ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17145, 26 April 1919, Page 7

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

ONEHUNGA PROPOSALS. ANOTHER POLL OPPOSED. A meeting of ratepayers opposed to the taking cf another poll by Ithe Onehunga Borough Council in regard to the loan proposals for the laying of the main thoroughfare from the Royal Oak to the Slangere Bridge, in concrete, wan held in the Coronation Hal] last nig v .t. ' Mr. R. Dillicar presided over a fair attendance. Mr. F. S. Morton one of the candidates for the mayoralty was the chief speaker. In dealing with the proposals, M. Morton said ho considered it "an insult to the intelligence of the ratepayers " to again submit proposals, which had already been .rejected by no uncertain majority. j The estimate for this road was made over eight months aj;o, since when tho •cost of labour and materials had considerably increased. He was convinced that tho cost of tho proposed road would be nearer £60,000 than £56,000. Therefore it would be necessary to increase tho rato whicJj would have to bo struck, to moot tho liability. It would be unfortunate ,'f Ithe work were delayed before completion for want of funds.' The coat, of the road represented nearly three times the total revenue of the Borough. Mr. J. J. Boyd said he objected to the proposals being re-submitted to the rate-, payers. It was bail finance, 'as the interest on the loan would be £1600 per annum, while the present road could be maintained for £400. They should wait untill the tram track was duplicated, and when thin was done there would be less road to concrete. He also said that as the gas mains had been under ground for 60 years they would be unable to relay them and would have to provide new 1 ones. A resolution protesting against tho action of the Council in re-submitting tha proposals to the ratepayers was moved by Mr. W. Singleton and seconded by Mr. Boyd. It was carried with verv few dissentients. A strong committee was I fonnec! to take steps to oppose Ithe proposal MOUNT BOSKILL PROPOSALS. j APPROVAL BY RATEPAYERS. 1 The Mount Roskill Road Board's new reading scheme was discussed at a meeting' ■of ratepayers in the Methodist Hall, Greenwood's Corner, on Tuesday evening. I Mr. Q. E. Tansley, who pressed, said the board proposed to borrow £18,000, of which all but £2000 would be spent on tha following roadsManukau Road, paving with concrete, formation of new footpaths, kerbing and channelling, and provision for storm-water drainage; Mount Albert Road, coating with blue metal from the Seddon Memorial to the boundary, a distance of three miles; May Road, coating with bluo : metal from the intersection with Mount Albert Road to Richardson Road; Dominionßßoard r completion with blue metal. ; The security would be a rate of threei eighths of a penny in the £ on tho capital 1 ! value, with a sinking, fund of 1 per cent., • the loan to be repaid in 36£ years. Tho : interest had been estimated at oj per cent, I per annum. ' Mr. Lockie Gannon, tho board's engi- • Ineer, said he estimated the cost of paving " i Manukau Read at about 103 per square, , yard. The cost of maintaining the board's I portion had been £500 per annum for tha • last three years. When concreted it would J be kept up for about one penny per square ) ' yard on the level, and twice that amount. ) .on the gradients. • The estimated cost oil J-j this road was £8300. The cost of tha 8. Mount Albert Road was £5500. No prosi 1 vision had been made in the loan for purchasing a road-making plant. The chairman said that if tho poll were , carried, the board proposed to ask - the it Auckland City Council to do the work. i- The revenue saved in the upkeep of th " I roads could .be allocated to the improve s- jment of other streets in the d ; strick 5. I A motion approving of the taking of tit 3,! poll was carried, and a suggestion tha' i- ' all present assist in carrying the proposals a i adopted. n J Tim scheme will be placed baforo the ie ratepayers in the other end of the district I, I at tho annual meeting on Wednesday. II -—"