RATEPAYERS and BORROWING.

Patea Mail, 16 August 1882, Page 3

RATEPAYERS and BORROWING.

PATEA PUBLIC MEETING. DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. A large meeting of ratepayers was held last evening, in the Harmonic Hall, in accordance with the Municipal Corporations Act, to consider the propriety of borrowing £IO,OOO for street improvements and drainage, A ballot has next to be taken, and if the statutory majority do then approve (he Borough Council’s loan scheme, the legal formula will be complete, and the money may then be raised and spent. The Mayor presided, in accordance with the Act, and explained that the previous scheme for £5,000 had failed at the ballot for lack of three more votes to give the required raajoritj’. He said this larger scheme had been approved unanimously by the Council ; and it only remained for ratepayers to show their confidence in the future of the town as a harbor for a large and improving district, by endorsing the scheme with the necessary majority at the ballot-box. The special rate of sixpence in the pound would not be needed to increase the security of the loan, in his opinion ; but if levied and collected, the residents would be then paying only threepence in the pound more than they formerly paid under the Town Board and the County Council ; those rates being ninepence and sixpence, equal to Is 3d together, as compared with Is payable now and the proposed special loan rate of 6d. Estimates of Expenditure. He said the estimates of the proposed works are as follow ; the round figures including drainage, gravelling, kerbing and forming footpaths, so as to give an idea of the cost in each street, without showing the estimate of each work separately : Bedford street, formation and

footpaths, with drainage £2,700 Egmont street south, Bedford street to Cricket-ground, formation, drainage, and one footpath’ 270 Egmont street central, Victoria street to Taplin’s corner, drainage only 1,935 Devon street, part formation from Australasian Hotel to Leicester street 225 Egmont street north,.drainage 1,260 Municipal buildings 900 Egmon t street north, formation, footpaths, and gravelling from Victoria street to Spanish garden 765 Leicester street, formation, drainage, gravelling, and one footpath 990 Cornwall street (to Poverty Flat) formation 90 Gloucester and Hadfield streets, formation &c 133 Cambridge street, formation, gravelling, and footpath 299 Stafford street, drainage 225 Dorset street, formation to Stafford street 99 Engineer and contingencies 180 These sums were approximate estimates, and the loan was apportioned accordingly to make up (with odd shillings not stated above) the total of £IO,OOO. DISCUSSION. Mr Lett: Here are a lot of Councillors, and I can only see their backs. Why don’t they go on the platform and look us in the face. I have some questions to put to some of them. Voice : Perhaps they arc ashamed to go up. Councillor Taplin asked, as chairman of the Domain Board, whether the scheme includes drainage of the lake in the Domain. Some members of that body objected to have the lake done away with, and objected to have refuse drained into it, if that was really part of the drainage scheme.

Mayor : The question of draining the lake has never come before the Council ; but the question of taking a drain in that direction, as the lowest lying ground, has come before the Council, and it might involve the draining of the lake. That sheet of water has been, to my knowledge, twice perfectly dry in summer. If the surface drainage of the town is to go into that lake, and it becomes partially dry in summer, it is only fair that the Council should have the power gracefully conceded to drain that lake at once. They have the power to do so if they choose to exercise it arbitrarily ; but I don’t think the Council intend to drain it entirely. I think the lake is safe for years .to come. It would perhaps be best drained at once and converted into a first-class cricket ground—one of the best in the colony.

Mr Mace asked if all side walks were included in the different estimates.

Mayor explained which were included. Mr Mace put several questions as to the borough revenues. Mayor said the returns from licenses and tax are estimated at £430 ; also from the shilling rate now levied £427 ; from rents £350 ; from fines £ls; due from County Council £6O ; subsidy at 7s 6d in the pound, £l6O ; anticipated necessary overdraft £244 ; total £1694.

Mr Mace : What have been the working expenses of the borough for the present year ? Mayor : I have only an estimate of what is before us, and not a return of what has been spent.

Mr Mace : What rate of interest shall we have to pay for the loan, can you tell us, Mr Sherwood ? Mayor ; In presiding here, I sink my personal capacity, and expect to be addressed as Mayor of the borough. (Some applause.) Mr Mace was sorry lie had not so addressed him. If he had thought it was a question of sensitiveness Mayor : It is not a question of sensitiveness, but I do intend to uphold my position, (Applause and laughter.)

