Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 275, 17 May 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

THE LOAN PROPOSALS

COUNCIL FAVORABLY DISPOSED. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held on Wednesday night 'to discuss the notices of motion submitted by the Mayor. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood) presided, and all the councillors were present with the exception of Cr. King, from whom an apology was received. The Mayor, Mr. W. P. Kirkwood, stated that, as Mayor of Stratford, his first consideration was the health of its inhabitants, and though principally on account of its elevation, about 1100 feet above the sea level, it was a very healthy ■ town, they must yet recognise that without a good water supply and a proper system of drainage, in the congested parts at least, they could have no guar- 1 antee against an outbreak of sickness. He asked them to look at the matter from that standpoint. The estimate of the amount required for the water improvements had been based on a previous report by Mr. Cliinie, but in view of the possibility that a further report might suggest other improvements lie ha£ addI ed £SOO for contingencies. The sum of £2AOO proposed to be borrowed for house connections was to enable small ,• householders, who could not afford the outlay of £2O, to connect up with the system at once, by allowing them to borrow from the borough on the security of their property, paying the amount back lin instalments. The £2OOO would enable 100 houses to take advantage of the scheme. The estimates supplied in the schedule might be taken as approximately accurate, but lie considered that in the drainage scheme also it would be necessary to have a report from a qualified engineer. The £6500 to be borrowed for this purpose provided for the construction of septic tanks, with a line of sewerage from the most congested area; then connections could be made as required. The borough overseer (Mr.» Sullivan) had taken levels and assured him that the north-western portion of the town could be drained to the Swansea road site, where the present tank was. With this scheme further arrangements would be necessary for draining the lowerlying portion below the Swansea road. There was an alternative scheme, viz., to take the drainage to a site at the Esk road. This, he considered, would be slightly cheaper in its initial cost, and would, moreover, serve the w-hole borough north of the Patea river.'. He pointed out that further provision was urgently required, as the present septic tank would not take many more connections. A few more connections from the south side of the town might be made here. He considered that a loan was vital to Stratford, so that they might keep in the van of progress. It remained for the councillors to deal, with the loan proposals so as to make { them acceptable to the ratepayers, and f he trusted that they would deal with J them with open minds, and not adopt > a parochial attitude. He remarked that it was .said that a loan would mean increased rates. The interest on the whole loan would amount to £750, and a rate to provide this would be Id in the £ on' the unimproved value. This, however, would be reduced by rent from the reserves, which was now £350, but would shortly be £SOO, leaving only £250 to be raised to meet interest on the loan.' Some ratepayers might raise the fallac-! ions argument that they would not vote for these improvements because they already had them, forgetting that for many years some ratepayers had paid rates for privileges and had not enjoyed them.

Cr. Paget seconded the motion. He was quite in accord with a loan for very necessary work. He questioned, however, whether the details supplied were adequate for the purpose of raising the loan. It was proposed to spend £6500 on a drainage scheme to cover only a portion of the town. He did not know what the present scheme had cost. (The town clerk: £5000.) But he'wished to preface his remarks, which he knew would be studiously misrepresented in certain quarters, by urging that a qualified engineer's report should be obtained. In this he did not wish in any way to belittle their overseer (Mr. Sullivan), but he pointed out that when a loan was raised before for drainage, not only did they have an exceedingly competent engineer, Mr. Climie, but even had a consulting engineer as well. Now they proposed to spend the large sum of £15,000, £OSOO of which was an extension of Mr. Climie's drainage scheme, without any qualified engineer's advice. He was opposed to this. In these days of specialisation it was impossible for one man to be expert in all classes of work. He was quite sure that there were several alternative drainage scheme which might be devised. In fact he was convinced that the water and drainage schemes should bo submitted to a competent engineer. He was entirely in favor of borrowing £2OOO for the installation of drainage in the houses. As regards the street improvements, he.pointed out that, the Council had spent considerable time in going through the i"<cessary street improvements required, f" ! a long schedule, which they considered too "xtensive for wholesale adoption, had been submitted to the overseer twelve months ago for his estimates, which had not yet been brought down; and he thought they should have this before deciding what details would be adopted. It might be contended that in this matter it was not necessary to employ a qualified engineer, as their overseer was thoroughly conversant with the cost of materials, etc., but he personally thought they would be saving money by getting expert advice. The .Mayor had appealed to councillors to take a very altruistic view of the scheme. He admired the Mayor's faith in human nature, but did not share it. He considered that by not giving ratepayers in the outlying portions the access to the property they desired the loan would not be carried, as those not directly benefited would vote against it. He was quite against the large expenditure for channelling; no channelling should be done except on roads metalled I full width. He would prefer that this I money should be expended in giving footpaths to people who at present had no j reasonable access to their homes. In I conclusion, he thought that the Council should pick out from the estimates called for twelve months ago the street works that were absolutely necessary, and, provided ratepayers were properly safeguarded in regard to the expenditure of I the drainage and waiter loan, he would support the scheme as a whole. (Jr. Sangster, in supporting the loan, remarked that Stratford should move j ahead faster, and not lag behind. He I considered, however, that some better 1 proposal could be put before the ratepayers than to take the drainage to the

