ONEHUNGA DEPUTATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6383, 4 December 1907, Page 8

ONEHUNGA DEPUTATION.

DRAINAGE AND HARBOUR MATTERS.

PRESS ASSOCIATION. ’ AUCKLAND, December 3. The Ouehunga Borough Council to-day sought the Premier’s assistance in securing for the borough a loan of .£30,000, in instalments of .£IO,OOO a year, for drainage works. Xu answer to the Premier, tho Mayor staled that a special rate would be raised as security for the . loan. Tho amount of the rates at present levied was «£I2OO a year, while the indebtedness was nil. The Premier replied that he did not think 60 large a loan could be given out of tho loans to local bodies fund, since three, or four such -applications would swamp all the available money. He asked tho deputation to put the mat- , ter in writing, so that he might go fully into it on his return to Wellington. The deputation next brought up the question of dredging the berths on the inside of the wharf, in order to increase tho available accommodation. The Premier said that was a matter for the Minister of Marine, to whom he would represent the views of the deputation. Tho next request concerned the harbour and wharves being vested in a local Harbour Board, instead of in the Government, as at present. It was pointed out that settlers on tho extensive shores of the harbour suffered from the lack of w’harfag© accommodation, which would bo provided under local government. The Auckland Harbour Board' had previously refused to take *>ver 'the Manukau, but was now willing to do so, but in the opinion of the deputation a Manukau Harbour Board should first be formed, and later tho two bodies could amalgamate.

fa reply, tho Premier said that the matter required careful consideration, which he would give, while ho would also consult with the Minister of Marine.