YESTERDAY'S POLL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13993, 26 August 1909, Page 2

YESTERDAY'S POLL.

Although the voting yesterday on the Gill Street extension and Powderham Street bridge loan proposals was not heavy there was no mistaking the feeling of the ratepayers, for the former proposal was carried by nearly three to one and the latter by five to one. Only 71 adverse votes were cast in the latter instance and 113 in the former, bo that counting the non-voters as favouring the proposals — and if they did not they would have opposed them — it will be seen that there is something like unanimity in tho community on both questions. This should encourage the Mayor, whom we congratulate on the success of his efforts, to push on with both projects. The Powderham Street bridge is really a matter of urgency, for the closing of this thoroughfare to all wheeled traffic for so long is a reproach to the town. It should not take long to determine the vexed question whether a bridge of a culvert is the better, and we hope no time will be lost in preparing plans and inviting tenders. The Gill Street extension is less urgent, but it will be a very great convenience, and since presumably the land must be purchased almost at once and interest be paid on the cost, the actual making of the street and bridging of the stream, the cast of which is estimated at only about a fourth of the whole outlay, may as well be undertaken now, so that the public may derive the full benefit from the expenditure. It will, of course, take some little time to complete the land negotiations, but now that the ratepayers have agreed to the loan we feel sure they would like to see the work carried out without unnecessary delay.