seeing they werein earnest, and that the people showed a spirit of self-reliance floated the remainder. By this action they were enabled to opm and make streets, and improve the township. Throughout New Zealand — both north and south-— Palmerston was looked upon from its natural position as one of the most progressive townships m the colony. It must not lose the name it had gained; it must not bo laggard but must continue to progress. The money the Borough had obtained had been spent m the improvements which we saw surrounding us. The £10,000 borrowed had not cosi the ratepayers one farthing. They had only to pay a one shilling »ate tip to the present time, which was less than paid by those m the Manawatu Road Board or County Council. Tho Feilding Borough Council had recently imposed a special rate — although he believed they had only raised £600 ( out of the proposed loan,^but tho ratepayers there saw the necessity of ' Saving themselves, with a view of improving their street* — and should Palmerston remain behind? The late Mayor (Mr Jenssen) had propounded a scheme, which the majority ot the Councillors had agreed npon, one which he thought would meet with their approbation and approval. HTe begged of those present to look at the question without prejudice — to dismiss from their mind* any views they had previously formed, and discuss the matter before them m a business-like manner. He would desire to state that a resolution has been passed by the Council at his own instigation, lo the effect that the detailed schedule of works should be printed and circulated among 1 the ratepayers; but as it was found that to adopt this* course would cost over £B—aud8 — aud nofc L 5, as he anticipated the resolution was not carried out, ■ bup the schedules and reports had instead' been left open to the inspection of every ratepayer desirous of obtaining information, m the Town Clerk's office. Every particular item m Uie detailed schedule had been kfeeuly scrutinized by the Councillors when m Committee, and he was sure the ratepayers would find that a fair, just, and equitable expenditure of the proposed loan had been made. If the ratepayers agreed to the proposition made he was confident that it wonld not. only tend to help to remove the monetary pressure which it could not be denied was existing, but would help to ijia^e. the town more attractive, not. orily'to' themselves, hut also to visitors. Thy country districts were making . great progress, and Palmerston, from its geographical position was chiefly destined to become the leading township; but we must keep pace with the tlmns, Comparing small things with great, and as showing what was the progress of the district, when the Manawatu Racing Club first started, and • offered a. £250 prize, wise men shook their heads, and prognosticated a collapse. Yet this Club this year after paying all labilities, including erecting a Grand Stand; and placing the course m order, had a balance to their credit. We had good men amongst vs — meu of the right stamp. All we required was to put our shoulders to the wheel, and he was confident Palmerston would continue to make the same progress m the future as it had m the past. (Cheers)/ The late Mayor, Mr Jenssen had worked hard to prepare the scheme they had met to discuss this evening, and he would call upon, him to elucidate his views'. Mr Jenssen said he had not come prepared, and certainly after the straightforward and able exposition of the financial scheme, of the Council given by the Mayor, it left him nothing to add, . It was nob his scheme, but that of ihe whole of the Councillors. He would invite any person whoopposed the Boheme to now stand forward and express his views, so that the whole matter could be fully debated. There -was, however, one matter the Mayor had not explained. The question before the ratepayers was a simple one. Whether they liked it or not they were forced to have a one shilling/special rate. By agreeing to the proposal nov before them they would receive a great benefit, as the money ya.is.ed wquld cause an expenditure, whioh oould not but be beneficial — riot^only as. regarded the health and prosperity of the community, but also financially. Tf the scheme proposed or a similar one was not adopted, they would not only have to pay a shilling special rate, but they would reoeive from it not the slightest benefit. . (Cheers.)'. -_■ . „ The Town Clerk here read the de; tailed estimates, and the Chairman the Engineers report on the sewerage and water schemes* The Chairman here invited any ratepayer to ask any question he might desire. ' • • - In reply to a question, the Mayor stated that whether the meeting agreed to the sohedule or not, it had been do oideded that the question should be settled at the ballot-boy. Mr Nathan enquired why was it necessary to borror L 30,000, whon really only £20,000 was required. Tt was, he considered, a loss to the Borough for £10,000 to be lying at the Bank of New Zealand. They would not be quoted on the Stock Exchange unless they borrowed L 50,000. fot them raise what they wanted for their present requirements, and make a special rate accordingly, but not raise a large sum of money at once, on which they would have to pay interest. He did not object to the scheme as a whole, but he was strongly opposed to the proposed financial p,pe,i'ationa, through which he considered the ratepayers would have to pay for money not at presi-nt required. , Mr Jenssen said it amounted simply tottys. q%y hftdt-PTwy 1Q perpe^t feu;, tjie present lqan,whjle if tneyadopt#d the

