DIVISION OF THE COUNTY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1907, 1 August 1888, Page 3

DIVISION OF THE COUNTY

MEETING AT METHVEN.

(From our own Correspondent.)

A well attended meeting of ratepayers was held at Methven on Thursday, July 12th, to consider the resolutions paired by the County Council re the division of the county and abolition of Road Boards Mr McMillan was voted to the chair. The advertisement calling the meeting and tbe resolutions having been read the Chairman a.kod for an expression of opinion from those present on the question, j Mr Holmes, m moving a resolution approving of tho County Council's resolutions, Bpoke at length. In the first place as to whether it was desirable that there should be two rating bodies with power to rate together to the amount of l£d m the poond, he thought not. The Ashburton County contained, ho found, one and a-half million acre** with a population of 7000, that to this population there were no lobb than twelve governing bodies or one to each 600 of the population, which meant one to every 2CO men. The Ashburton County was double the size of very many countie*, and it would be better divided into two and that there should be but one rating body m each division. Cf the present rate off of a penny m the £ the Mount Hutt riding got practically nothing except for water supply. The cost of salaries and office expenses m the ABhburton County was £900, and those of the different Boards would be about £1700, making a total of £2600 yearly. The estimated cost of the two counties would be :— Cleik and Surveyor, £250 ; assistant do £150 ; clerk, £100 J office oxpon-es, £100 for each, making a total of £1200 for what was now costing £2600. lf the county wero divided and the North Branch of the Ashburton river taVn as the boundary it would bo found that the northern division contained half a million acres, valued at about £2,000,000 The south contained one million acres, the valuation of which is £1.500,000 The respective populations were : North, 4371 ; South, 3656, from which it would be seen that the northern division was paying double tlie amount of the present rate that the southern division was, and there was practically nothing spent In that division exoept for bridges and water races. If the County were divided as de.orlbed and the valuation of the northern division taken at £2,000,000 for a rate of one penny In the pound the amount receivable would be £8333, whioh together with the deg- tax and license fees would give about £8800. The office and o'erlcal expenses being taken at £600, sundries, petty cash, etc., £100, charitable aid £700, hospital £200, would make a total of £1600, which would leave £7200 to be spent In the oounty. If the proposed county were divided into n'ca ridings on the basis of the present valuation, the Mount Hutt District would contain three ridings, or about _ of the county, whioh wonld leave after paying the r.ffice and other expenses as estimated, £2400 for bridges, races, roads, eto. From tbe present Road Board rate only about £400 was available for roads, and of the county rates, nothing was returned to the district. He would move the following resolution I — " That

tbls meeting approves of the resolution of the County Conned respect'ng the division of the oounty Into two counties with nine ridings eaob, and dispensing with tbe Road Boards."

In answer to questions Mc Holmes said they did not get their share of the rates In that district now bec*-s. they were ail spent on bridges, which are a first oharge m the whole county and on the overdraft. In the proposed connty there would be but a small sum required for bridges. The most contrnl place for the offices would bo Liuriator, and he would not approve of having the office ln any but a central place. The Wakanui Protective Works would be carried out by a separate rate on the district Interested.

The resolution was seconded by Mr Brown and carried, only three voting against It. It was resolved that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the County Council. DISTRICT RAILWAYS Apr. \ The meeting next considered the ques* tion of railway rating sp4 unanimously resolved that tbe following telegram should be sent to the member for the distriot : — *' At a rapresentatlve meeting of rate* payers, Methven distriot, It was unanimously resolved to request their representative In Parliament to oppose the Amending Dlstrlot Railways Act, now before the House by every means In his power,"