* From Our Resident Reporter. * * * * Broadway North., next Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. * * * *******************************

site of the present septic tank. This scheme he considered woukl not only be too costly, but would leave 150 acres of the borough outside the drainage area. He impressed upon Councillors that when considering any scheme for town improvement they should remember that they were laying the foundations of a large town, and the scheme should, therefore, be a comprehensive one. The borough covered a large area, and they could not expect to do everything at once. As regards the water supply, personally, he did not know whether it would perhaps be better to abandon the Patea and go to the Waiongongoro—)Hear. hear.)—where they would obtain better water.

€r. Morison also favored a loan. He considered the time had arrived when improvements should be effected, which it was impossible to accomplish out of the rates. He was not prepared to vote for a definite sum, viz., £15,000, at this stage, because it might be found, when more details had been obtained, that a greater or lesser a7nount was required. It was due to them that the estimate of the necessary works should be placed before them, before they dealt with the present street proposals, and he suggested that the matter should be deferred until this was done. In connection with the drainage scheme, he thought they should provide for the wants of the people in the northern part of the borough as well. With regard to the water supply, they should also seriously consider the question of carrying the pipes up the Cardiff and Waiongon-. goro road to the latter river, one of the purest and best in the whole district.

Cr. Boon favored the principle of the loan, but could not vote on the drainage scheme until he knew what a septic ! tank in the vicinity of Esk road would cost, Drainage to the old tank would leave a large area undrained. The flush tanks proposed to be used would be unsatisfactory. As regarded the water filtration scheme, if this was to cost £2OOO he thought that the money would be better expended in laying mains in some of I the more densely populated by-streets, j so a.s to afford the people there, who I paid for water, some protection in case 1 of lire, the present small pipes only being J sufficient for domestic requirements. He j approved of channelling and kerbing, which was not only an ultimate saving but also gave the town a clean and tidy J appearance. J

Cr. Healy considered the loan a reasonable one, but thought that both the water and drainage schemes should be submitted to an engineer. He considered that the ratepayer in the back streets, with no access, should be considered.

Cr. Ward supported the loan, though he considered the amount should be left out at the present stage. The water scheme was, to ihis idea, the most important, and he did not think it weiK far enough. They should make provision to take land under the Public Works Act not only for filters but right through to Page street, six feet wide, for in years to come the mains would need replacing by larger ones, and the cost of re-entry-would be very great. Ho also favored the employment of an engineer on the waier and drainage scheme. He pointed out that no provision was made for opening up various streets, such as Ariel street, Juliet street south, Orlando street south, and Portia street south, which it was patent should be made. He believed in kerbing and channelling, but did not think the present scheme went far enough.

€r. Maealister was also in favor of a loan, but was disappointed at the amount set down for the new work, practically only £l5O. He thought it a pity that the water scheme could not be removed from the list and gone on with at once, as the Council was unanimous regarding its necessity. Whether they went to the Waiongongoro or elsewhere filters would be necessary, as the water always carried foreign matter which, while not injurious to health, was certainly not pleasant. He also thought the proposal to .borrow £2OOO to lend to ratepayers for the purpose of connecting their houses with the sewer would not be sufficient, as many of chose not connected now with the present system would probably avail themselves of the opportunity. If the proposed loan was carried, people not provided for would not obtain drainage for many .years.

Cr. Laws on was of opinion that £15,000 was not sufficient. Streets on the outskirts had been totally omitted, and unless provision was made for these the loan had a poor hope of going through. The Mayor, in reply, said that all councillors were of opinion that a loan was necessary, and the majority thought a large loan was required. As far as 'he could see, a loan of £40,000 would be necessary to do the necessary work, but as he did not think such a loan would be carried he had brought forward this modified scheme, and had instructed the foreman to bring down only the most particular work, irrespective of localities. The whole scheme should be carefully considered. Dr. Paget was rather pessimistic about its being carried, but he believed that people had such solid faith in their tWn that they would look at it in a broad light. He had not forgotten the back streets, but his idea was that if the loan proposals were carried, this work could be done out of revenue. He considered an engineer's report necessary, but thought it advisable to get the feeling of the Council on the matter first. After various amendments had been lost, the following resolution was carried: "That the Council take the preliminary and necessary steps to raise a loan for the following works: Drainage, water extension improvements, house connections to sewer, and street improvements, and that with a view of forwarding the placing of a loan before the ratepayers (1) the Council go into committee and appoint an engineer to advise re drainage; that the engineer's report and information acquired re high pressure fillers be laid before the Council; (3) that in connection with street improvements the schedule of street improvements already drawn up be reconsidered, and estimates on the most necessary work he immediately prepared by the overseer; and (4) that with regard to house sewerage installations the clerk and overseer prepare a list of installations required to complete the present system.

