Water and Sewage For Milton.

Bruce Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 14, 19 February 1920, Page 5

Water and Sewage For Milton.

RATEPAYERS' MEETING. Poll to be Taken on tha Proposals.

About 70 ratepayers of Milton attended the meeting, convened by the Borough Council and held in the Coronation Hall on Monday evening, to consider the proposals emanating from the Borough Council to raise a loan.for the combined proposed installation of a watter supply and sewage system for the borough, full particulars of which have been published in recent issues. ) The Mayor (Mr Alex. Reunie) presided, and was supported on the platform by half a dozen councillors, whilst Mr IP. J. Williams (Dunedin), the engineer responsible for the proposals, was also present by invitation. The Mayor remarked that the. council's proposal had been fully published in tho Bruce Herald columns. It would have been more encouraging to the council if a larger number of ratepayers had attended to hear freely discussed such important matters affecting their welfare. He considered Milton was the only town, within the Dominion which was lagging behind the. times, and if they intended to keep pace with modern advancement they must march on—or march out. They required to live up to modern ideas of development, or become a by-word amongst progressive communities. The combined scheme of water supply and sewage might seem a large undertaking for. the borough, and made one hesitate to bring forward the system when it was recollected that about six years ago tile ratepayers had turned down the water supply proposal by a large majority. It was somewhat with fear and trembling that the council now placed the same water supply scheme before the ratepayers, at an advance in cost of about £BOOO. This was a large increase, but the question would have to be faced unflinchingly. It had been considered that he was opposed to the combined scheme, but that was incorrect. He felt as enthusiastic in their favour as any ratepayer or councillor, and considered it their (the ratepayers) duty to authorise the council to proceed with both schemes. The additional cost to individual ratepayers would amount to about £5 on ordinary cottages, which sum was infinitesimal' compared with the ad%'antages to be derived. He (the speaker) also considered tho borough should raise an additional £2OOO for gene; ral improvements. The streets and foot paths had been neglected, and other works required attention to place Milton on a proper footing and make the town more beautiful and habitable. He was most anxious that the ratepayers should at least sanction the water scheme, even if the sewage proposal was held in abeyance in the. meantime. The present dry spell of woather had brought home forcibly the necessity for water supply for household purposes. Probably there was a possibility that the cost of'material might recede within the next few years, but, despite that possibility, the ratepayers should sanction the council to proceed with tho water scheme—despite the £BOOO additional cost on the 1913 estimates. The Mayor then referred to the recent disastrous fire, wherein five business and residential premises were destroyed, whilst people had to stand by and helplessly watch their destruction'. He felt convinced that had a water supply been available, the fire could have been confined to one building, and the greater portion of that building saved. As a result of that fire two business men had been driven from the town, whilst the others had suffered serious loss and great inconvenience through dislocation of trade. The Mayor concluded by urging the ratepayers to sane tion the water supply, even if they would not grant authority for the combined scheme.

