CORRESPONDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 244, 21 February 1911, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE

BOROUGH LOAN' PROPOSALS. To the Editor. Sir,—Kindly allow me to reply briefly to your leader of this-morning. You say it is unfortunate the vote is te be taken upon the loan as a whole and not upon the proposals separately. The issues could not be taken separately. The natural drainage outlet for a large area in the East End is via Leach street to connect with the Liardet street sewer, and as the laws of gravitation do not permit water to run uphill, this street will require grading. Some parte will require raising several feet, and other parts of the same street will require cutting down to a depth of over eight feet. The same remark applies to some other streets in which the main sewer will require to be laid. You say you prefer a wider scheme, one erobnwrag Te Henui end as well as the part mentioned in this schedule. The fall of the eastern side of the town drains to the Te Henui river, and the sewerage from that district could onlv be brought to the present tank br pumping, but it will be cheaper to provide an independent installation. Therefore, I have left this for future consideration. The only portion required to be dealt with at the present time drams to the Huatoki. Re Streets: You must remember that previous to 1908 most of the streets were metalled out of loan money, including Devon street. Ihe street loan was all spent before I took office. Consequently, all street metalling since then has been done out of ordinary revenue. Also, the following new works have been paid for out of ordinary revenue: Formation, Bullet street, £94; Albert road, £39; Pendarves street, filling and culvert' £Bl- - and metalling Gill street east' £145; Fulford street culvert, £7B which has made that gully available for traffic; Vivian street cutting, £3OO- - in Devon street west swamp and culvert, £222; by-pass to reservoir, £278 (a work which previous councils dodged) • Waimanu street, £23; Morley Ttreet earthwork, £23; Devon street east £53; other work at Henui, Calmady Terrace, Lovers' Walk, and Hobson street, £100; purchase of old railway line and Te Henui bridge, £775; land dedicated by Major Parris' estate, £SO- - years' back rent on Gill street yards, £SO. During the past three years 128 chains of sewers have been laid, and, m addition, over 200 connections. The approximate cost of sewers is £IOOO, and during the last three years about three miles of concrete kerbing and channelling have been laid down at a cost of about £looo— showing that the council has spent over £4200 during the last three years out of ordinary revenue, in doing these new works. The streets and footpaths have suffered, and it will take more than all the revenue available for the neat few years to bring them hack to a proper condition. Consequently it means that unless the loan is carried there is no prospect of getting these new street works made. Re Sewers: The improved sanitary condition that must be obtained by the extension of the sewers wilr commend itself to all having the improvement of the town at heart New PJyin'tartk has natural advantages for the making of a seaside resort and) a place for people to come ajuHfr*? to-' retirement. Are we going to wsgkct doing the necessary important works when we have the opportunity of raising the. money in .sums as required at 3>/» per cent, which will, I contend, return a revenue from house connections and sites for new residences to meet the interest without having to strike any extra rate. Re "Ratepayer's" totterThere is no fair comparison between tne Vivian street and Powderhajn street culverts. Vivian street culvert gives a roadway of 27ft wide between the railings, and the roadway is 15ft above the water. Powderham street culvert gives a roadway between the temporary fences of 41ft wide, and the roadway is 30ft above the water. 1 feel I have trespassed on your space. 1 Jiave every confidence in leaving the question in the hands of the ratepayers.—l am, etc.. Monday, February 20. [We refer to this matter in our leading columns.—Ed. T.D.N.]