MUNICIPAL PROJECTS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1913, Page 5

MUNICIPAL PROJECTS.

THE \OICE OF THE RATEPAYERS.

WATER AND SEWERAGE

SCHEME

TOWN HALL AND OTHER

PROBLEMS

But a small proportion of the 1371 voters on the JJorough roll attended the polling-booth in the Council Chambers yesterday to furnish the Borough Council with the mandates it sought on a number of important municipal propositions. The largest number of vote.s recorded was that cast in respect to the future of the Town Hall, and tliis was only 405. or less than one-third of the roll total. The weather was perfect, so that the indifference of the burgesses is the more difficult to understand.

I One Borough Councillor remarked ; last night that the free and independent electors oake a lot of shitting nowadays. A lot of them can- be budged with nothing less than a j motor-car. They have to be carried jto the poll in accustomed state, or they will ignore it. Five separate propositions, each set forth on a different ballot-paper, were presented to the ratepayers. The most important question related to the water-supply and sewerage question, the issue being as to whether the "Waihopai gravitation plan, estimated to cost £107,000, or the pumping alternative, the probable cost of which was put down at £70.000 should be adopted. Popular speculation ran in the direction of the less costly scheme, which went forward with a strong recommendation, from the Council. This expection was upsec, the results being as follows: — Votes. Pumping scheme 147 Waihopai scheme 229 Informal 22 Total 398 This choice means that the Council will have to go back to the ratepayers for authority to raise a supplementary loan of £41,750. the amount originally provided for being £65,000. "Should this loan be refused," said the Mayor at the public meeting on Mondaj' night, ', "the Waihopai scheme will fall through." ■ | The ratepayers were also invited to ; say whether they were willing that the Council should raise up to £1500 for the improvement of the Town ! Hall. The reply was in the nega- ! tive. the voting being as follows: — S For! 145 Against 237 Informal 23 Total 405 The proposal to borrow £1000 for street-widening purposes was carried, on the following voting: — For 196 Against 189 Informal ... ... 18 Total 403 .. The most acceptable propositions were those haying in view the finane- ! ing of two bridge-building works. A j loan of £2500 to provide for the ; Council's shares of the cost of erect- ' ing a bridge over the Opawa River ! at the end of Grove Road was sanctioned, a<s follows ::— For 336 Against 57 Informal... ; ' 16 . Total ; 403 The authorisation to raise £1250 for the Council's commitment in the case of the ferro-concrete bridge now being constructed in Western High Street was given by the following voting: —- . For 301 Against .., ... 76 Informal 25 Total 402 Mr .D. P. Sinclair, Returning Officer, and his staff, dealt with the polling details in expeditious fashion. The poll closed ab 7 o'clock, and the results were declared by the Town Clerk from the Market Place rotunda shortly after 8.30 p.m. A considerable number of ratepayers awaited the returns, and received them without demonstration.