TO IMPROVE THE PORT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11027, 16 March 1914, Page 3

TO IMPROVE THE PORT.

THURSDAY'S LOAN PROPOSALS. SIX SEPARATE ISSUES. It has long been recognised in Lyttelton that if municipal undertakings are to depend entirely on the revenue derived from rates, rents of reserves, water'supply, and so on, the advancement of the port will be somewhat slow as compared with other boroughs of similar size and population, and in order to push matters forward there is only one alternative. That is, to place the proposals before the ratepayers and to seek their sanction to borrow a sufficient sum to carry out the projects. During the past two years many of the ratepayers have realised that the time has arrived for a progressive move in the port, and when asked to cast their vote for loans for extending the water supply and purchasing the Diamond Harbour Estate they had no hesitation in supporting the Councillors' schemes. On Thursday next proposals will he 'submitted which will involve the ■ expenditure of £26,800. Lsually | the Council calls a public meet- ■ ing to place the proposals before j the ratepayers, but on this occasion it has been decided to circularise ratepayers, and, at the same time, _to supply detailed information respecting the various schemes. One proposal is to borrow £6OOO for a dwelling and lodging : house j to be erected on a vacant section an Oxford Street. Part of the property will be set aside for commercial offices, from which it is expected good rentals will be secured. It is also proposed to borrow £3OOO for building a number of separate dwelling-houses on a suitable site in the port. In this direction there is a pressing need for accommodation for workmen. The return m rents should be sufficient to make the loan self-supporting. . A town hall in Lyttelton has been a long felt want, and the ratepayers will be asked to vote on a proposal to borrow £7OOO for the erection of a building capable of seating 800 persons. In all probability the hall would be erected on Sumner Road. It is also proposed to borrow £6OOO for the erection of municipal stables and £I2OO for the purchase of a road roller and crushing plant. A good quarry has been located on one of the Council's reserves, and if the proposal is carried the present necessity of purchasing stone outside the borough should "cease and at the same time the Council would always be able to maintain an adequate supply of screenings at its own door. At nearly £9O a year is paid out for railage of stone from elsewhere. One of the principal schemes to be submitted is the proposal to borrow £BOOO for street improvements. The work covers .various parts of the borough, and in many cases it is urgently needed. . The ratepayers will be given the option of casting their vote on any of the six issues.

board Iving rotting, and posts stuck here awl there. Two fences which crossed the drive near the entrance to the cricket ground were in a bad condition and seemed to serve no useful purpose. With no lire fences such a condition of things would not bo possible