GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 162, 8 January 1912, Page 2

GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

To the Editor. Sir,—l see by Saturday morning's paper we have a commission sitting in New Plymouth re the merging of Vogeltown, Frankleigh Park and Westown, also St. Aubyn into the borough. I see our worthy Mayor is reported to have said that the latter—St. Aubyn—is most suitable for merging. I can't very well see why, as, with the exception of the first few chains on the main road, there are very few buildings. From Belt road to Auraka, on the seaward side, there are buildings. On the other side, Bonithon, there is but one house. Then take Heidelberg, 13 acres, 1 house; then the 50 acres of mission, land, 16 houses. Then go back to Devon line, Veale's estate, 4 houses to 90 odd acres; Clifford's 17 acres, 1 hut. That, I should think, would not warrant municipal control. The Mayor also says they have not had to strike a sewerage rate. Now, sometime back, the Council put it to the people to raise a loan of £II,OOO, which was granted. Half was for drainage, half for street improvement. Now if there was no rate struck for that, there was a revaluation, as far as I am concerned, equal to fourpence in the £ annual value. And what is more, the streets that were scheduled to hav« some of the loan money in more than one instance have not been touched, and as regards the trains, the idea seems to be that St. Aubyn is the cause of delay, but, Sir, such is not the case. . The Borough Council has been notified that they can go ahead subject to tram regulations, but, apart from that, the St. Aubyn Town District does not go to the Breakwater by about 60 chains. But we see no mention of this portion being merged into the borough. Why? The borough, or whoever attempts to lay down on this piece, will find it costly, but, however, it is all less rates, and that is something to think about. What I think about the merging is this, that the borough is not fit to take us ih, but would be in a better position if they borrowed l another £II,OOO to put the unmetailed portions of streets in the West End in order, to the boundary of St. Aubyn, and let St. Aubyn do the same.—l am, etc,, RATEPAYER.