Conference of Local Bodies.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2964, 15 August 1878, Page 2

Conference of Local Bodies.

; A conference of the members of local bodies was held at the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, for (he purpose of considering the position of the-Water' Supply Committee. There were present —The Mayor, Crs Renshaw, McGowan, Price, Thorburn, Wilson, Thorp, and 'Coutts.

.The Mayor briefly introduced the sub. ject, and called on the Secretary^ to read the following statement which Wad be<*n prepared:—Amount of debentures held by T. and S Morrin, due 7th August, 1882, £2,000; amount of .coupons, £40 due each three months, £680; amount of overdraft Bank of > rew Zealand, £1,414 Ids 4d; amount of cheques drawn and paid. away, but not presented, £589 ss. 8d; amount due to T. and S. Morrin for balance of cost'of last 50 tons oF-pipes, £209 14s Sd ; amount due on contracts now in progress —Waiotahi, Parawai, and Goods Wharf, £175. A mount required to connect 9 inch mains and Parawai with' 9 inch mains at Alb-rt steet, £2,020/' This work will take about 168. tons of pipes, at £9—£1,502; labour, lead, &e.\ '£510';' and would relieve about 7.000 feet of 4-inch pipes for water supply to Block 27, &c. Amount required to construe supply reservoir, as per plan prepared Jby. Mr Aitken nnd Mr KcFarland,; £3000 ; amount required for working expenses, and maintenance of plant up end of year, £4C). Amount to He receired for water supplied, £400;. present; annual income, from £BCO to £1000. Working expenses at. present, including repairs to plant, £500 a year. This is without'any extensions of mains or sub-mains. '"Pro-' bable income, if rating clauses, become' law, £1500 to £2000; while the .'charges of water'will be much less toeach'con-' sumer. If £10 000, borrowed at 8 per cent., the annual interest would,be £800; the annual working expenses, . £SCO— £1300; leaving the balance between'this, amonnt and ihe n mount, of tho } Annual income to be invesdv! as ;i virsking fun 3to pay off the principal borrowed. The Secretary mentioned that hpltad

just received a telegram (roni Air Brodie staling .li.it he could not hear anything of the Water Supply Bill, so ho supposed that it had been mislaid.

The Mayor said the point for them to consider was—Would tho local bodies give the Water Committee an additional guarautee to carry on the works re* quired ?

In reply to Cr '! horburn the Secretary said the Borough guaranteed fiveeigths, the County two eights, and the Parawai Board one-eighth. .. . *''

The Mayor said that there was no doubt that, the^orks were required, but they must look'into their financial condition. He * supposed'the locaU bodieg. would guarantee them up to £2CGO, but there were a number of important works proposed.

Cr Kenshaw said that at present they were guaranteed to the. bant (or £15C0, and it was proposed to guarantee the Committee for £2500. more—£2CoO for the new mains, and £500. '

Tbe Mayor pointed . out ?jjbere wag more tan that, the £500 of^Rstanding cheques fV-r instance. ' . ; > ; <Jr llenshaw said that Paraw^ at present guaranteed £187 10s arid the proposed additional guarantee would raise it to £601; the County were now pledged for £375, and if the proposal was carried out they would guarantee £1202 ; the Borough's guarantee was £537 103, and would be raised to £3604.

In answer to Cr Kenshaw, the Secretary said that rating would make the revenue from £1500 to £2COO.

Cr Kenshaw proposed that those present recommend their bodies to guarantee the increase from £1500 to'£2ooo at present, until the rating powers are givea to the Committee', when an additional guarantee might bo considered.

Cr Wilson seconded.

Cr Thorburn said that he did not think the County would object to the proposal, and as far as he was concerned he would push it on. He was prepared to go further, and wished to see a cqinplet3 water supply. would more, t bat the guarantee be increased from £1500 to £5000.

Seconded -by Cr Price.

On the amendment being pat it was lost, and Cr Henshaw's, motion was ear* ried. ' ...<..*

This conducted the business.