WATER LOAN GRANTED

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 72, 18 December 1928, Page 13

WATER LOAN GRANTED

PETONB. COUNCIL’S SCHEME

The Petone Water Supply Improvement Loan (1928) was discussed at last night’s meeting of the Petone Borough Council as the result of a letter received 'from the chairman of the Government Loans Board in connection with the loan. “With reference to the application for sanction to raise the loan I forward notification of sanction in respect to £01,000,” ran the letter. “The board is of the opinion that the sizes of the pipes to be installed should, in certain cases, be reduced, as indicated in the report of Mr. Viekerman, the council’s consulting engineer. In order that a poll on the whole proposals may be taken, the board has sanctioned vhe full amount applied for, but it has recommended the Government to issue an Order-in-Council for £20,000 only for the present, consent to the balance, £41.000, to be withheld until such time as the matter can be further considered by the board. The issue of consent to raising £20,000 will permit of works being put in hand forthwith, and in the meantime the council will be able to consult with the Wellington City and Suburman Water Supply Board regarding future developments. When the loan of £20,000 is nearly exhausted, further application may be made to the Loans Board.” Councillor Campbell said he thought the letter from the Loans Board was very unsatisfactory, as did Councillor Cumming, because it would be very inconvenient to have to carry on the work in sections. The pipes could not be bought in small batches, and as the matter stood the council did not know whether it would be able to go ahead with the whole £61,000 scheme or not. ‘ The Mayor (Mr. D. McKenzie) said that the Loans Board was quite fair in the matter.. He thought that it was on the suggestion of Mr. Ronayne, of the Public Works Department, that the council bad been allowed the first instalment of £20.000. In the opinion of the Mayor it was quite a good suggestion. It was finally decided that the proposals of the Loans Board be accepted. Mayor Reviews Present Position. Reference to the Petone water supply was made by the Mayor (Mr. D. McKenzie), 'who stated that since certain restrictions had been placed on the indiscriminate use of water, a great improvement in the pressure had been shown. “The restrictions have made a really wonderful improvement.” said the Mayor, who furnished the following figures:—“ln 1925. during the day the pressure was 401 b., while at night it was 601 b. In 1926 it was 351 b. by day. with two pumps on, and 401 b. at night, without the pumps. In 1927 it was 401 b. by day. with two pumps on, and 601 b. at night, without the pumps. In 192 S the position hns been the same as in 1927. If the pumps, however, were working at night, the pressure would be 701 b. All this was good, considering the rapid growth of the residential area.”