RATEPAYERS ASK FOR AMENITIES

Southland Times, Issue 23737, 8 February 1939, Page 13

RATEPAYERS ASK FOR AMENITIES

Drainage Scheme For

Hawthorndale

COUNTY REPRESENTED AT MEETING

Proposals for the provision of township amenities such as footpaths, drainage and street lighting were discussed at a public meeting of ratepayers of the Hawthorndale district in the Hawthorndale hall last night. The meeting was attended by three representatives of the Southland County Council, Mr L. A. Niederer (member for the Waihopai riding), Mr H. C. Gimblett (county clerk), and Mr G. R. Milward (county engineer). They submitted estimates of costs and explained the various schemes. It was unanimously decided to adopt a proposal providing storm water drainage only and excluding all reshaping of streets and footpaths. It was stated that the estimate was for ordinary contract work, the estimated cost being £1903. A proposal to institute a night soil removal service was adopted. Proposals for the construction of footpaths and the provision of street lighting were rejected in the meantime. It appeared that something should be done, provided they could do it in a reasonable way, said Mr Niederer, who acted as chairman. It was necessary that the situation should, be improved generally. They had gone into the question very fully and already a cost of £5O for engineering had been incurred. DRAFT PLANS MADE Levels had been taken and draft plans made for calculating quantities, said Mr Milward. The meeting of ratepayers last year asked that estimates be provided for concrete footpaths, but he had found this to be impracticable because of the unevenness of the streets at present. If would be necessary to bring the streets to a reasonable suburban standard and this would entail new fillings in places and excavating in others. The cost of concrete paths, in addition to other proposed expenditure, would make the total cost prohibitive from a rating point of view. Only clean water would be allowed in the storm water drain because of the discharge into the Otepuni creek, and house water would have to be. filtered before being allowed in the drain. Each house owner v/ould have to 1 '"ing his drain to the street boundary and pay £5 for the connection to the main sewer, this sum being the cost of pipes and installation for a length of 33 feet. The following two estimates were considered by tl.e meeting:—No. 1, storm water sewers, kerbs and paths, the total cost (assuming that the work would be done by ordinary contract methods) being estimated at £4425; No. 2, storm water sewers, the estimate of £1903 being for ordinary contract work. • Mr Milward recommended that the No. 2 proposal be adopted if finance could be arranged. The work would have the effect of making building sections more attractive and should appeal to both house owners and owners of empty sections who proposed to build.