Mr H. I. Davis : Is it the intention of the Council to back up water on private properties as they are now doing,—the culvert across Victoria-street being on too high a level ? Mayor: Such a question might be addressed to the Council at its ordinary meeting. If this drainage scheme is carried out, a drain will be put in two feet lower. Mr W. Williams : One of the remark* able features in the Council’s drainage scheme is that the town refuse is to be drained into the Domain lake. That would soon cause a malaria which would poison the people. Some Sharp Words Mr Tennent asked about the drainage of the lake (having entered the room late), and the Mayor repeated his statement. Mr Te ment : If the drainage is to be taken into the lake at all, it would become a nuisance to the town. Moyor ; It is not intended to drain anything into the lake ; a drain would pass through the lake to the sea. The drainage plan has been open to inspection at the Council-office long enough to show that. It has never been proposed to drain the sewage into the lake. The Borough Council and myself would hardly be fit to conduct the public business if we proposed such a thing as that. Mr Tennent ; JFor the purpose of getting a satisfactory answer, I asked the Engineer to-day and was told that the latest idea was that the drain would probably be cut into the lake and go out at the lower outlet. ‘ I wish to ask whether the Council have received or applied for the permission of the Domain Board to drain the lake, or whether they consider they are treating that body in a courteous manner ?

Mayor; On the question of courtesy between local bodies, as the proposal has not come before the Council to drain the lake, I fail to see any discourtesy in not communicating with the Domain Board. I say again the Council have not proposed to drain the lake. The Council have absolute power to do it if they think fit.

Mr Tennent: Then where is the main drain proposed to be taken ? This seems to be merely a play upon words. I ask is it or is it not a fact, as the Engineer informed me, that the drain is to go into or through the lake ? The Council can do it if they choose without consulting the Domain Board, but the Council lay themselves open to an injunction from the Supreme Court, or to pay heavy compensation to the Domain Board. (A laugh. - ) It is all very well to laugh. I would like to have a straightforward answer, lam quite in favor of the loan of £IO,OOO, as I think it would be very advantageous to the town.

Mayor: I must clearly submit to you that I have endeavored to answer Mr Tcnnent’s two questions, as plainly as possible. Now he wants something straightforward. It is beyond my comprehension to give him anything more straightforward than my answers. I say again, no proposal has come before the Council to drain the lake, and we could not therefore ask the Domain Board’s permission to do something which was not proposed to be done. Secondly, I say it is not intended to drain any of the storm water or sewage into the lake, Mr Mace : Does not the map show that the drain goes through the lake ? Councillor Milroy : If the Council take

their storm water and sewage in another direction, where will their supply come from to feed the lake ?

Councillor Taplin : Will you allow me to correct you, sir, in Mayor : I shall be most happy to be corrected.

Councillor Taplin : It is a slight omission on your part in answering Mr Tennent. So far as anything coming before the Council about drainage, the whole of this scheme on the map is the Engineer’s scheme. The Council have certainly accepted it. I remember the Engineer stating twice at the same meeting that the lake was to be drained, and that it would make a pretty cricket field afterwards.

Voice : I didn’t. (Laughter.) Councillor Taplin : It is not the Engineer who denies that.

Councillor Adams : I am the author of the “ I didn’t.” What the Engineer stated was that the lake could be drained. lam a member of the Domain Board, and I don’t see what cause the Board have for making this noise. The Board cannot make improvements on that lake without first draining it, and they might do that when the Council take their drain past the lake. Then they could make it ornamental now it is a disgrace. (Laughter.) They should thank the Council for helping them to drain it.

Private Streets—-More Warm Words

Mr Paul : Are Hadfield street and the two adjacent streets (Dale’s paddock, late Storey’s) to be taken over by the Council ? Mayor : Hadfield street was a Government road before it came within the borough, Mr Paul: Then lam to understand that none of the streets in Storey's paddock are taken over ?

Mayor ; No, the Council dare not do anything of the kind. Before private streets can be taken over, notice must be given to the Council, levels must be takem streets must be formed and metalled, footpaths kerbed, and drainage done. Then the Council can be called on to take over and maintain such streets as public streets. Or else any gentleman could buy a paddock, cut it up in building sections, and without spending a penny in making streets, he might say to the Council, “ Come and make these streets, and put money in my pocket.” Mr Paul : Were these streets recognised by a public body ? Mayor : They may have been recognised to the extent of putting them on a map, but they were never gazetted as streets. Mr Mace ; Is it not optional with the Council as to what improvements can be done to a street before taking it over ; or is it imperative to have all these things done ?

