NORTHCOTE WATER SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 172, 21 July 1903, Page 2

NORTHCOTE WATER SUPPLY.

MEETXIStJ Otf UAl'iiif aYKIIS.

A poll of ratepayers in tlie Northcote district will be taKeu oil Wednesday next ou me Question 01 the proposeu ioan ox ioauu ig inaugurate a water ssuyyiy in the diauict. it is proposed to bring tne water lroni Lake raiiaiJUiiu, and a reservoir iroin whiudi tne svatei- will be distributed by gravitation is proposed to be erected ou smaie s mil. The tsciieiiie was fully described in the "Star' lfceuuy. The polling 'booths on Weuuesuay will be iv the Uayview Mail, Morthcote, and the VVaitviuatu county Council's Cnuniuers, yueeu street, The hours of polling will be from It a.m. till 0 p.m. The result of tlie poll will be made known at Kortneote by tiie returning oiiieer, Mr C. A. Cawkwell.

A meeting of ratepayers was held in the ISayview Hall last evening , . i'Uere was n large attendance, aud ALr Horace xiunt was voted to tne cliair.

Mr Joshua Jackson, the convener of the meeting, said his opposition to tne loan was uased on the following grounds, via.: —That tiie number of ratepayers on iae roll wus about "220, who were now paying £5Uu witn the present rate of six furtniugs, or equal to 2/ In the pound on the annual rental. Ltirkenhead ratepayers were ouiy paying a total of 1/10. Tne proposed loan would necessitate" the levy of an additional rate of six farthings, making 4/ in the £ on the annual rental, or every ratepayer in the riding contributing on an average £4 6/ per head. A drainage scheme would speedily follow a water supply, and that would necessitate a further loan, and another rate of at least three farthings, equal to 1/ in the £ rental, making In all 5/. He did not think such an outlook would induce settlement. He thought that 150 consumers was an exaggerated estimate. He considered the estimated expenditure and receipts unreliable, and a five farthings rate would not cover expenses. The scheme would cost at the least a rate of seven farthings.

Mr Waterworth said thuc Mi- Wilson had distinctly averred that the difference iv cost between tin eight-inch and a six-inch pipe would not amount to more than £600 or £700. He was surprised at the attitude taken up by Mr Jackson, who some 12 months ago was strongly in favour of the water scheme. It couid not be said that the water supply was estimated to cost less then than it would now.—[Mr .Jackson: But It was the joint scheme I favoured then.] — Mr Waterworth referred to what took place at a recent meeting. It originally agreed to have six-inch pipes, and at the last meeting he did his very best to make it plain that the eight-inch scheme would be more desirable, because it v>ould allow of Birkenhead joining them later. He said the meeting then decided in favour of the fight-inch scheme, and a resolution to this effect was to be sent to the AVaitemata County Council. He understood that Mr Bruce, in placing the matter Lefore the Council, had not faithfully represented the feeling of the meetiug. He th.;u went on to say that from information h» had just received he had beenu shocked iv learn that Mr Bruce had presented to the meeting as chairman certain figures concerning the scheme that were not authentic. Mr Bruce gave these figures as coming from the Council, and he now learned that the Council had not sent them. If the chairman had presented figures that the Council thought (vere not correct he should certainly be prepared to move a vote of censure on him. If the water could be got at a leasonable figure let them have it, but if it cost too much, then it was out of the question. /A water supply would be better for the health, cleanliness, and attractiveness d the insIrict. If they had the water supply it would not be the few ratepayers tnero were now but the ratepayers of the future; that would have to bear the cost. And, with increased population, the rate of six farthings would be materially reduced. He thought if they put it oil now it would not oe possible to have a water supply at all. Money was cheaper now than ever it would be. Mr Bruce said he was a believer in the single scheme, but he was fully convinced that the time had not arrived Cor them to adopt it. Even a schoolboy was quite r.ble to demonstrate that it could not be done for less than £ll!,000 or £13,000. It was advisable that they should have a water supply, but the cost was too great for them to bear at present. He would admit that the scheme would be very attractive, but as to its bringing in an increase of population he bogged to differ, lie thought the single scheme best. He had never taken a report to the Council, simply because there had not been a meeting of the Council since the recent meeting of ratepayers. The chairman of the Council had kindly appointed his officers for the poll when he (Mr Bruce) had Informed him and the secretary of the result of the meeting. Messrs Wrightsou, Reid. Cadness, and WoodrotTe Bpolce in favour of the scheme, using arguments and figures which have already been published. The main contention was that a water supply would lend to increase the population, and that it would have to come sooner or later o;ving to the attitude taken by the Health Department as regards drainage, which could not be carried out without a water supply.

Mr Woodroffe moved and Mr Cadness seconded, "That this meeting of Northcote ratepayers, convened by Mr Joshua Jackyon, heartily endorse the proposals of the Waitemata 'County Council respecting the Northcote water supply, and pledges its best efforts in carrying tue poll for the proposal." Mr Waterworth moved and Mr Campbell seconded, "That this meeting of Northcote ratepayers pled.ees itself to support the scheme for n water supply if 'it a cost not exceeding £0000. and with a main of not less than eight Inches."

The amendment was lost. Mr. Jackson then moved, "That this meeting plPdi'PS itself to. vote against the loan of £6000." On being put this was carried, 19 votinc for and 17 against.