BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSALS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 505, 13 February 1920, Page 3

BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSALS

TOTALLING £84,000.

ROADS, DRAINS, LIGHTING, WATER, PLANT, QUARRY, TOYPN HALL.

Highly important matters were dealt with by the Pukekohe Borough Council at a special meeting held on Wednesday night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. K. Lawrie), Crs. Geo. Armstrong, A. P. Daysh, R. McGough, J. Keith, R. Bilkey, F. Morrow, Mr. A. J. Walker, consulting electrical engineer, W. Wyatt, borough engineer, Mr. J. F. Deane, clerk, and Mr. S. Clews, foreman. Eleotrioal Extensions. Cr. Armstrong reported on the matter of extending the electric lighting in the borough area, and the machinery, etc., required for that object. The total cost was estimated at £26,800. The committee had gone into the matter with Mr. Walker and Mr. Wyatt. It was agreed that the work should be done by day labour, and any discounts or other advantages on the purchase of machinery would benefit the ratepayers. It was also agreed that Mr. Walker act as consulting engineer, and Mr. Wyatt to undertake tfee construction work. He was satisfied that if the ratepayers carried the loan, a thoroughly good scheme would be provided. The Mayor: I take it that Mr. Walker will have supervisory power? Cr. Armstrong: He will act as consulting engineer. The Mayor: I think the scheme is a good one, but I think the council would be better satisfied if they clearly understood that the work would be done subject to Mr. Walker's approval in various phases. We would require to hold Mr. Walker responsible if anything went wrong.

Cr. Patterson: The committee agreed that both Mr. Walker and Mr. Wyatt would be conjointly responsible for the work.

The Mayor: I am still of the opinion that one man should be responsible, and that man should be Mr. Walker.

Mr. Walker said he would give a definite report defining the position precisely. The Mayor moved that the scheme as submitted be approved. Cr. A. P. Daysh seconded - Cmried.

Drainage Pro poult. Mr. Wyatt reported that the boring plant had sunk a bore 84ft, and there were very good indications of a suitable material for soakage. A bed of rock would have to be cut through before it -could be certain that the material tips satisfactory. ; The he did 'not think there Mtght' to be any further delay in putting & proposal before the people for a loan. Even if the present borings proved unavailing, there would be no need to call up the money.

Cr. Patterson: Has provision been made for house connections? The Mayor: No.

Cr. Patterson: I think provision shqtold be made, and the householders given an opportunity of paying for the connections by instalment. By this means only those who took the service would pay for the connections.

The clerk said It would probably cost £3O or £35 to instal connections to the houses.

Cr. Patterson contended that it was quite legitimate to load the drainage scheme with the cost of connections, just as they had loaded the water loan with the cost of meters. Working men buying houses on deposit could not afford £3O for connections.

Cr. McGough: The loan would never be carried if the suggested provision is not made.

Cr. Armstrong reiterated his opinion that the drainage proposal should be held over.

Cr. Patterson suggested that the drainage proposal should be made a separate issue.

Cr. Armstrong concurred. If the borings did not show good results, then the borough would have to be drained into the tide, which would cost £20,000.

It was finally decided, on the motion of Cr. Patterson, seconded l.y Cr. Armstrong, that the proposal be made a separate one, and, if the borings were uccessful, the proposal? be put before the ratepayers on the same day as the other loan proposals; also that provision be made for house connections. The cost, including connections and first year's interest and contingency fund, was estimated at £17,000.

Road* Improvement Scheme. The reading scheme, as previously published in the "Times," was approved. The estimates for the respective proposed undertakings are as follows: _ , i Roads and plant, engineering fees and contingencies .. 20 200 Town Hall 6000 Baths (iOrt Water Lighting, Plant, etc 26,800 Quarry and Plant .. .. *>ooo Fire Brigade .. .. 1()00 First Year's Interest .. Drainage, £10,000; House connections, £5000; Interest, first year, £2OOO 17^00 Grand total .. .. 84,000 The whole of the above were improved, and the ratepayers will bv> asked to sanction the raising of lonns totalling £BI,OOO.