TAKAPUNA LOAN POLL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 94, 22 April 1925, Page 10

TAKAPUNA LOAN POLL.

EXTENSIVE SCHEMES. SEWERAGE AND ROADING. IMPROVEMENTS AT BAYSWATER. Explanation of the various loan proposals to be put before the ratepayers of the Borough of Takapuna at the i forthcoming poll was made by the Mayor, Mr. J. W. Harden, in the Picturedrome, Milford, in the presence of a fair attendance last evening. The main loan, which was more in the nature of a policy in which the ratepayers would assist the council, was one of £115,000 for sewerage. Work had already been commenced on an outfall tunnel 2600 ft long, extending from Northboro Road to St. Leonard's. The contract for the work had been let to a gang of miners on the co-operative principle. In the event of the proposals being turned down, the work would be stopped and compensation paid to the men engaged on the tunnelling. It was recognised that the drainage scheme should be an extensive one. A former estimate for the work had been £250,000, but the present estimates were considerably below that figure. The support of the proposals would mean that every part of the borough could be reticulated as it warranted it. There were, said the Mayor, two outfalls for the whole borough, one at Blackrock and the other at Clifton. That portion of the scheme already in hand would be completed during the coming spring. The various amounts. lie considered, would be well spent. The lack of adequate sewerage was against the rapid growth of Takapuna. Loans for Street Works. The proposed loan for streets was £21,300. The most important feature was the proposal to concrete the main road from Hauraki Road to the Strand Another large item was the construction of a new bridge across the Wairau Creek at the site of the present wooden structure. It was essential that a firstclass outlet be provided for that part of the borough. The engineer's plans allowed for the expenditure of £4000 for a full-width bridge. The sum of £1200 was on the estimates for the formation of a path across the sewerage work from the end of Northboro Road to Beach Road, Bayswater. The formation of the path would join the districts of Takapuna and Bayswater and provide a reclamation suitable for future use. It was also proposed to surface Walter's, Hill, the short stretch of road leading from the borough boundary to Belmont, with bitumen. Borough's Natural Outlet. The final proposal was the raising of a loan for the improvement of the entrance of the borough at Bayswater. The matter had given the council considerable trouble. The loan was being raised on the understanding that two sections situated on the bluff at the head, of the wharf be giren by the Takapuna Tramways and Ferry Company. The bluff would be cut away, and the soil utilised in widening the present wharf. The -widening , of the landing would mean that the Tramway Company would have to provide adequate shelter for passengers. Bayswater was the gateway of the borough, and the scheme, when devised, would have to be a permanent one. The improvement of Marine Terrace would probably mean the introduction of a bus sen-ice. The time for the running of a vehicular ferry steamer from Auckland to Bayswater was not far distant. The loan also provided for the planting of trees and other improvements to the approach at Bayswater.

The Question of Rates. At the present time the finances of the borough were in a very buoyant condition indeed. During the past year, which had proved very awkward owing to the retirement of the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Gould) and the absence in England of the Town Clerk, the borough had lived within its income. Under the scheme the cost of maintaining the main roads would be greatly reduced, while the sanitary rate would be abolished. The continuance of building at. its present rate would increase the revenue to the extent of £1500 a year. Thus, as the loan money was to be raised gradually, it was anticipated that for' some years the increase in annual expenses would be only between £400 and £500. He was of opinion £hat the amoxint saved from the maintenance of the main roads should be expended on the improvement of side sereets. The meeting closed with a vote of things to the Mayor.