SUMNER LOAN PROPOSALS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 13001, 17 December 1902, Page 4

SUMNER LOAN PROPOSALS.

TO TJXK EDITOR. Sir.—As the oldest sitting member of the- Sumner Borough Council and one that has attended all the meetings with the exception of two for the last three and a half years, I think I can justly claim to know something of'the above subject as well as other matters in connection with that body. With your permission I will take this opportunity to point out some of the more important matters in connection therewith. I will take the' water supply lirsL At the first public meeting called to consider the report of the engineer it was reported that the cost of water was sjd per 1000 gallons. Now, I took the first opportunity to challenge that statement, and moved to have a committee set tip to go into - the cost of supplying water. The result of that inquiry was that the cost was not s£d as stated, but Is 5J)d per 1000 Again, it was reported that the cost will be reduced to half of sjd under the new system, although the water will be forced some 40 feet higher. Now, as the present engineer carried, cut the present system, although it is generally admitted that he worked on the blunders of other people, have wo any guarantee that he i.s not doing the same with the new system? I must confess that I would like to have a little more confidence in some of the leading authorities before 1 could advise the ratepayers to sanction such a sum of money as is required. Now for drainage. I aim quite - alive lb the fact that drainage is an important matter. I am also alive to the fact that the cost is an important matter, too, and as the proposed scheme is a complicated and costly one, and one that has to bo worked by water, my idea, iu that the people of Sumner would bo wise to prove for themselves that they have gob or will get an efficient water supply at a minimum, cost before going further in the matter of drainage of that description. I will quote clause 81 of the water by-law to show the awkward position, should the drainage loan bo carried and not the water loan: Ordinary supply shall mean only such as is required for strictly domestic purposes.” Clause 84 : “ The charge for an extraordinary supply of water shall Be 4s per 1000 gallons.” The present high pressure supply will not be sufficient to allow for drainage purposes. In conclusion I can only say the connections would have to bo compulsory as it would not do to have two systems in operation. As to cost of connection I am not in a position to say, bub I understand they will be pretty considerable. As I consider I am only doing my duty in pointing out the facts in connection with these matters I will be very pleased if you will publish this at your earliest convenience.—l am, etc., .1. MAFFEY. Redcliffs, Dee. 15. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your correspondent “ Old Resident” has shown a lamentable, want of knowledge in his statement regarding the Redcliff drains, etc. Ho seeks to blame the Borough Engineer for the state of the drain, while if he i.s an old resident, he should know that the Engineer told Hie Council

that what has happened would happen if they persisted in’daying collarless pipes, as owing to the nature of the ground the pipes decided on would be comparatively useless. As regards the water supply the cheap-at-any price party in the Council have and arc showing themselves very short flighted. When the present installation was proposed the Engineer suggested six inch pipes to be laid from the pumping station to the bill reservoir, but with their usual tinkering. propensities the same obstructionists would not agree to this, although the Engineer tried to convince them of what every man with any knowledge of hydraulics would bo aware of, that the cost of pumping waiter through a three inch pipe would be almost double what it would cost with the six inch. I would commend these remarks to “Old Resident,” and trust that his next rush into print will be more accurate. The standing of the Council's Engineer in his profession is-above "Old Resident’s' ” mean, anonymous attack, as is evidenced by his - being selected by tho Geraldine Borough Council to originate and carry out their water supply scheme, which speaks for itself. As to “ Old Resident’s ” remarks about the drainage scheme being an experiment, the fact is that the plans have, been submitted to the Government Engineer in Wellington, who has approved of them.—l am, etc., A REAL IDENTITY. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Your correspondent, “ Old Resident,” deserves the thanks of a very large majority of the Sumner property-owners for' his very sensible remarks on the drainage and water-supply schemes; remarks which, to already heavily-rated people,. should arouse a lively interest against, such schemes. More than one-half the property included iu the proposed drainage area is unimproved, and fully one-half of the balance comprises large sections, with small new cottages thereon. To all of these a drainage scheme is totally unnecessary.' Of the remaining fourth, psrhaips'a half-dozen, or thereabouts, owing to subdivision of already small sections, could do, very well with the scheme. Now, I would ask: "Is it right that, for the benefit of a very few, who could easily dispose of anything objectionable, and at a very small cost to themselves, the immense majority of the Sumner ratepayers should undertake tho expense of a large loan, for the construction of works that are, from a practical engineer's point of view, positively unworkable? Sumner at present is, as it has always been, on account of the immense depth of sand, a perfectly healthy place ; but what it will become when, if the proposed scheme is carried out, the choked up connections are being cleared (and that will, of necessity, be a very frequent occurrence), is more than we shall care to experience. Then, again, the cost of connecting ought to be considered. At 'the ruling rates for labour and material, twenty pounds on each occupied section would barely cover tho | cost; and owners must understand that they .will have to keep their connections ■ with the sewer in working order, and, to do that, the quantity of water needed to flush away any obstructions will be very great; and when we remember the cost of a small water-supply, what will a very , largo supply mean? Sumner at present is : a delightful health 'and pleasure resort, but, j provided with am esplanade, which would - , i by the, way, rdb the beach of most of its I attractions, a drainage scheme as proposed, ’ that would spread all sorts of undesirable filth ever the sands, and a large _and to- ; tally unneeetsary loan, for the ratepayers 1

to be further heavily rated to pay interested on, it will be about finished. Much more could be said against the proposed schema being carried into effect, but this ought to be sufficient to arouse those interested in Sumner property, and in Sumner prosperity, to a sense of their duty towards themselves. Having trespassed thus far on your valuable space, I will conclude by earnestly requesting the ratepayers to study their own interests, and vote against the loan.—l am, etc., ANOTHER OLD RESIDENT.