ONEHUNGA IMPROVEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 30, 4 February 1916, Page 9

ONEHUNGA IMPROVEMENTS.

pBOPOSED LOAN OF £36,530,

STREETS AXD WATER SUPPLY.

DISCUSSED BY RATEPAYERS.

There was a large assembly of property owners last nignt in the Foresters' Hall, Onehunga, to consider the Borough Council's new scheme for street and other improvements. The Mayor (Mr -I. Rowe), who presided, stated in a lurid address the Council's object in coming before the ratepayers for their sanction to borrow £36,530, and to authorise the Council to strike a special rate us security foT the same. The Couiic'l had found it absolutely essential to procure four new water filters in the interests of public health. These would be installed at the pumping station, .and would clarify every drop of watOT before it wont into the reservoir. The Council had ordered the filters, but it could not pay for them out of ordinary revenue, consequently the ratepayers were asked to consent to a loan of t.'iOOO for that purpose. He had no doubt nut this would be granted. Tiie money rould be obtained at 4| per cent intenst.

Continuing, Mr Rowe isiid the CouneS had been put to extra cost l;u*t year iv the purchase 01 Allan's Springs. This had been necessary owing to the exceptionally long dry season. . The purchase of the springs, together with the erecti<w of a pumping plant and water Tetioulat.ion had cost the Council £2750. whioh sirm had been borrowed from the general account. A loan of that amount was necessary to recoup the genera] account. The Council proposed to pay interest on this, and all the other loans except the first-named, at the rate ot ok per cent- The biggest proposal in the Council's scheme was the reconstruction and permanent formation of tlie main thoroughfare from the Keddon Memorial to the wharf in bituminoussealed macadam, the improvement, grading and metalling of the principal side streete, and the purchase of modern Toad-maJcing plant. For this undertaking the sum of £23.330 was required. The hist item on the programme was the formation of an embankmerrt and road across the Basin Reserve, and the conversion of the reserve into an artificial lake at an estimated cost of £5400.

The Council, continued the Mayor, was of the opinion that the present was an opportune time for borrowing money. This opinion was based on the advice of i-tr Joseph Ward and other financiers. The Basin Reserve had been gTanted to the borough by Government on the understanding that it would be converted into a lake. He reminded the meeting that the Auckland Electric Tramways Company liad offered to make the proposed conversion a fen' years ago on condition that it was allowed 12 free days a Tear for its own use.

In answer to Mr. Shaldrich the Mayor explained that the profits derived from the sale of water last year, amounting to about £2000, had been spent on the upkeep of the etreets, thus keeping the general rate down to 1/ in the pound. That was why the Council had to borrow £2780 to pay for the water extension in the purchase of Allan's Springs.

Replying to Mr. E. Dare, the Mayor stated that flloft was included in the purchase , ' _ of'" larrd adjoining Allan's Springs in order to ke*>p the water area in the hands of the Council, and also from becoming contaminated.

Dealing with the question of water profits. Mr. C. C. Davies said the genera! rate was a in the pound on the unimproved value. If the profits derived from the sale of water to out-f-ide customers had not been used for general purpose?, then the general rate would have been nearly 2Ad in the pound.

The greatest drawback Onehunga suffered from was the lack of good, wellformed streets, and roads. This undoubtedly supplied the reason for tlie low values of property within the borough, and it was hoped by carrying through the improvements covered by this loan to brinp a greater measure of prosperity, an improvement in the values of property, and to lift that appearance of stagnation which has seemed to characterise Onehunjra in the -past. On account of the great mileage of streets it was found impossible to do mueli in the ■way of permanent work out of rates unless the 6ame are largely increased. The Council believed that a large increase in rates was undesirable, and it ■was asking the ratepayers to sanction the loan as an alternative method of gaining the same result without the burden of heavy rates.

The proposal was divided into three sections: (A) £9500. This amount will lay down the main thoroughfare from the Royal Oak to the wharf in a bituminous bound macadam; (b) £12,250. The secondary arterial roads of the borough requirr this amount to reform, grade and put them in order; (c) £1.000 for road-making plant. The total rate named as security for the loan comprising these three items was 3Jd in Uip pouAd. Only a portion of the money would be raised each year, consequently the rate required within the next four or five years would bo very much below that amount.

STY. J. Stoupe. an ex-councilior, advised the Council to postpone the carrying out of the street improvements until after the war to provide employment for our boys when they return from the war. (Applause )

Mr. K. V. Sutherland expressed him self in favour of the time being appor tune for raising a loan.

Mr. 11. J. Daviee explained that the Council's reason for installing water kneters to the residences in Onehunga was to prevent the prevent watte of water.

After replying to -numerous other questions the Mavnr ruled that the Mtnicipa! Corporation A<-t did not require a resolution from the meeting, as no matter what the opinions of those present might be, the question must go to the poll. A poll will, therefore, be. taken next Wednesday between the hours of 9 a_m. and 7 p.m. in the old Public Hall, the railway station at Tc Pa/papa, and the kiosk in Symonds Street. Mr. S. J. Brookfield is the returning officer.