PATEA ELECTRICITY PLANT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1921, Page 7

PATEA ELECTRICITY PLANT.

COST UNDER-ESTIMATED. Something in the nature of a bolt from the blue descended on councillors at the meeting of the Patea Borough Council on Monday, says the Patea Press, when a return of the cost of the work at the hydro plant was read, which showed that with the plant already on order, the amount >• of funds available would not suffice to complete the work. The matter was introduced at the close of the ordinary business by his Worship the Mayor, who said he had rather an important matter to bring forward. He had made it his business to go thoroughly into the question of the cost of the repairs to the hydro plant, and found that there was a great deal of money that had yet to be spent. £4520. 2s lOd and commitments brought the cost up.to £5760 12s sd, which was £760 12s 5d above the loan. They could not go back on the commitments as the machinery was absolutely necessary. Mr. Pulley had gone into the matter, and now wrote stating that he could complete the work at the dam for £5OO. Continuing, his Worsliip said that the Finance Committee had met and recommended that a further 10 per cent on the £5OOO loan be raised and the council’s war loan at present in the bank he either discounted or a sum of money raised on it. After a long discussion, it was resolved that the Finance Committee gfl into the matter and ascertain the best means of meeting the situation and reto the covnnH.