EASTBOURNE'S WANTS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1038, 30 January 1911, Page 5

EASTBOURNE'S WANTS

- "I ,THE WATER AND DRAINAGE LOAN. ■DIVERGENT VIEWS. The Mayor (Mr. H. W. Short) presided at the statutory meeting of ratepayers 'held at Eastbourne on Saturday evening to consider.- the, Borough Council's loan proposals , for a water supply and drainage scheme, viz., for . water, and £3500 for' 6ewerage. The Mayor explained the steps that had been' taken by previous councils to deal with the question of a water supply, and enumerate the benefits, to be derived froma good water and drainage scheme. He read Mr. Mestayer's reports (already I published), and: explained some, of the details. Both engineers consulted had estimated the cost of a.tunnel at 12s. per foot. He moved: "That, in ihe opinion pf this meeting, a water and sewerage scheme is -necessary to the district, and that this meeting approves the proposals of the council." . . • ' Councillor •F. Wills seconded the motion. He'thought that the first interest of the district- w l as to have it clean and Jiealt-hy. He was a large oitner, and would be a heavy ratepayer, but; he was Sure that the proposed scheme would be to his benefit, and to the benefit of the jrhole district. Mr. G. Bannatyne asked whether the question of upkeep had been gone into. The Mayor, explained that the engineer Jiad assured the council that, barring accidents, the upkeep charges would be email. ...

: ' The same questioner asked if .the "bath and sink water was to be excluded from , sewers. The Mayor reported that the seweT; Vould take all'such water. ! .'Mr. W.' Hobbs opposed the schemes, ind expressed the opinion that they were fen or twenty years ahead of the time. He thought that the creeks within the borough should b3 used. The present scheme was. a "wild-cat" scheme. He Questioned the estimate for the cost of the tunnel. In , fact, the • whole • thing was underestimated. He thought the supposition that the water supply would help to beautify the borough, was a weak one, and questioned a statement mado by the Mayor.to the effect that tho improvement of the district would' induce the Ferry Company to'improve their service. They should wait till Day's Bay. and adjoining bays came into the borough before considering any further borrowing. He had no fear that'there would-be'any"' trouble in keeping, the' district sanitary ■without water and drainage. -.•Councillor Ktissell supported the motion. .. .He., characterised. Mivi .Hobbs's marksi as pessimistic and- paradoxical." The district required water badly.: The council had given _ much attention to the question, and it was fair that ratepayer's should support them. ' Councillor Robertson stated that he had : always opposed this wild scheme. The borough was both healthy and * popular, but if it were loaded with rates it would be killed. He shared the opinion that toe cost of the scheme was underestimated, especially the cost of the tunnel, iie had no objection to the scheme, as such, but there was no necessity for it From a business point, he advised them i i.v j®° F ' the population doubled. He asked if the ratepayers had tfoeir pockets full of money to pay for a Bcheme that was likely to swallow them up." . Mr; J.'Thompson asked if the water ,6upp y was to be carried down all streets. . ' The Mayor: Tes. • Mr. J.M, Geddis asked as to'the rating Jieoessary.. b The Mayor explained, giving illustra-tions-of its incidence, the rate being on canital values. • Councillor. Mackenzie submitted that the thing requiring first attention was a ferry boat. He contended that there was So tear.of an outbreak of disease under present conditions, and he gave a more or loss technical explanation of ,the cause of diseases, and quoted statistics which he contended showed that a drainage system did not act as preventive of disease, ■the proposed drainage schemo was not satisfactory, being only a makeshift, and M urged ratepayers not to support it. •He also contended that a water supply tas unnecessary. He looked forward to the tinlo when Day's Bay, etc., joined the borough, and he advised ratepayers to X , „ He as an amendment:- That the scheme be deferred for a period of years." / Councillor Robertson seconded the fcmendroent but the Mayor remarked that tie could not accept it; as it was a direct teesative. • i ■ Councillor Foley questioned the qualification of opponents of the schemo to pit their opinion against that of expert engineers. Tho scheme was both good and oheap. Of course, it was for the ratepayer w hetlier tlioy would accept it. Mr. Zohralj ridiculed an assertion made tt an earlier stage by Councillor Mackenzie to the effect that the Perry Company desired to sec the ratepayers taxed for the company's benefit: . ITo thought that tho aistrict had a bright future, and hoped ij ™ t eTer " ie ratepayers did, it would bo for of the borough. Captain O'Sullivan supported tho water Clip ply scheme, but -not thn * sewerage scheme. He believed in beautifying the district, and this would be possible with a .water snnply. Councillor Hoss thought that those present had had their "leg pulled" bv Councillor lf?.ckenzie as to drainage being a danger to the community. He appealed to the ratepayers to give tho council credit for their desire to care for the district, and he gave a resum* of tho work dono by the council in its efforts to secure ■water. He iiupted ah instance of the limitation and danger of damming the local treeksfor 'Vater supply. Councillor Sanson said that he had faith in tho schemes and he heartily supported them., Tho consequent taxation ■ would not bo high. Councillor Organ supported the schemes. II was a matter for each ratepayer to decide for himself. The Jfayor then replied. He resented certain imputations made against the councillors and the engineers by one of the speakers, who had stated that influence had been brought to bear to keen the estimates low. and so tn "take in" the ratepayers. , As to the tunnel, he gave evidence that tho work could be (lone at the estimate. Ho read statements from the engineer further explaining Doints raised. Soptic tank schemes already designed by Mr. Mestayer, at New Plymouth and other places, were working satisfactorily. He urged ratepayers not to bo misled by cither sido, but to think the matter out for themselves and to voto accordingly. The motion was then put, and declared tarried on the voices. A voto of thanks to the Mayor brought the meeting to a close.