IMPROVEMENTS FOR WOOLSTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13891, 27 October 1905, Page 2

IMPROVEMENTS FOR WOOLSTON.

A LOAN PROPOSAL. There'was a public meeting of ratepayers of the borough of Woolston at the local library room last evening, for the purpose of considering the Council's proposals for a loan of £20,000. The Mayor, Mr J. Richardson, presided over a gathering which more than comfortably filled the hall. It was stated in a circular that the money proposed to be borrowed would be expended in the following manner: —Concrete channelling, 2115 chains, £10,545; concrete korbmg, 31$ chains, £7O; forming new footpaths, -646 J chains, £550; screenings, £220; grading roads and footpaths, £2000; asphalting, £5250; widening streets, £1000; engineering, £200; first year's interest, £900; contingencies, £265. The loan was to have a currency of thirty-five years, bearing interest at 4J per cent per annum, and to be secured on an annual recurring rate of 2d in the £ on the unimproved value, or its equivalent on the capital value if the resolution to rate on unimproved value was rescinded, of all rateable property in tho borough, any surplus after paying interest to be set aside as a sinking fund. Mr W. T. Thomas moved—" That this meeting endorses the loan proposals of the Council, and would heartily recommend the ratepayers to support it at the poll." He said that the works indicated were needed, particularly from the point of view of health. Mr J. Papps\ seconded the. motion. Mr Kilburn moved as an amendment—" That the Council is incapable of taking care of £20,000." The Mayor said that he would not accept the amendment. It was a reflection on the Council. Mr Hewitt, a member of the Council, contended that the Council, by its deeds, had shown that it was incompetent fo deal with the matter in question. He submitted that, by the terms of the loan proposals, certain persons would benefit at th© expense of ethers. A loan, he added, was unnecessary, and expenditure, according to the plan suggested, would involve expenditure that would have to be duplicated. He explained that a number of the streets mentioned in the proposal were a halfchain in width, and. if they were given, concrete channels now the work would have to be repeated when the roadways were widened. In the course of a' lengthy discussion, the chief point raised was that the Council could obviate a policy of borrowing by increasing the rate. It was suggested that the Council could secure an extra £IOOO a year, and gradually cany out the works set out in the circular. Mr Thomas, in reply, said that this extra rate proposal was the only argument that had been brought against the loan scheme. All the other statements were "clap-trap." He urged that the loan should be authorised in the interests of economy and health. The chairman put the motion, and his question was greeted with strong choruses of "Aye" and "No." He declared that tho,motion had been carried, and announced that a poll would be taken on November 16.