Mayor read from the Act and said there are penalties for making streets without complying with the Act, Every owner of a section is liable for the construction, drainage, and metalling, and also for the maintenance, according .to the Act. He quoted clause 11. Mr Mace : That leaves it entirely optional to the Council to take it over in whatever state it may be.

Mr Davis : What has all this to do with the £IO,OOO ?

Mr Paul; Does that clause affect streets that have been laid out and recognised by the Town Board, before the borough was formed ?

Mayor : That is for a legal opinion; but I dont think anything was done by the Town Board to legalise these streets. I have no doubt a solicitor would tell you the same. The Town Board had not power to legalise them. Mr Paul ; A considerable injustice will be done to inhabitants of that part, in not having one shilling spent on those streets ; and people travelling up to their knees in mud. There are about 20 houses, and not a sixpence is to be spent. Mayor: I am in exactly the same category. People generally go out of the centre of the town to get property cheaper. Legal Opinion WantedMayor : I say the Council dare not take these streets over before they are formed. It would be competent for any ratepayer to prosecute the Council for doing so. Mr Barton (solicitor) : Why ? Mayor; Perhaps you will favor me with a legal opinion. (Great laughter.) Mr Barton : I take it that every ratepayer is entitled to ask a reason why. You say the Council dare not take over private streets unless formed and metalled, and that the Council can be prosecuted. I ask why, but instead of answering, he calls on me to give a legal opinion. I will do nothing of the kind, (Laughter.) If the Mayor or Mr Paul, or anybody

wishes a legal opinion, let them come to ray office. Mayor : I expect you will hardly call on me to give a legal opinion ; but I must once more say that the Council dare not take over these streets unless the conditions of the Act have been first complied with. Mr Mace : But not metalled. Mayor : It is not for me to answer that question. Mr Paul ; You have given me no answer. I am standing all this time. (Laughter.) lam thoroughly aggrieved, and over 20 inhabitants besides me. Majmr : I have answered your question, as far as I can. If you want a legal opinion, you should not ask me. Mr Abrams asked if inhabitants in that paddock are to contribute to repay the loan, but not get a penny of it, and remain as they are. Mayor : It is not the work of the Council. It is the law of the land. Mr Davis said the Council have been spending money on Meredith street, although it is still private property. Councillors “Poked Up.” Mr Lett : Upon my word, Mr Mayor, I do pity you. (Laughter.) I expected to see the noble army of martyrs up there on the stage, so that we could see their faces and speak our minds to them. I want the opposition to the £5,000 loan to come forward now and give us their views as to this £IO,OOO. One gentleman I wanted up there in particular, because I have his former speeches in my pocket, and I want to question him about them. There has been nothing to-night but a side-party going in for a bickering argument that has no foundation. We want to know what is to become of the money, so that we may support or object to this loan. None of our Councillors come forward to say what they would do. Councillor Adams mounted the stage, and said he agreed with the £5,000 loan, but was not completely in favor of £IO,OOO, because the town needed a water' supply to prevent it being burnt down some night, and another loan of £IO,OOO for water would now have to wait too long. He said, if Mr Lett has got any grievance against this child, I shall be happy to hear and explain. (Laughter.) Mr Leit ; I have no grievance against you ; but I have watched this affair, and I say it would become you as a body to resign, Thej'- are nothing but clique makers. I can prove it by their arguments. A parcel of useless men—old women I call them. The Mayor of this borough is a credit to this or any town in New Zealand ; but he has been trampled on ; he has been tied down. Councillor Adams ; I can see the same feeling exactly as on a previous occasion) only worked in a different direction tonight. Some petty questions have been raised, but the main question has not been touched.

Councillor Aitchison mounted the stage and spoke in favor of the loan scheme. He said : I consider the Mayor has taken a manly and open course in connection with this scheme. He has shown no dog-in-the-manger spirit,, as some men might after defeat in the last scheme.

Mayor then announced that a poll will be taken on Wednesday week. He regretted the course taken by one or two in the meeting. After a few words from Mr Guy, a vote of thanks to the Mayor closed the meeting.