PUBLIC MEETING AT MANGERE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 158, 4 July 1906, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING AT MANGERE.

INCURRING A £ 1500. LOAN. ' Despite the inclemency: of the wea? •therj there was a fair attendance at a public meeting convened Public" Hall, Mangere, last night., --Mr.-" McKenae (chairman of the Road-Board) presided, and explained that the"business was to consider the advisability of the Road Board taking over the water supply from the Domain Board, also the desirableness of incurring:i» loan of £1500 for the purpose of biuemetal- rling the roads in the district. " The first question considered was that of taking over the water, supply... .... A letter wasvread-froxn-the.chairman of the Domain Board; «Mr Robertson; in which he stated that the" Board" ■was; Willing, to malce over, the, supply, free of charge, on-condition .that they.we.re return supplied with water free of charge.. , " .' ■ Chairman considered it would be a good investment. . His, jdea was; to build* a reservoir on Mangere Mount, and so by gravitation be in a position to supply all Mangere. , This would be preferable to haying the. mains laid on from Onehunga. He explained his desire that something should be done to : induce the- Government to take over the Maori jands near Mangere bridge. Until was done, and freehold land was. the- progress of the- district would be at a standstill. " : : Mr Taylor said the Domain Board was desirous of getting rid of the water supply, as it did not come witnin their province, "and as it was notT always a paying concern j the auditor had objected to their controlling it. The Domain Board had spent' £200 on the plant,ahd all they asked in return jfpr-hand-ing it over was a, free supply' of water, which would be equivalent to £10 per year interest on the £200. He moved that the meeting express the opinion that it.,, : wa-s advisable '\ for the Road Board to take over 'the water'supply .from the Domain, 80ard..... .'. '.';. ■.. * Mr Laking'*-seeo:ided tic motion, pro. forma. It 1M been; suggested that the water should be .supplied' by. meter. He would .prefpr some other and ,less. es--ju:isive< scheme. "* ~ ■"..._'•_* :;■ ._; ;■.. Mr -Montgomery- thought no .active steps should be taken until -Hie demandsof the district mads it imperative, a;rid that was not likely, to be the case. an-, -■til the Government would agree to take. over the Maori lands. Mr Scott wanted: to know why it waVthat a few years ago the Domain Board found the water supply a paying; concern, while now that'the number of consumers had increased, they.were.losing over-it ?"'"'-' / ';■ •"■ ■/■' : -.-y-. Mr Taylor said there had • been a waste of/water, which they could not account" for, and that had been the reason of the loss. '.."-.., ' ■ . On the motion being put., it was lost by two votes. The Chairman ttieh introduced the, more important questionof negotiating. for a : ,£1500 loatf for blue metalling the roads of the district. A great deal of niohey was spent yearly in repairing the thoroughfares; he said. - In. 6ne instance (Hastie's-road) £50 was 'spent in repairs last year, and £50 this year. If all the roads\ were blue-metilled; I they' would, not need repairing.; for. the j next 10 ye&r3.. If the suggestion -was adopted, the Board intended to treat •every portion of the district impartially; /■■'"-;. .",;. ::'; s ■;[';[■;;■-■> & Mr Massey, M.H.R., said he had for_ many years taken an interest in this subject. )It was not as easy now to Tiiise a loan, as it was a few years ago.: Up to a period of three years ago, thejj could raise money at different rates of interest. For a term of 26 years they' oould have secured money. at 4% per cent, and at the terminktion pfthtft period the thing was done with. But: at thecbnelusion of theJfcier war money 'became dearer, and under the Government Loan to' Local Bodies Act the; minimum latefwas now 5 per cent for a term of 26 years, 4$ per cent for 32 years, and 4 per cent for 36 years. fifteen years ago he -vras' a, member of the Mangere Road Board, and the pror cess of metalling' roads'.was'their initiated. At that,time he remembered; one road being metalled- at 14 or 15 yards to the , clvain; since; then that highway had Had: very little repairing, and was good for another ten years. He did not quite understand what the cost of the work suggested wotild be, v but imagined it would figure but at' about £200 per mile, and the cost of that £200, at 5 per cent, would be £10 per annum. There were, he believed, about 25 miles of roads desiring attention. Another point to consider was that at present the,, rates collected brought in. a, 10/ If the proposed loan -was: negotiated, they woiilif have -to strike a-special rate, on which they wouldget no subsidy. He moved "That the Road Board communicate through Mr Kirktffide, M.H.R., with the Treasurer anent the possibility of negotiating; a £ 1000 or £ 1500 loan, for the purpose. 6fhlae-metalling the reads. in and that, having obtained the information, the . Road Board report, on same to a subsequent meeting of ratepayers." , . This;was seconded by i -Mr Baker. Messrs Taylor and Mcntg6mery support-. ied the metiou. „ This Chairman expressed the opinion that; the' ;eost ef metalling would , " be; •more like £300 per mile. "'■ j ; Mr Laking -asked would the ratepayI ers be double-banked; with the present j rate and ai , special , 'rate?" ■"■■.■•■ - <■- I The"Ctiairman replied that the present rate could, be reduced. Mr Westney xiiiA tirit x?hen ioiproye.-, ments,,were--inade, he woiiid tike-to see the roads made wider* 'it that the traffic would not ; !be'congested. : Mr Wynyard (of Wynyard and Pur ehas) explained the Manukau Water , Supply:LCompany had b/mwred £ 25,000 from the Government at 3J per cent.fpr 41 years, and suggested a similar course of-procedure being adopted in this case to, secure the loan. Mr Massey said the .Government Loan to Local Bodies. Act was a very success*--ful'piece of legislation, and was m«aht. to, assist.such.cases as these. > There might' be some -difliculty in Tie* "of the.' fact<.;tbat the loan was not required 1 for tIKJ establihsment of entirely new. roadsj but h,e trusted this would be overcome.. - . ; . .\- r . ; ; The motion was carried. . ...;. This terminated thevibusiness. : ;