BOROUGH OF SPREYDON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 65, 23 April 1914, Page 8

BOROUGH OF SPREYDON.

THE YEAR'S WORK.

Seen by a SUN representative this morning, Mr G. R, Whiting, who was yesterday re-elected Mayor of Spreydon unopposed, stated as follows in regard to the work of the past year and the projects in hand for the coming term:: —

"I am exceedingly pleased with the position, and it is gratifying to me after putting in twelve months in the Mayoral chair to find that the people of Spreydon are satisfied and have decided unanimously to give me another term; LOAN PROPOSALS. '' During the twelve months I have been in office Ave have borrowed in loans the sum of £8825, the chief items being the fnunicipal gravel pit £2200, and the No. 2 Loan area for street improvement £4700. With regard to the shingle pit, there have been five thousand yards of shingle and sand taken out of the pit and sold, and this, is very satisfactory, considering that we have had to open the pit, no previous preparations having been made, so that we even had to sink the well which is necessary for the washing of the sand and shingle. In future we intend to sell all the material from the pit to the public at market rates, on application to the office. "With regard to the loan it is almost completed, and it is very satisfactory to know that the work will be completed within the amount estimated —in fact, for less, when it is -considered that through the general labourers' award coming into operation an increase in wages had to be made from 8/6 to 9/4, with a reduction of four hours per week. The engineer and the works foreman are to be congratulated on putting the work through below the estimated cost; The formation of River Road, .a work which is at present being carried out in this area, will be a great improvement to the borough. It has a frontage on the river and oh the Cashmere Hills, and will be a splendid locality for residents building sites directly the land is cut up. ' .. ' T""' : building Permits. " "During the year, sixty-six .building have been erected, to the Value of £29,000. I am not sure whether this is a record, but I think it equals anything that has been done in this respect since the district was constituted a borough, WAGES. -The amount paid in wages during the year totals £4250, an average of £BO per week. , , %• AN APPRECIATED WORK. : ¥ A- work which is much appreciated by the ; residents and which has been put into, operation during the year, is the collecting of refuse from the houses. I think this is one of the most important of the - works jwhich have been instituted. •

THE COMING YEAR. \ "During the coming year two of the most important matters to come before the council will be the questions of drainage and high water pressure. A special meeting of the»council is to be called to consider the former matter as soon- as a communication is r6ceivejl from the Drainage Board. . . '' In regard to the latter question, .the matter has been taken up by the councils at the request of a large number of residents whose wells have been giving out as the result of a pumping station having been put in- a,t the eastern end of the borough. This is a matter, q£ course, which rests entirely in the hands of the ratepayers, as the council will laysomp scheme before them and it will then rest with the ratepayers as to whether a loan be raised and the scheme be put into, effect. PROGRESS; r , li l may say that the borough is progressing rapidly, and I think 1 may say without fear of contradiction is pro-r gressing faster than any other borough around Christchurch. This fact pleases me exceedingly, and I hope to -havo tha confidence of the people at -the end at the present term, just as I havo now.''