LOOKING AHEAD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1911, Page 6

LOOKING AHEAD.

MAYOR ON WELLINGTON'S PROSPECTS "CLEANEST AND HEALTHIEST . CITY." On the occasion of his installation as Mayor of Wellington for a second year of office, Mr. T. M. Wilford to-day took the opportunity of mentioning many matters of interest to the city generally. Though the financial condition of the city was perfectly sound, he deemed it the duty of a city — especially a city so richly endowed as Wellington— to see that it lived within its income. On that account ho had had to refuse, many otherwise reasonable requests. He did not believe at times such as the present, when the city had passed through a period of great stress, they should go into extravagant forms of expenditure, which might appear progressive, but which were really not so, because they exceeded the- revenue. He hoped th« council would have 'the same revenue to live on in the coming year as they had in the last year. In framing the estimates for the council's consideration he had endeavoured to see that every part of the city got fair justice. The cfty was financially sound, and there was no possibility of repudiation. They were able to pay interest, sinking fund, and depreciation out of revenue. There was no intention of going to tho ratepayers for any more money or of raising the rates. Mr. Wilford then referred to the exceedingly advantageous terms on which the Wainui duplication loan had been raised last year — £153,000 at 4 per cent., no commission, no flotation charges, no interest until the money was spent — th© best terms for any loan raised in Australasia during the past fifteen years. The Mayor congratulated the old councillors yn their return to office, and the new councillors on their election. The poll had showu that tho citizens of Wellington were not so apathetic over municipal affairs as they were made out to be. The return of the old councillors on adult suffrage showed that the city had confidence in them. Mr. Wilford then dealt with particular aspects of the city. Wellington was the cleanest, and healthiest city in the Dominion, with the best sewage and sanitation arrangements. Wellington in this respect was an example to all Australasia. Tho scheme was not yet complete, but he wished to assure councillors in regard to the coming year that tho engineer had not lost sight of tho possibility of carrying it to :» conclusion. With regard to the Roseneath high-level reservoir, the pumps had arrived, and the water supply would be available in six weeks' time. It would be of immense value to the upper levels of the Oriental Bay district, and a source of djuiger to the city from five would be obviated by the higher pressuro restdting. The reservoirs to the south-west of Newtowii Park and at Wadestown were waiting the arrival of the pumps, it was only a matter of a very snoit time before these districts would bo adequately supplied with watei. The pipes for the Wainui main duplication were due to arrive next month, and tho work of preparation would begin practically immediately. The outlying districts drainage scheme, so far as Kilbirnie was concerned, was finished. _ The drainage of Northland on tho side adjoining Kelburne would follow, and then the rest of NorthIn nd and Wadestown. The plans would bo placed before the council at tho first opportunity. The Post Office-square wcod-blocking and tramway-laying improvement scheme wa-s only waiting for the Governor's consent to tho Order-in-Council. It would then lie undertaken without delay. WiSi regard to the Wainui-o-mata new dam, -the engineer stated that tho work of the contractors was proceeding satisfactorily.