PÅRNELL LOAN POLL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 107, 6 May 1913, Page 7

PÅRNELL LOAN POLL.

TO BE TAKEN FORTHWITH. A PROGRESSIVE SCHEME. FOR DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS. Arrangements are now being made for the taking of a poll at Parnell almost I immediately, for the endorsement of the £25.000 loan .scheme. The Registrar of Electors (Air. Uogan) wis this morning instructed by the Mayor to prepare the ratepayers' roll for the poll. The loan proposals were explained by the Mayor (Mr. ('. J. Parr) to a " Star " representative, i irie of the principal works in view ■is the re-making of the main roa.l from Auckland to Newmarket, at a cost of about £•! 1,000. The road is to he taken up. and a hand-packed foundation put in. with a strong surface of tarred macadam. An very nearly half the revenue in Pariiell has in the past been absorbed ill the upkeep of the main thoroughfare, the completion of this work in permanent material will mean that secondary streets will in the future receive far more attention than in the past. Under the scheme, therefore, not only will the main t.noroughfare be advantaged, but the whole of the streets in the district will reap the benefit. .Several of the more important side streets are also to receive immediate-attention under the loan scheme. Cleveland Street and Oarfield Street— probaMy used for pedestrian traffic more than any other streets in the city—are to he at once improved, and Alpha Street and Mechanic*-; Rise wiW be regraded. Brighton Uoad is included in the list of streets t.o receive attention, and Park Road, which is the boundary between Parnell and Xeirniwket, w-iil have to be properly made on the city side, as has alre-sdy been done by Newmarket on their side. Gladstone Ttoail will be kerbpd and channelled, and St. Stephen's Avenue will receive, attention out of the rpvenue. The total sum proposed to be raised by loan for street improvement is £15,000. Then in order to get the benefit of .the city fire brigade's services, and to reduce "the cost of insurance (which is from 10 to 30 per cent higher than in the city) it is proposed to .-jpend £4.000 in providing larger mains ami new hydrants. The overdraftr.'of £;?,000. which existed when Pariwll-joimnl the city, is to be paid ofi". The ratepayers will be further asked to sanction a vote of £500 which the Mayor stutcs t.hr ..ouncil will augment with another £500 for the two .beautiful promintory parks at Campbell's Port and Fort Resolution. The expenditure "f £l.f!00 will no doubt go far to make those most attractive seaside resorts. The City Council is jilso particular]v anxious to hare approved at the polls a loan of f'2.500 for the. provision of public baths, bathing sheds, and hathing machines on the fine beach at Judge's Bily. With tnou«and« of people flocking into Auckland for the Exhibition, next summer, ir i> considered desirable that every facility should be provided for,se,i bathing. If tho loan proposals arc approved, the city will spend £800 in purchasing silfflwent property at the drive to the Domain to enable a sweeping entrance to he made. On the King's Drive it is also proposed to spend £1.700. this being one of the liabilities taken over from the Parnell Council.

The loan poll i≤ to .be taken in 'pursuance of the bargain made with Pa-rnell at the time of amalgamation with the city. The arrangement is that the city .*hou!<l borrow C 25.000 nnd spend it to the best advantage in the district. At nrpsfnt. ParutHl ratepayers pay a fraction under 3/ in rates." as against 3/3 A in the city. At current market rates the ililTcrciice would finance a-loan -of £17.000. The'arranjrement is that Pnrnell will pay an equal rote to that paid in the city, when its loan is (innneed, and the fit*- will make pood thp difference in interest between C 17.000 anil £25,000. >o ihn.t Parnell reaps the benefit in the city paying interest on .CS.OOO of die loan. Xlic city, of course, makes ftsclf liable for the loan.