THE DRAINAGE OF PETONE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 32

THE DRAINAGE OF PETONE.

A meeting of the ratepayers of Petone was held on Monday at tho Oddfellows’ Hall to discuss the proposals of the Borough Council to raise the sum of <£12,000 for drainage and street improvements. The Mayor (Mr R. C. Kirk) occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of ratepayers. Mr J. P. Maxwell, whose scheme the Council propose to adopt, was also present. The Mayor, in opening the meeting, said he did not propose to go over tho same ground he had covered at a recent meeting, but would leave the matter to the meeting. 1 He would, however, answer any questions that might be asked, and explained further that the sum of <£12,000 it was proposed to borrow would be sufficient for the completion of the whole scheme. Although a special rate of Is 3d in tho pound was proposed to bo pledged as security, it would not be necessary to raise more than 9d in the pound to pay the interest and sinking fund. Mr F. London, while admitting that he had not read the report of the scheme, or gone into it in any way, urged the ratepayers not to sanction any loan for a few years to come, instancing the way in which public money had been expended on unproductive works in various parts of the Colony.

Mr D. Sladden ridiculed Mr London’s remarks, and said that, although he admitted every ratepayer should be perfectly satisfied as to the scheme before giving it his approval, it was preposterous that people should continue to live amid dirt and other insanitary surroundings. Various questions of a technical nature were asked by Mr Carter and others, and answered by Mr Maxwell.

Mr Carter moved that the consideration of the scheme be held over for three years, but the proposition was not seconded.

Mr Atkinson moved a resolution approving the proposals of the Council and agreeing to support the vote that is to be taken upon them. This was seconded by Mr Ballinger and carried with one dissentient.

A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Maxwell for his attendance, and a similar compliment to the Mayor for presiding, closed the meeting.