DRAINAGE OF THE HUTT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5728, 25 October 1905, Page 7

DRAINAGE OF THE HUTT

LOAN PROPOSALS. About two hundred ratepayers attended the meeting called by the Mayor, at tho Oddfellows' Hall, last night, to consider tho drainage and water supply schemes brought down by the Council. The Councillors, the engineer, and Dr Purdv occupied seats on the platform. Mr T. W. .McDonald (Mayor) said he brought the water and draina’ge proposals forward in compliance with his election pledges. It was essential in the interest of health that they should have a drainage scheme. It was intended to spread tho expenditure over four years, the first year expending £20,000, tbe balance to be spent in the remaining period. The rapidly increasing population made it essential that drainage should be put in hand. From 1901 there had been C 23 building permits issued by tho Building Inspector. If the scheme were carried, the value of land in the borough would go un thus reducing rates; at any rate, they "would bo correspondingly less. The urgent need for fire prevention made it necessary that a water supply should be gone on with. The financial arrangements for raising the loan were highly satisfactorv. The interest would bo 41 per cent, at par, if the loan proposals were carried. The total cost including sinking fund would not reach 5 per cent. A rate of Htl in the £1 on the area to be served by tho water and drainage would meet the charges—ld for water, and id for drainage. Dr Purdv said he had always argued that for the health of tho borough a drainage scheme should be inaugurated. The large increase in population made it absolutely necessary that the scheme should be gone on with. Drainage without a water sunnlv was like a cart without a horse. He quoted the amount paid away at Petone for removal of refuse — about £1200; and the necessity there was for a water supply in that borough in conjunction with their drainage scheme. He thought the building sites between the two rivers wore absolutely the best in the world—only needing tho surface drainage. Tho scheme proponed, ho thought, met the ease in every respect. Councillor Ward said that on top of the expenditure proposed it would - costas much again for private-connections. This w;\s not a surface drainage scheme, and when the scheme was carried out the rates would bo increased 50 per cent. (“Rubbish.”) Ho maintained that they should have differential rating, and that such was the only fair method. Councillor Mason said ho was not opposed to tho scheme, hut thought tho drainage should cover tho whole of the borough, otherwise a differential scheme of rating should be inaugurated. In reply the Mayor ridiculed the arguments used bv Councillor Ward ns to the expenditure on private connections, in regard to differential rating tho Council hail done all it could legally do. Air W. T. Bunny moved— That this meeting fully endorses the action of the Council in bringing down the water supply proposals, and that the question lie put to the ratepayers at a poll to bo held on November Ist.” This was seconded by Air Robert feteyens, and carried unanimously.