Town Ratepayers Endorse New Loan Proposals.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 28 August 1912, Page 4

Town Ratepayers Endorse New Loan Proposals.

There was a very good attendance at the Town Hall last night to discuss the new loan proposals of the Town Board. Mr Nathaniel Wilson presided, and read the notice which appeared in the Titnos convening the meeting. Mr Wilson said the Board had after very careful consideration resolved to submit the proposals to the ratepayers. The bridges on the Sandspit road were in advance state of docay. He believed that in his time the wooden structures had been thrice replace;!. The Board proposed that should be now renewod iv permanent materials. The Warkworth. bridge was not wide (enough and a footway was necessary. It was proposed to replace the wooden top with ferro concrete work, and at the same time to give an increased width. There was also provision for metalling the main lines and carrying through a deviation to the Cement Works. The total desired to be raised was £3310. The culverts were estimated to cost £960, the Warkworth bridge,£'9oo, and the balance for the roads. The intention of the Board was to pay the whole of the loan charges, interest and repayments which amounted to £157 per annum, out; of the general rate of a penny halfpenny. That would still leave £400 for public works. If the ratepayers refused to sanction the loan it would take two years revenue to do the culverts alone, and everything else would have to be neglected. The Board had asked for a £ for £ grant from the Government, which if granted would reduce the amount to be borrowed. The Government had also expressed the intention of passing legislation to pay a portion of the sinking fund, in which case the yearly charge during the 36£ years would be still further reduced.

Mr Trotter :—Would the Chairman tell us what roads are main lines ?

Mr Wilson : —All the roads are now town roads, but what were main lines it is intended to metal the portion now unmetalled. They are the Great North road from the Puhoi boundary to the boundary by the show ground, the Sandspit road to Ody's bridge, the Matakana road to the boundary this side of Youngs. About two miles in all would require to be metalled. As for the road to the Cement Works apart from the ordinary traffic the Board would have from time to time a great deal of material to come up for footpaths. By easing the grade heavier loads could be carted thereby reducing the cost.

Trotter ;—Will £1450 be sufficient to metal ?

Mr Wilson :--We estimate .to metal a width of from twelve to fourteen feet and then wideS the formation out of revenue. . 1 dont think it would be wise to increase the width at present. ■-.:..

Mr J. T. Wilson : —I propose that the sum of £3,300 be borrowed.

Mr Trotter seconding that,

—I have pleasure in

The Oliairman : It should- be remembered that the properties facing roads which in April last, came under the Board's control, have been rated to pay their proportion of the previous loan which metalled the then district

roads

Mr Shannon: Will Neville street be graded before being metalled ? The Chairman : It would be throwing away money to do anything before the permanent levels were fixed. That work was arranged for and was about to be commenced.

Mr Walker: I think the ratepayers should have some guarantee that the money should be spent under practical supervision. Ido not think the last loan was as judieously spent as it might have been. There should be no amateur engineering, H9 did not know about Pulham road, he was not an engineer, but he did think a mess had been made in Hill street.

Tho Chairman: Mr Munro Wilson had prepared the plans of the culverts and bridges. After the levels were fixed he did not see any necessity for bringing in engineers from outside the district.

Mr Walker: The Board has been two years in office, and he admitted the money had been fairly well spent but there might have been improvement. He still thought there ought to be a guarantee that there would be no amateur work.

The Chairman : The work done has been a decided improvement to anything we have had in the district. Apart from the raising of the formation in places, which would add to the cost in future widening, the work was well done. It was useless to. cite Auckland. They were not in a position to go in for expensive work. There would be sanitation and water supply to come and to launch out in expensive work would mean oppressive rates. They had to deal with the possibilities.

Mr MeKinney : I think the Board has done real well, and they are quite fit to be trusted with the supervision. Look at the hall. The Board deserved praise for its expenditure of the last loan. -

The Chairman : When the culverts and the Warkworth bridge are done, the will only be the Upper Falls bridge to deal with.

Mr Trotter asked Mr Walker if he was opposed to permanent work, and .that geutletnnn replied it was what-he ! had been after for years. The motion i was then put and carried by show of hands, only one hand was held up in opposition. " The Libeary. The Chairman said the incorporated members of the Mahurangi library were prepared to hand over their

charge to the Town Board. Ifc was thought best, to consult the ratepayers as a decent building would be required It was estimated the building would cost £300, they anticipated receiving £100 from the sale of the presentbuilding leaving £200 to be borrowed> lhe proposed building would be " n'M ?• b£ tween the hall and the Catholxc Church. The library was a good one containing 2 to 3000 volumes. •t i cJ rat° mUst not exceed one' eighthofa penny, but one-sixteenth would suffice. A difference of opinion existed amongst members of the Board with regard to whether ratepayers should have any concession. The rate would be small.

Mr Ramsay : Is it intended to provide a reading room ? The Chairman: Yes. Two good rooms are suggested, but the revenue would not permit the rooms to be open continuously, it would only be at specified times.

Mr.Giessler asked if provision would be made for a sinking- fund for the oan. A library was a good thing and he would propose that the Board acquire the library and borrow £200 required for the building, seconded by Mr H. B. Moore.

Mr P. Thomson asked what the charge would be for the non-rate-payers, and if a library rate of onesixth of a penny producing £20 annually was struck, would that ba enough ?

t The Chairman: Personally I am not iv favour of making a distinction between ratepayers and non-ratepayers. A rate of one-sixteenth only meant 6|d on a valuation of £100 and 5s 2.Yd on a valuation of £1000. With the subscription revenue, the government subsidy and the rate, the cost of attendance and the loan charges could be paid and still leave approximately £20 for purchase of books. Mr' French said no distinction was made in Auckland in favour of ratepayers.

Mr Kirk thought a public library would enhance the tone of the district. The motion was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman was moved on Mr Trotter's motion.

Mr French stated that in the loan advertisements it would be necessary to pledge au annually recurring rate to comply with the law, but it was understood that would be a formality and the necessary payments would be taken out of the general and library rates. Ho mentioned the matter so that no misapprehension might arise.