Plimmerton’s Problems

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 70, 15 December 1933, Page 13

Plimmerton’s Problems

Sir, —“Resident Ratepayer,” of Plimmerton, is evidently trying to draw a red herring across the trail of the Paremata bridge scheme. While “Ratepayer” asks for a water scheme, I wonder whether he has thought where the -water is to come from? Wellington city has found that it cannot rely solely on a gravitation system. and is now after a constant artesian supply, and Plimmerton can only get this from Paekakariki, Pahautanui, or Tawa Elat. It is very doubtful whether £12,000 will cover the scheme. It also follows that to avoid turning every small section into a cesspool and the consequent risks of typhoid fever epidemics, one must put in a drainage system, and its outlet will have to be well up the coast above Karehana Bay—septic tanks were failures at Karori—and the cost of the drainage system will be at least another £12,000. and this will not include the cost of connecting each section, which will be at least £3O per house. Pukerua Bay will be outside of the rating area, and the present number of houses at Plimmerton is at least 170, and no more than 320 at the most, and many of these belong to absentee ratepayers. So how can Plimmerton raise £2OOO annually to cover interest and sinking fund and upkeep charges? The rates would be four or five times the amount they are now.

For the present, “Ratepayer” would be better off to install another 500-gallon tank and so increase his storage for the summer, and devote his energy toward increasing the population, and the only way to do this is u.' improve the access to Plimmerton. Electrification of the railway will not assist us, because though the trains on the Lyttelton line are cleaner and do the trip in three minutes or so quicker, the trains do not run more often than with the old steam service. Past experience has proved that a motor-bus service provides a more frequent service, and over a greater part of the twentyfour hours, _ than the railway service does, and it is easier to get an extra bus put on than an extra train. Easy and safe access has made Day’s Bay and Eastbourne what they are to-day, and is making Titahi Bay. to the detriment of Plimmerton.

Ratepayers who are asking for the improved access are showing wisdom and foresight in their attempt to make it possible for more people to live in Plimmerton. and thus increase the ratepayers, so that the burden of a water and drainage system is possible, and easier for all to bear, at a minimum increase of rates. As far as the burden of the bridge is to the I'atepayers, the total annua] charges will be about £6OO, and this without tolls would not exceed one halfpenny in the pound over the Taupo riding, but spread over the whole county will be onetwentieth of one penny in the ppund. One has only to see the motor-cars "parked at Day s Bay every Saturday and Sunday to realise that the toll will cover everything, and ratepayers need not worry about the shopkeeper because the increased population and visitors will bring more trade, and not less trade, to Plimmerton.—l am. etc.. L. G. AUSTIN. Wellington, December 11.

Tenders are invited for the lease of the Rangitikei Hotel, Bulls, and for the sale of two motor-cars.