THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 127, 29 May 1919, Page 7

THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

WORK IN THE SUBURBS. ASSESSMENTS FOR THE YEAR. The Auckland and Suburban Drainago Board met last evening, the chairman, Mr. J. H. Gunson, presiding. The board assessed, upon estimates „ submitted by the secretary-engineer, Mr H. H. Watkina, the contributions payable for the current year by the various local bodies whose districts benefited by the drainage work. Mr. Watkins stated that of the £500,000 which the board was empowered to borrow, £450,000 had been raised, in addition to which £5500 raised by the late Hobson Bay Watershed Sewage Board was also a liability, making the board's public debt now £455,500. The credit in loan account on March 31 was £4588, while the general account showed a credit of £1984. The total expenditure during the past year was £2G,775, of which £22,300 was absorbed by interest, loan commission, and. exchange, and sinking fund payments, £3302 by constructional work, £2794 by maintenance, and £1088 in miscellaneous expenses. £18,604 was held in trust by the loan commissioners on March 31. The estimated expenditure for the current year under general account was: — Permanent appropriations for payment of interest, and the creation of a sinking fund, £24,503; maintenance, etc., £5150; total, £29,713. The sum available for these purposes was £1984, leaving £27,729 to be levied upon the several contributing bodies. This latter amount, it was proposed, should be assessed as per the following table, the levies for the previous year being also given for com- , parison, shillings and pence omitted: — Local Bodies. 1010-1020. 1018-1913. Auckland City £21,871 £22,300 Mouut Men 2.->OU 2.:«3 Mount Albert 1,837 1,003 •Newinnrket 6<»l 676 Oue-tree Hill (SO C 59 Avondale 357 !!02 Point Ouevaliiir 24U 858 Totals £27,729 £25,201 The estimates for the current year under trust fund account totalled £2550. Mr. Watkins recommended the board to appropriate this sum from unexpended loan money in hand at March 31, I amounting to £4588. Provision would then be made for the completion of the works in hand, and a credit balance of £2038 would remain in the account. The estimates were adopted and the contributions were assessed as recommended. Mr. Watkins was instructed to prepare plans and specifications for No. 8 branch sewer to serve Mt. Albert and Mt. Eden boroughs. In reply to Mr. T. B. Clay (Mayor of Mt. Albert), the chairman said that it was the duty of the board to construct the main sewer for those boroughs. The branches to serve these two districts were the last two works facing the board. Permission was granted the Mt. Eden Borough Council to construct sewers for Wilton Road and the Croydon Estate, the plans submitted being approved. i'lans for buildings for the pumping stations at Constitution Hill and Freeman's Bay were adopted, the estimated cost in each case being £135. Mr. Watkins reported the completion of the branch sewer in Anzac Avenue.