THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1979, 22 November 1921, Page 3

THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

EXPLAINED BY THE MAYOR. A very small number of ratepayers attended at the Municipal Hall last evening to hear an explanation by the Mayor (Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P.) of the proposed loans for sewerage extension and for the provision of extra municipal 'buses, a poll for which will be held on Friday next. Tho present system, which was commenced in 3 904, generally consists of four main scwers--No. 1 on the south side of the town laid down Ferguson Street to Botanical Road, thenco along Potanical Road and College Street, which serves an area bouuded on the north by Broad Street and Church Street West, and on the south by tho Manawatu River, extending the whole length of the borough from cast to west. No. 2 Main sewer laid down Church Street West to Foxlon Line, serving that portion between Ferguson Street and Main Street West, extending from the west side of the Scjuaro to the borough boundary. No. 3—Main sewer laid down Cuba Street, Pascal and Chelwood Streets' to Kairanga Road, serving that portion between Main Street West and Cuba Street, taking in King and Queen Streets. No. 4 Main sewer laid down Featherston Street to Kairanga Road, which takes in tho sewerago from that portion lying between Grey and Cuba Streets, and a line approximately midway between Featherston Street and Boundary Road. "For some time past," said the Mayor "tho Council has been very much concerned owing to certain parts of the town not being supplied with proper drainage. You will remember that two years ago you granted a loan for extensions of the sewerage, also a scheme for tho sewerago of certain portion:! of Hokowhitu. The former work has been proceeded with, but the latter is held over until we get electrical power , as a pumping scheme is necessary. The present proposal is mado up as follows: —24 inch outlet pipes from septic tank to river, £1,2G0; 30 inch pipe sewer from tanks to Ferguson Street, £8,900; 21 inch pipes from new outfall to Botanical Road and Ferguson Street, £2,930; 15 inch pipes along Boundary Road from Kairanga Road to Rangitikei Street, £3,300; pumping plant and rising main for Boundary Road area, including sewer to Kairanga Road, £2,250; purchase of land and way leaves, etc., £SOO. Added to this will be contingencies, making the total loan £23,000. Our septic tanks, constructed by our late engineer, Mr. Jickell, have been a great success. They will serve a population of 25,000 people, but it must be remembered they were laid down many years ago, and the time has now arrived (owing to tho increased drainage coming into tho septic tanks) to provide for a larger outfall to the river. "Tho Borough Engineer (Mr. Hughes) recently prepared a report on the sewerage of the borough, in iwhich he stated that the reasons for which it is necessary to give consideration to the important matter of increased capacity in the main outfall sewer are as follows:—(a) Overtaxing the present outfall, "thus causing flooding in the low-lying portions of the borough. (2) Provision of sewerage extension in the borough, and also to area affected by the proposed railway deviation." Tho Mayor explained at some length the present system of drainage which had been commenced in 1904, consisting of four main sewers. "These four main.sewers," explained the Mayor, "aro intercepted by an outfall sewer, commencing at the termination of tho Featherston" Street main sewer at Kingswood Street, and laid across country to Chelwood Street, where No. 3 connects up, thenco on to Foxton Line, where No. 2 connects, and thence on to College Street, where No. 1 main sewer is picked up, and then finally to the septic tank. In that portion of the borough sewered under the original schemo the rainwater from the roofs was taken to house drains, and during wet weather this has a serious effect on the carrying capacity of the Ferguson Street sewer. The area drained being one-fifth of the total area at present served by the Ferguson St. sewer. There are also a number of houses outside this original area which dischargo rainwater into sewers. The normal flow of the Ferguson Street sewer is about twothirds full; it will therefore be seen that only a small additional quantity of water is required to cause the sewers to back up and overflow, as has been the case in McGiffert Street. Tho levels taken in this street show tho difference in height'between the ground level at tho back of the houses, and the invert of the sewer in the manhole at the intersection of McGiffert and Ferguson Streets to be only 4ft 3in., and so soon as the sewerage rises to this height overflowing at the house drains was bound to occur. It is quite a common occurrence for tho sewerage in tho main outfall sewer to be standing some depth in tho manholo at certain times, the sewer thereby being overcharged. On the 27th October last there was a depth of sft. lOin. of sewerage in the manhole at the junction of the main outfall with the College Street sewer, the sewer being 2ft. in diameter, this showing that it was surcharged to an extent of 3ft. lOin. SEWERAGE EXTENSION. "Following on tho sanctioning of tho new loan for this work," continued the Mayor, "new sewers have been laid, aggregating 132 chains in length. The house connections are increasing rapidly, from tho beginning of April, 1919, no less than 193 having been put in to date, with an additional 42 applications still waiting attention. The people living in the northern end of the town in the vicinity of Roy Street and Florence Avenue, also Boundary Road West, will benefit under the scheme. They have been patient and paid their share of <ates for sewerage in the borough without receiving any benefit themselves, so the time has arrived to see that they have tho same privileges as others. As the land falls away to the west in this area, a pumping plant becomes necessary. Provision (you will note from the engineer's report) is also made in this loan for removing the long-standing grievance of citizens in McGiffert Street, also Cook Street. In flood time their svwers fail to work owing to the low-lying nature of the ground, causing- the sewerage to back up. making matters very unpleasant and insanitary for householders. Numerous loans amounting in all to £75,000 have been placed before the ratepayers from time to time, and they have always been carried by a substantial majority. We ask you to carry this loan, to think of those

