TAKAPUNA’S PROGRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 315, 28 March 1928, Page 9

TAKAPUNA’S PROGRESS

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS Interesting sidelights on the borough’s progress during the last 11 months were given by the Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J. W. Williamson, end councillors at the annual meeting of the Takapuna Central Ratepayers’ Association last evening. “The promises given on the platform at election time have all been honoured.” said the Mayor. “Reductions have been made both in the outside and office staffs, and great progress has been made with drainage. “The side streets of the borough are not receiving the attention they should,” continued Mr. Williamson. “It is hoped to receive from £6OO to £I,OOO yearly from the petrol tax towards this work. The scheme at present in hand is to put down concrete main roads and thus reduce the cost maintenance. More attention can then be devoted to side streets and footpaths. Cr. J. E. Close gave a few' figures on the cosfs of maintenance. Over £430 has been spent this year in King F'dward Avenue, nearly all in the small unconcreted stretch. Shakespeare Road cost £332 and Walter’s Hill £296. A total of nearly £2,000 was spent on the unconcreted main roads, leaving only another £2.000 for the other 50 miles of road. Mr. Close told of the Progress in reticulating the borough and the progress of the sewerage schemes. With a rate of 4id in the .£, a sum of £39,500 was raised for the years work. Over half of this was paid as interest and sinking fund on the loans. Office expenses, lighting, hospital levy And other expenses accounted lor nearly 30 per cent., leaving only onefifth of the rates for administration, said Cr. A. M. Gould. A great deal had been done with the money in hand. “Such a pretty picture lias been drawn that it seems a pity to spoil it, commented Cr. J. Davis. The TakaPuna rates, he said, are 40 per cent, higher than those of surroundling boroughs, without the corresponding advantages. He also attacked the council s policy with regard \o sewerage schemes and drains-in-common. The Inga Road bridge was commented on. Mr. Davis stating tnat the loan will be overspent by about £ 2.000 before the work is finished.