PROGRESS OF EPSOM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15998, 17 August 1915, Page 5

PROGRESS OF EPSOM

NEW ROADING SCHEME. £60,000 LOAN ARRANGED. POLL OF THE RATEPAYERS. For the purpose of engaging upon a road improvement scheme the Epsom Road Board will shortly submit a £60,000 loan proposal to the ratepayers of the district. The chairman of the board, Mr. F. 11. Wood, states that the loan has already been arranged with the; A,.M.P. Society. The money can be secured at par, at 5i per cent, interest, with I per cent, sinking fund, and, if sanctioned at the poll, the money will be issued to the board as required. i- Mr. Wood has little doubt as to the poll being favourable. The members of the board desiro to make Epsom a model suburb. The drainage scheme is Hearing completion at a total cost of. £60,000. As to the water, the district? is at present depending on the city supply, but a water scheme is being formulated, details of which will be available later on.

Referring to the reading scheme, Sir. Wood states that it has always been the policy of the board to complete all under ground work before proceeding with the permanent reading, so that once the roads are laid down they will not have to be broken up again. The services of Mr. J. Rogers have been secured as load engineer, and he and his staff are now taking levels and preparing plans and estimates in detail for the road improvement scheme. Public interest is centred principally in the Manukau Road. Mr. Wood, states that as this thoroughfare is the main connecting link between the Waitemata and Onelmnga Harbours it should bo regarded as a main arterial road. The making of this road and its control - should, he considers, > either be taken over by the Government or by a board comprising representatives of ' all the local bodies interested, assisted by a Government subsidy and by the Automobile Association. The road from Newmarket to Onehnnga is now controlled by the Auckland City Council,"and by the Epsom, One-tree Hill, and Mount Roskill Road Boards and the Onehunga Borough Council. That road, says Mr. Wood, requires a very large expenditure to put it into a condition to carry the heavy traffic which now daily passes over it, and which is steadily increasing. At present it is doubtful if the necessary finance could be arranged, but Mr. Rogers is preparing a separate scheme for dealing with that road. The scheme in. question is likely to be submitted to a combined meeting of representatives of the local bodies interested.

Every other road in the Epsom Board's district will be improved according to requirements if the loan proposal is carried.