COST OF HIGHWAY

Evening Star, Issue 19326, 12 August 1926, Page 3

COST OF HIGHWAY

180,000 LOAN OVER-EXPENDED EXTRA COST JUSTIFIED At last night’s sitting of the City Council, the matter of the cost of construction of the Highway was discussed, and, though one or two councillors were inclined to view it a trifle seriously, the general opinion was that the expenditure of almost £29,000 over the amount raised by loan for the purpose was justified, and that the work bad been'satisfactorily carried out. Tbo matter came before the council in tbo form of the’following clause, embodied in the Finance Committee’s report, the adoption of which was moved by tho deputy mayor (Cr W. B. Taverner) :—“ That authority be granted to take tho necessary slops to raise a supplementary loan of JO per cent, for tho purpose of covering portion of excess expenditure on account of tho highway loan of £BO,OOO. The amount so over-expended was £28,876.” In explanation, Cr Taverner said flint tho Highway was estimated to cost £42,000 and the drainage of tho park £38,000. The expenditure on the Highway, including the bridge across the Leith, was £.50,028, ami that on the drainage of the park to March 31 £36,482, while the estimated sum required to complete ilie drainage of the park was £28,876. The total cost, therefore, of providing for tho disposal of the storm water which bad previously been discharged into Lake Logan by taking it into (bo sea, was £65,358, of which the Harbor Board was to pay £IO,OOO towards (lie drainage of the portion from Union street to tho sea. Tbo council was consequently left with a. total liability of £55,358, as against the estimate of £38,000, the Highway itself having cost £50,028, as against the estimate of £42,000. : (V Taverner pointed out that the ‘ width of the Highway had been increased after the estimate bad been made. Tho heavy cost of tbo drainage ! work, and, perhaps to a loss extent | also, tho cost of constructing tho High- ! way was, bo added, explained by tbo ' fact that the work was rushed through in “ shifts,” so as to ensure its completion by the date of the opening of the Exhibition

Cr Hayward remarked that it was rather a pity that fuller details had not been given in the report. Cr Sincock was quite satisfied. Indeed, it was fortunate, he said, that the work had not cast a good deal more than it had.

Cr Larnacii thought it had been thorouglily understood when tho loan was raised that the amount asked for would not he sufficient.

Cr Shaddock said that was so. hut they had boon pleaded with not to make the amount £IOO,OOO for fear the public should turn the loan down. Cr Scott; A sort of respectable swindle. Cr Larnach : No, diplomacy. The report was adopted.