RATEPAYERS' MEETING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 173, 14 August 1909, Page 5

RATEPAYERS' MEETING

WAN PROPOSAL APPROVED. There was an attendance of abc fifty ratepayers last night at the stai _ tory meeting called in connection wi the Borough Council's loan proposa His Worship the Mayor (Mr. 6. Tisc presided. In opening the proceedings, the Hay . expressed his dissatisfaction with tl size of the meeting, but the attendan increased very considerably in the ne: few minutes. He briefly explained tl proposals. GILL STREET EXTENSION. His Worship stated that four sehemi had been submitted to the Council, at after due consideration it had been d< cided to ask the ratepayers to adoj that involving the purchase of Messi Newman and Nolan's properties, at cost of £3BOO for the property. On .to of that a bridge would be necessan and the engineer, Mr. KendaU, had give his assurance that this would be buil for £IOOO. Mr. Newman had agreed t accept borough debentures as purchas money. For the purposes of this scheiu the New Plymouth Harbor Board hai already indicated' a strip to widen Gil 6treet corner plot that would ab viate any 'sharp angle in the street there The Railway Department had dedicatee the atrip of ground at the rear of Meant Newman and Nolan's section, and a fur ther strip (one foot wide) to enable the Council to make the street the, fu , 60ft width. Another little piece would probably be secured to still further improve the entrance to an already good street that would be very conveniently . s placed to catch the heavy traffic to and from the coast district -this scheme .'would not interfere at' all with the Council's section (partly occupied by the tank), which would be very valuable in the future. There could be no * .two opinions, said Mr. Tisch, about the necessity for this new street." It was not many years since the cabs and carriers' carts had stood in Devon street. They had been moved out, but such hai been the increase of street traffic that even now the traffic in Devon street wis uncomfortably congested on Saturdays and other busy days'. The councillors were keeping in view the probability of electric trams running here soon, and he felt sure that that time was not so very far distant. The council were wise, therefore, in looking about for a street to relieve Devon street central, just as it had been very well advised in purchasing" the old railway bridge at Henui and part of the railway line, aa an extra Street there. He had not »*• reeted to bring this matter before the ratepayers during his term, but the Powderham street bridge had refused further duty and a loan became necessary there; and he had thought it well to plate this issue before the people at the 6am'e time. He moved that steps Us taken to take a poll of the ratepayers upon the proposal to borrow £SOOO for Gill street extension. Councillor Fred Bellringer seconded, and assured the meeting that the Council's decision had been arrived at only after very careful consideration of the , various schemes in all their bearings. He referred to the fact that the ratepayers bad previously rejected schemes having the same object in view, but a Section of the people had been able to see that the street would be required. It was now an absolute necessity, in order to relieve Devon street of the heavy Waggon traffic from and to the coast. . Mr. C. Gledhill thought £3BOO an excessive price for the land. He also criti- ' cised the Council's" proposals generally, , Stating, "the Council borrows money as , if we werei a lot of putty; hut wo're , not, we're ratepayers.'' The chairman corrected an impression ' sought to be created by Mr. Berry in a Utter to the Press that the Council ! would, have further money to pay to thrHarbor Board. He made it clear i that the Council would have no money I to pay, and no work to do, for the ' Board. Mr. R. O. Hughes asked for details of the three schemes which had been before ' the Council, and suggested that Mr. i Berry should' explain the merits of the rival schemes. ' Several ratepayers remarked that they ' hadiseen the proposals in print, and did ' not need further explanation at this ! stage. _ Mr. Berry said the Mayor had not allowed sufficiently for the formation of ] thVbridge and new street. He re-iterat- s ed 4 challenge to the engineer to go into ! figures concerning the cost of the bridges ! ill the various schemes. He has of opin- * idn that the bridge in the straight ' street scheme would cost £SOO less than '; that in the Council's adopted proposal. J Mr. W. Bewley strongly supported the , Council's adopted scheme. The matter of; initial cost did not weigh greatly ' with him, but the easy angles in the ! street, and its position, appealed to him. ! He beJieved tliat some years ago the necessary land could have been obtained ! fot £SOO, . ' Cr. Bellringer: £430. Mr. Berry said the lowest offer ever made was £I4OO. ' 3fr. Bewley said that whatever the 8 figure, the schemes had been rejected by \ tht ratepayers severartimes, and every ' year,tljat-action was deferred the cost grew greater. He considered the people c 'should carry this proposal. The price ' asked for l» land was reasonable, and J they would have to pay more in the 'u- ' ture for a very necessary work. ' Mr. R. Cock said the scheme was prac- | tically the same as) that introduced and advocated by him during his mayoral term. Every, year it was becoming more anjimprerexpeiisivc, and the longer it was left the longer they would have to pay. To his idea the price asked was not at all excessive, and it would probably cost more if secured by arbitration. The ratepayers in the past had defeated the proposals Mr . Gledhill:. They'll defeat them againl Mr. they jwill not. -He believ«@|3|id2njbi6 pounds in rates than Mr. Gledhill paid shillings', and bs ' was strongjv in favor of-the scheme. As ' for the coming of electric trams, he believed he would see them in his time. He " assured the meeting that trams would < make a marvellous difference here, just ' as the£had'4one.in Warigaaui. The iholion'was carried, only Mr. Glod- ( hill voting in the negative. J . POWDERHAM STREET BRIDGE. 1 The .M..yor explained that the old ( wooden bridge in Powderham street hai 1 refused further duty, and it was neces- ! sary to replace it. The ratepayers were to be asked to vote a loan of £3OOO for i ' either a brfilge or' a culvert, whichever ; was the cheaper. The work could not ! be done out of ordinary revenue. He moved the.formal resolution to author- . ise the polfof the ratepayers. Cr. Bellringer, in seconding, said the ; portion was one that had to be .faced | swir-i !!>• liter. The bridge was closed ] now,'but that state of affairs could not be allowed to continue. Cr. Dockrill expressed his pleasure that the culvert proposition was to be considered. ! There was not the same deterioration in culverts as in bridges. Mr. Gledhill opposed the motion, on the ground that the Council was too extravagant, and too fond of getting into debt. He reckoned a suitable bridge could be erected for £250, so why borrow £3OOO. Why should they trouble about bridges for- posterity? Let posterity look after itself. The Council seemed to think of nothing else but coming before the ratepayers and asking for loans, which they would not expend'properly. He was sure that any carpenter would put up the bridge for £4OO. Cr. Bellringer; It wouldn't pay for the timber. *.- Mr. Walter Ambury supported the J motion. There was no doubt that for tiie-r-i-t 20 years the bridge had been • ii>--'iii,nt for the traffic, and had been a: .ii.'in if they seriously proposed to erect a £4OO bridge. The new structure must be wider, permanent and lasting. Ro regretted that the Council hai not p-r.ie in for a larger scheme, includina a-loan for electric light extension. Tlie Maror said the- plans would provide for a full width street. In answer to Mr. Hughes, Cr. Bellringer stated the approximate estimates cf the engineer were £2700 for the bridge and £2OOO for the culvert, and from what the Council had seen of Mr. Kendall he was. quite sure-that the works would be' carried out for the estimated amount. (Applause). <; Mr. Hughes urged the ratepayers present not to go away from the* meeting „ believing that they had done their duty ! by giving the loan proposals their supv , port at this meeting, but to register their votes! at the poll. The motion was carrieo", Mr. Gledhill A again dissenting. - Mi;. Gledlu'U explained that he believed the schemes' w?re good and necessary, but he objectef tothe cost. V ? i . The customing vote to the chair .twminated the proceedings. • '