NORTHCOTE WATER SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13455, 4 June 1907, Page 6

NORTHCOTE WATER SUPPLY

PROPOSALS FOR EXTENSION

A.POLL TO BE TAKEN.

' A meeting was held in the Bay View Hall,\ Northcote, last;. night, to ■: consider proposals• for the extension -of the water supply scheme. There was a large attendance of ratepayers. " Mr. \ H. Cadness, representative of the Northcote Riding ;in the Waitemata County -Council, occupied the. chair. Mr. C. A. Cawkwell; (county clerk) explained that the meeting had been called in accordance with;the provisions of the Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901, to consider a proposal to borrow an additional £2000 in connection with the Northcote water supply works, at a rate; of interest not exceeding 4£ ; per; cent, ; per annum. In connection with the prior loan of £8500, liability' had, -through unforeseen . circumstances, been incurred to . the amount of £9152 ; 12s \ lOd, leaving , a deficiency of £652 12s lOd. , In addition to this, it had been found necessary Ito extend the service main to additional streets to those already catered for.';;-; Dealing with the deficiency, Mr. Cawkwell pointed out - that the purchase money of the pumping station arid intake site at Lake Takapuna would absorb a greater sum than was anticipated, and that the reservoir, site also entailed more cost than was allowed for. Another large item had been the purchase of gin and fin piping for the purpose of taking. the water from the service main to the property boundaries. This was, of course, not originally provided for. Between the time for fixing the amount of the loan, which was based on the estimate, and the acceptance of ' the tenders, the price of lead went up from £16 to £22 per ton, and iron pipes from £7 15s to £9 5s per ton, and the tenders were accordingly higher. The additional loan of £2000 would embrace an extension of the water supply to Bradney Road; Maxwell Avenue, Bartley Estate, the- new Roman Catholic College extension/and other properties; the purchase of equipments for fire : brigade purposes., hose reel, hose, standpipes, and building: the extra cost of land for pumping station and site for service reservoir; the cost, of cottage for turncock and engineer at pumping station; the supply of waterworks fittings and ' tools for extensions from time to time as , required; the cost of inspection, overseer's ' wages, and meters for strawberry-growers ' and those likely to use more than a normal quantity. ' Mr. Cawkwell added that by the sanction of this . loan there would be no increase of rating, as the special rate already levied of fd in the £ would cover the interest on the additional loan. If the loan was not sanctioned it would be necessary to increase the charges for the supply of water, and to borrow the money from the bank at six or seven per cent., which was bad financing and prejudicial to the ratepayers' interest. He also mentioned that the general account would be refunded from the proposed loan the cost of repairs to roads and footpaths rendered necessary by the laying of the pipes and . mains. The equipment for fire brigade purposes would also result in a reduction 1 of insurance premiums in the district. .: '$ Mr. R. M. Lightband moved, and Mr. i A. Bruce seconded: r - ; , ', .

'* That the ratepayers refuse to.sanction the >';'• poll for the additional £2000 asked for. : Both gentlemen contended that the meeting should be placed in possession of , all available information concerning the proposed extension, "and also 1 in connection with;;the expenditure :of' the previous loan of £8500.; Mr. Lightband was ruled out of J order in referring to another district, when he suggested that if Birkenhead joined in with Northcote in the matter of the water supply: the cost to the ratepayers might be considerably lessened. A large number of questions were then lasked by Messrs. Lightband,'Bruce, W. T. Sharp, Gray, A. Campbell, J. McCrae, H. W. * Wilding,? J. .Mincher, 1 and Shalders, I being 'answered :by f: Mr. H. M. i Wilson (county engineer), Mr. CaWkwell, and the chairman. . Mr, Dykes moved as an amendment, and Mr. P. W. Bolland seconded: ;■ That the ' Waitemata - County Council; be : . reauested to cause a poll .• of the rate- : payers* to be taken on the proposal to . borrow an additional £2000 for the pur-, - pose of extension of; the Northcote water .:• supply works, and the purchase of additional material which the Council may think requisite or necessary for the said v purpose. - ' -'■"■[■\}--'.-r -v: -- : ■:-;-;xi :..;■:•_■.;': ;.- \.' : p-\ The amendment was carried by 32 to 2,' and the chairman announced that the poll would be taken on the 19th inst.