The Council then went into committee re. the appointment of a consulting engineer, and' on resuming it, was resolved to adjourn further consideration of the scheme until the necessary data was obtainable. WATER RATE. The Mayor then moved the second motion standing in his name: That the water rate to be collected for the ensuing year be only such, amount as will be sufficient to pay interest on loans.

Last year, lie pointed out, £403 was collected in water rate, and after paying £2BO for new work and maintenance there was a balance at the end of the year of £OB2 to the credit of the a-mount. He did not think it desirable to pile up this account unduly, and while it was advisable to effect small additions out of rates, any big extension should ; be made out of Joan. It might be nice to have a fat water credit so as to reduce the general overdrafts, but it was not fair to do this by placing a heavy burden on the users of the water. After some discussion this was agreed

VICTORIA BRIDGE. , On the discussion of a notice of motion by the Mayor it. was resolved to obtain a report, with recommendations, from Messrs. Robinson and Christophers, engineers, on the condition of Victoria bridge, over the Patea river on Broadway, and that a committee, consisting of the Mayor and Crs. Sangster and Boon, be empowered to engage them to draw up the report.

THE MOUNTED ENCAMPMENT. The men of D Squadron, Wellington .and West Coast Mounted Rifles, went into camp yesterday at Waverley, and were not favored with such fine weather as were the Territorials. About 40 men of the No. 1 and 2 sections, which are in charge of Lieutenant Wilson and Lieutenant Crawshaw, were mustered on the station this morning, awaiting the arrival of the special train at about 10.45, and they certainly did not look very sol-dier-like, as they were not clad in their uniforms, and some presented a very raw .ippcarance. A week's training in camp, coupled with brand new uniforms, should make some of them unrecognisable even to their nearest relations on their return. When the train arrived a, number of the men of the left half of the squadron (Waitara), which is in charge of Lieutenant Joll, were on board, spick and span in their uniforms. A further contingent of the No. 2 section wotild entrain at Eltham, and it was expected that the full muster of the D Squadron, of which Captain Henty is in command, would be about 90. Other special trains from Hawera and Wanganui will also convey contingents to Waverley, and it is expected that, all-told, about 500 men will be under canvas. The train, as it left ihere, was a lengthy one, as the horses occupied a number of trucks, mostly cattle trucks. Very little, difficulty was experienced in entraining the mounts, most of which, one would have thought, were used to travelling in that fashion.

AMUSEMENTS HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. There was an appreciative audience to witness the programme change at His Majesty's Theatre Inst night. The stars for the evening were a great Vitagraph society drama, "Hungry Hearts," and "In the Wilderness," a very fine Edison film. The latter picture stands alone for thrilling adventure, yet .is true to life, being written round the adventures of the great Australian explorers—Burke and Wills—who perished whilst performing their duty to their country. The rest of the new programme is quite in keeping, and evoked much praise from the audience. The management announce that their matinees will commence on the 25th, when every child will receive a useful present.

GENERAL NEWS The death occurred at the Stratford Hospital on Thursday morning of Mr. Hubert Balfour, creamery manager at Skinner Road, after a short illness. Deceased, who had been in charge of the Skinner Road creamery for about two .years, was highly esteemed by those with whom he had come in contact. He is, it is understood, a son of MajorGeneral Balfour, of the Imperial Service, and a cousin of Mr. A. J. Balfour. He came to New Zealand about twenty-five years ago, remaining for some time in Rangitikei. He leaves a widow and adopted daughter, for whom much sympathy is felt. A cribbage match was to have been played here on Wednesday night between a local team and a team from the Mount Egmont Quarry. The wet weather, however, prevented the country team from coming in, and the match will be played at a later date.

A mooting of the general committee of Hi p. A. & P. Association is to be hold on Saturday. Cr. N. J. King has given notice of his intention to move, at the next meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening: That the resolution passed on "Wednesday night, re reducing the water rate, be rescinded. About thirty local Boy Scouts intent! to journry to Wellington to meet General Baden-Powell, the originator of the movement, on his visit to New Zealand. The Stratford Electric Ligiht Company formally started its new Diesel engine and dynamo' to-night. It worked very smoothly, and at once synchronised with the old plant, the three dynamos working in unison. It is not intended to start the day load until June. At the annual meeting of the company this afternoon Mr. R. Masters was elected chairman, in place of Mr. R. H. Cameron, who >has been chairman for the past seven years, I but now finds that his business takes him too much out of Stratford.