Cr A. E. Stewart explained the reason he occupied the platform in such "bad company." At the recent elections he had issued a manifesto to the ratepayers In which he urged "economy." They had turned down Mr Donald* Reid, another advocate of economy, and elected the High Priest of Progress (Mr Rennie) as Mayor; also his sub-lieutenant (Mr Alex. Camp-, bell) had topped the poll for councillors, whilst he (the economist) had been relegated to a subordinate position. He (Mr Stewart) was a strong advocate of the combined scheme of water and sewage, and considered they should "go the whole hog" and support an efficient combined scheme. The Mayor was evidently concerned about the financial state of the borough, but he (the speaker) was convinced that within four years the present overdraft on the general revenue would be wiped out, and that, without borrowing for general purposes, the council would be able to put the streets in proper order, consequent on the increased revenue derivable from the revised valuations.' After paying the annual recurring salaries, etc., the council should have £SOO per annum available for general improvements. In all schemes of a private business or public nature they had to consider the three main aspects—(l) What justification there was for any proposed expenditure; (2) whether all contingencies had been allowed for; (3) what benefit or saving could be effected by their adoption. Ratepayers should disabuse their minds of the current mistaken impression that the installation of a water supply would mean a reduction in fire insurance rates. During the past 25 years ho had witnessed several fires in Milton, and wag convinced that, had a water-supply been available, over £15,000 worth of property could have been saved from destruction. His main arguments for the adoption of the combined scheme were on the score of health and cleanliness; in these modern times more attention was being paid to hygienic conditions, and it was essential that Milton should not be content to continue on its present, unsatisfactory state. Their present system of sanitation was antiquated and detrimental to health. The- estimates prepared by the engineer, Mr Williams, had been carefully examined, and it was considered probable that the amount of 10 per cent, allowed for contingencies would not .'be required. Nothing had been omitted from the estimates of the probable cost, but the council could not guage tho actual revenue, as some ratepayers might not' make the connections to their properties after the schemes had been carried into effect. Those not taking advantage of opportunities would be charged hall rates, lhe annual charges incurred on the water supply scheme would total £1177, and for drain age £BBS- The .additional rate amounted to one and three-quarter- times more than the present rate, and the question arose, "Were the ratepayers prepared to pay this amount for the increased advantages, and

for the health of their families and themselves'/" TKe Borough Council would save £350 per annum on the present sanitation system, "the cost of which would probably flhortly increase to about £SOO p'er annum. Ratepayers would save the recurring charges, for upkeep of tanks, wells, etc. Water and drainage would be available to all, but under the council's system of rating the man "in the mansion" would pay infinitely more than the man "in the cottage." The latter would incur an annual extra charge of £4 17s 6d, whereas the former would pay-about £9 5s per annum. The business premises with which he was connected would pay about £55 per annum, but he was prepared to pay this for the advantages to be derived. The woollen mill was in particularly bad street; at present it had a cheap and effective water supply, but in the event of these proposals being carried it would have to pay 50 per cent, on its rateable value, even if the director did not take advantage of the council's schemes. Continuing, Mr Stewart quoted from a Government publication a list of towns in the Dominion with about the same number of residential properties as Milton, and the amounts they had raised in loans for improving their towns with water, drain age, lighting, etc , as follows :o Amount Over Raised draft. Dargaville £71,000 7392 Pukekohi 43.000 1255

Cambridge 37000 4100 I'aumaranui 45,000 4700 Kaiapoi .. ... ..'. 10,000 830

Temuka ... ... ... 12 415 71 Mosgiel 25,000 1533 These towns which were all about the same size as Milton had taken their courage in their hands in adopting a progressive policy, and Milton would not be in bad company if it launched out, and borrowed £34,000 for water and sewage, The loan was repayable in 36) years, and the much-Ulked-about posterity would have a very j good time, as only one of the items (pump and accessories) would require renewing in 30 years, It would mean real economy in the long run even if they borrowed to £50,000. Fetired people were leaving the town, and going to spend their declining years in other towns where modern conveniences were available. The introduction of a water supp'y and sewage system would enhance the valve of propsrty* Cr Stewart concluded by urging the rate, payers to adopt the combined scheme Cr Kircy also spoke at length urging the ratepayers to adopt the combined scheme Eeryone should agree that the additional cost per annum was a mere bagatelle com pared wifh the advantages to be derived. Mr Williams (engineer) also delivered a short add ess, in which he remarked that a gravitation scheme could not possibly be a success for Mi ton, 1 here was only 86 feet fall over a distance of six miles which was totally inadequate for fire fighting purposes, The speaker also outlined the working of the septic tank system for the disposal of j sewage.

In rep'y to questions, the engineer stated that the proposed,, .storage tank would have a capacity of 56,000 gallons. The pressure would throw a jet of water 100 feet for fire fighting, and this pressure could be in creased by pumping direct into the mains. At the conclusion of the addresses, which were frequently greeted with applause, Mr Mirams congratulated the councillors on having brought forward the schemes, and moved that the Council be empowered to take a poll thereon on the question of raising a loan, Ihe motion was seconded by Dr. Wylie, and carried unanimously.