PROGRESS AT PORT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11029, 18 March 1914, Page 1

PROGRESS AT PORT.

LOAN PROPOSALS TO-MORROW. SCHEME TO SPEND £26,800. To-morrow the ratepayers of Lyttelton will be called upon to vote on six proposals amounting in all to £26,800. This sum is the largest submitted to a poll in the port for many years and if carried will be the means of making a. substantial advancement in the port' as far as municipal matters are concerned.

In the past tho majority of the corporation's works have, been done out of tho revenue derived from rates and rents of reserves, but the. sum is so limited'and the progress so slow that frhe borough has allowed other towns of Jess importance to abow more headway. . . Quo of the most important issues submitted to the , ratepayers is the intention to' borrow £7OOO for the erection of a. Town Hall capable of seating about 800 persons and of modern architecture. The necessity of a hall has been a long-felt want in the port aud the ratepayers will now have the opportunity of removing this reproach. Another proposal is to borrow £I2OO for the purchase of a stone 'crusher and road roller. This is probably the soundest proposition placed before the ratepayers for many years, and as the: Council at present pays ' over' £9O a year in railage on metal brought from outside the borough ratepayers should have no hesitation in supporting the Council. - ; It is also proposed to borrow"£6oo.o for the erection of a lodging house, together with municipal offices in Oxford Street,: and a further: sum of £3OOO for building a number of workmen's cottages. Tlie latter will be_ erected! oil' the town side of. the liarhour ancl should have little difficulty in returning a profit to the corporation.

There ,is also a proposal to raise £I6OO for building municipal stables and £BOOO for street improvements. The latter work will be somewhat extensive and when completed prove_ of considerable benefit to the community. The respective issues "frill be submitted separately, and the hours of polling will he front 9 a.m.. to 7, p.m. at the Colonists' Hall, Oxford Street.