ONSLOW DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 32, 7 February 1907, Page 5

ONSLOW DRAINAGE SCHEME.

A POLL TO BE TAKEN. A SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE. The proposal to adopt a system of drainage lor the Borough of Onslow ; was considered at a special meeting of the Onslow Borough Council held last evening. Tho Mayor Mr. R. B. WilI Haras, presided, and there were in attendance Councillors Lynnebrg, Kiernan, Rounthwaite, Aplin, and Larkin. The Mayor explained that this meeting was called with the idea cf enlightening councillors on how far tho proposal had proceeded, and why more i 'headway was not being made, The, clerk and himself were aware of the difficulties that had cropped up and had been overcome by the assistance of Mr. Levi, borough solicitor. He thought it would be well for the councillors to have an explanation from Mr. Levi. Councillors knew, said Mr. Levi, in reference to the loan that application was made to the Government Insurance Department some nine months' ago — before the spccjal Bill was passed by Parliament, or even thought of The application for the loan therefore was in a different form to what it had since been found necessary to make it. The original application was made as if it was one loan. No particulars were given about three separate parts of the borough ■which would be separately responsible. He noticed that this might make a difference, and the Town Clerk at his suggestion approached the department in respect to it. The department referred the matter to its board, and the board had now acceeded to the modified application. According to the way the Bill was drawn and tho way it had always been before the council, it had always been understood that the scheme would go to a poll in tho ordinary way. However, he made a suggestion some little time ago that as tho number of ratepayers in each of the drainage areas was less than 100, there might be a quicker and cheaper \ way of taking a poll. Section 14 of I the Local Bodies Loans Act provided that where there were less than 100 ratepayers concerned a council could, by getting three-quarters of them to sign a consent, do without a poll. They must, however, represent a majority of j the capital value of the properties as appearing on the valuation roll. By their consent, as obtained in a special form, a lot of time and a lot of advertising expenses would be saved. • j Councillor Lynneberg said if they tool' a poU on the question tho proposal would be carried by a bare majority But if they adopted the course suggested by Mr. Levi, he was afraid in his part of tho borough they would not get the necessary consent. Councillor Rounthwaito asked if the i-atopayors rejected the proposal on Mr. Lcvi's scheme would the council be prevented from taking the usual course of holding a statutory meeting and tak ing a poll Mr, Levi said ho was afraid if the council approached each ratepayer for his consent and did not get the consent of tho necessary number harm might bo done to the scheme. Councillor Rounthwaite: Could not we proceed under the provisions of tho Public Health Act without statutory meeting or poll? He added, however, that he believed in putting the question before tho ratepayers. Mr. Levi sard ho had not looked into the question. The Public Health Act allowed a local body to borrow for sanitary work, but *he did not know whether it would apply to the drainage scheme. Councillors Larkin and Kiornan, on bring asked for an opinion on the position, said they favoured placing the matter before t«o ratepayers by way of a poll. This view was also taken by tha other members of the council. It was decided to ask tho sanction of the ratepayers by way of a poll to raiae £2'(50 for the drainage scheme, £1310 to bo apportioned to Goldio's Brae, £1120 to Kaiwarra, and £320 to Ran-giora-avenue.