pioposuls iiefoKi them they would only liuve to pay six per cent. Mr Abrahams enquire I if a sinking fund was provided for. In reply, the Mayor read the schedule of works as advertised. £ For payment of existing Loan 10,000 „ Waterworks ... f ... 1;0,000 „ Sewerage .., ... '^ ... '3,000 „ Construction of unformed Roads 1,096 „ Ru-grading and improving existing Koads 710 „ Metalline/ ... 1,582 „ Surface Drainage ... 1,954 „ Grants m aid to private i Streets not taken over*... 200 „ Contingencies ... ..• 858 Total ... ... £30,000 And it is proposed to pledge as security for such Loan : — £ A Special Rate of If- m the £ 1000 Revenue from Waterworks estimated at ... 650 Interest on £10,000 deposited at 5% ... 500 Amount now paid out of revenue for m terest on ex isbing Loan 800 Grant out of Revenue ... ... 50 £3000 This.provides for — £ Interest on £30,000 at 6% ... 1800 Interest on existing Loan of £10,000 800 Sinking Fund ... ... ... 400 £3000 Mr Russell enquired whether the meeting was to be guided by, the written or printed schedule of works, as tie , perceived by tho written: -one the £10,000 had to remain at the Bank of New Zealand, while the ' printed one was silent on the matter. The Mayor replied that when Mr Jfcussell had a larger experience of the people of Manawatu he would find that, that Councillors did nothing of' a contemptible nature, but worked for the prosperity, benefit, and welfare of the community. Jn reply to a qnestiou,the Mayor said there was no agreement as whether the £10,000 was to be deposited m the Bank of New Zealand or not. Mr Walker stated that the question before the meeting was a simple one. They had to pay wff a loan of £10,000 w hich was raised at 8 per cent, and they proposed to borrow * £30,000 at 6 per cenl to do so and improve the township. Under any circumstances a rate must be levied. Were they going to rate themselves oue shilling and obtain nothing, or were they ,to raise the same amount by rate and have much required and necessary improvements m the township effected % He did not think there was such an obliquity of vision among the rate payers present that they could not see the plainness of tho question put before them. After some further discussion, it was proposed by M r Hoskings, seconded by Mr Nannestad : —That the schedules, as read, are satisfactory. Mr James King enquired as to the water scheme. The Mayor replied -that Councillors were not wedded to the proposed water scheme, and w.ere quite ready to listen to any suggestions on the matter from ratepayevs, -pravided that the , cost of carrying out any new proposal did not exceed the slim sot down, £10,000. Mr King thought the water scheme premature for a small town like Palmerston, . . ' The Mayor stated that it was obvious that the time had arrived when the sewerage of the town should be attended to, and they could not have a sewerage scheme without water (Hear, hoar.) Mr Abi'aharas was opposed to the water scheme proposals. Those who wauled a wa,ter scheme with a view of extinguishing fires, should put their hands m their own pockets. It was unfair .to tax the whole community for tho benefit of a few. Mr Sutton denied that the wellwater m Palmersiou was. impure, as compared with any other part of the colony. Tho Mayor explained that only tho.se who used the, water would have to pay f .1! water-rates ; those whose property was m th -. .street m which the pipes were placed and did not use the water would have to pay half-water-rates, but the remainder of the ratepayers would not haye to pay the water rate. j Mr Ferguson looked upon the scheme as more for the future than for the present. When we looked upon the position of Palmerston 10 years ago and contrast it withits present position, we would not but look confidently forward as to its future progress. It was sheer nonsense to talk about raising a small loan. Their experience m the past proved that it was impossible to raise a smaller loan than £80,000; The wa'ei' scheme was, perhaps, not the best one they could have, but it was within their means. Tfc had been sfrifed by a medical niah that the water around Pahnerston war* bad, for drinking purposes, and it" the watei was worse m other parts of Ihe colony he could only pity those other places. If the sewerage of the town.: was not Bpeedily remedied, it was the opinion of medical men we should . have, serious sickness here. _ A^cry would then arise, and regret expressed at the apathy j shewn m, the matter, ..He hoped they j would take a broad and not a narrow I view of the question — look to, the future and not to the piesent. We must not wait until our drainage, and water, and streets became m a still worse condition. „.. . :;. i Mr Feasey desired to know where the sewage was to be emptied. The Mayor replied that it would be taken down the Botanical Road. Mr (j. Russell spoke as to the financial position of the Borough, for which he was se\erely taken to task by the Mayor, Mr Jenssen,>and other speakers. The Mayor then put the resolution to the meeting, and declared the. votes to be 20 m favor of the resolution and 16 against if. He declared tho resolution carried, 'and announced thai. a poll would be held on a date wjiich, wbuld be' announced iii /the local papers. |