TAKAPUNA’S FUTURE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 667, 20 May 1929, Page 10

TAKAPUNA’S FUTURE

CONFIDENCE OF MAYOR PROGRESS REVIEWED Recording two years’ steady progress and expressing confidence that the progress will be continued in the future, the Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. j J. W. Williamson, has issued for publication a review of work in the borough during the past two years. Mr. Williamson left recently on a holiday visit to Australia. Dealing with the district fund account. Mr. Williamson says that the scrupulous care with which the borough had been administered had resulted in a healthy position financially, and a substantial surplus was carried forward into the new year. The credit .balances on March 31 of this year and last were £572 and £978 respectively, as against overdrafts of £2,501 and £2,G06 under the previous administration. The retiring council liad steadied and systematised expenditure on loan account, and reorganisation of both the engineering and administrative staffs had resulted in substantial economies being effected. The net result of the financial operations, taking into account outstanding rates and amounts due by other local bodies, was a carried forward surplus totalling £4,957. Under the heading of loan expenditure finance, Mr. Williamson quoted a congratulatory letter from the officer of health, concerning the improved sanitary conditions resulting from the completion of the outfalls and storage tunnels involved in the sewerage scheme. Dr. Chesson paid a tribute to the excellence of design and workmanship of these big engineering undertakings. He also referred to the forward step, from a public health viewpoint, marked by the operations of the new combined destructor recently installed for dealing with the refuse of Dffvonport, Takapuna and Northcote. ROADING PROPOSALS The review congratulates the borough engineer, Mr. Archibald Slingqr, upon the soundness of his estimates, and instances that the four main drainage contracts, including extras, were let for a total of £33,659, the engineer’s estimates being £34,881. Steady work in the provision of firepressure mains had been maintained during the past two years. An extensive scheme for the reticulation of Milford side streets was nearing completion, and Mr. Williamson stated the council would be well advised to press for a reduction of fire risk premiums when this is finalised. He considered that the proved efficiency of the fire brigade and the automatic fire alarm system, plus the extensive fire-pres-sure reticulation, warranted such an application being made. Twelve months ago a loan poll for the completion of the concrete roading system was rejected, and the review states that such a decision has had a serious effect upon the borough administration. Mr. Williamson said his considered opinion was that steps should be taken to resubmit the proposals, or at any rate, a modified scheme, such modification including the concreting of Shakespeare Road from its intersection with Kitchener Road to Brook Street. Mr. Williamson concluded his review with an observation that the present position of the borough is quite sound, and that, given careful administration, the future may be viewed with quiet- confidence.