who have been carrying the burden for so many years past, while others have had full benefits, and, above all, not to forget the health point of view. Let us keep our town as we find it to-day—ono of the cleanest and healthiest in New Zealand." THE 'BUS LOAN.. The Mayor then proceeded to deal with tho 'bus loan proposal:— "The next proposal that we have to place before you is a loan for £lO,000 for 'buses. As you know, I have never been an advocate for 'buses, but the ratepayers having decided to instal them, I am very anxious that everything possible shall be done to give tho people the best possible facilities by way of transit, and to run them at the least possible loss. So far the four in use have done very good service, and appear to be giving satisfaction to the citizens. Unfortunately it is impossible to carry on under present conditions. We must do one of two things. Either reduce the routes and only keep three 'buses on the road, or purchase more. No opportunity whatever, under present conditions, is given for having anything done to the 'buses in the matter of grinding valves or other work necessary. "The Chairman, Cr. Oram, and his Committee, are doing their very best to give every facility to citizens in the use of the 'buses, and records are kept daily of results. Mr. Hughes, th 0 manager, has everything worked out to a very fine art, showing the number of people carried, the number of miles, the cost and income per mile, giving the fullest possible information to the Committee and Council. The first four-weekly period 47.54 S people were carried, yielding £591 7/; the second period 40.24 S carried, and yielding £504 7/-. For some time to come the most expensive item connected with the 'buses will bo tyres. It is very satisfactory to note that_ so far each 'bus has done 5,400 mile's, and is still in good order. The mileage covered by the 'buses averages 8,000 per month, so it will be seen that they are serving a useful purpose. "Although we are asking for a loan of £IO,OOO, we do not propose spending this amount of money at present. What is immediately necessary is two light 'buses, to take 20 passengers. These will run into tho sparsely-po-pulated parts of the borough, and take up* the running in some parts where the traffic is not large at certains hours of the day. This will enable us to have a stand-by 'bus, and ono that could come out at a moment's notice to carry passengers to any special place. We shall also require to tpei d r.bout £SOO for extensions to tho barn. "We ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to carry this loan, so that you may have an adequnte service. "In submilting these proposals tonight. I feci s'H-e that the ratepayers'-, will recognise that what is being ask-' cd for is an absolute necessity, and we commend them to you for your consideration, and trust you will help your representatives in their endeav* our to see our town progress on safe and economical lines.