TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 August 1925, Page 9

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

LOANS FOR PATEA. MAYOR EXPLAINS POSITION. A meeting of ratepayers was held at Patea on Tuesday night, when the Mayor explained the £5750 loan proposals. They were : —Water, including a 6in. bore, ‘ £1100; electric .light extension, £3000; street improvements, £1650.

Referring to the proposals in detail, the speaker said that the artesian bore the source of water. supply for the town, was delivering but 35 gallons per minute, as against 150 gallons when the bore was first sunk. The need of an additional supply for drainage and fire prevention purposes was therefore apparent. The interest and sinking fund on the proposed loan would lie £77 per annum, and as the working account of the water system in 1923-24 showed a credit balance of £137, and last . year £123, there was sufficient to meet tire interest on the new loan with £SO to spare.

. With* regard to the ekctric light loan, his Worship explained that the present plant was working up to its utmost capacity. Continual applications were being received for additional current for lighting and power purposes. Last year showed a profit- or £763. The idea of the council was to obtain a new generating unit to cope with the increased demand for current. With regard to the prospect of current from the Power Board, they need not expect that, for the next ten years, as the demand was so great iu Taranaki that it was probable that, tho wlib’e of the available current would lie utilised before the lines passed Elth am.

Dealing with the streets, he said the council could not, do what ought- to be done on the streets out- of revenue. Tn 1922-3 the. expenditure on streets was £563, in, 1923-4 it was £Bl9, and last year £676. Practically, every street in the town required something doing to it. He eoukl spend £SOOO on the streets easily, hut £1650 would enable the most urgent works to be done. The rate for the street 1 loan would be, £lls, and this rate would be the only one, collectab’e. No rate would be struck for over 12 months, as the first year’s interest would be paid -nit of tlie loan. It would mean but 7s 6d for a.-property whose annual value was £4o,' After a discussion of the proposa s, the meeting carried, a motion recommending the council to proceed. with the ischemes, and that the question of one or two. proposals for streets be left to the discretion of the.council.