HAMPSTEAD TOWN BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3572, 5 October 1916, Page 3

HAMPSTEAD TOWN BOARD.

GREATER ASHBURTON PROPOSAL REVIVED. " . >

DEFEATED ON. CASTING VOTE OF CHAIRMAN.

The first meeting of the newly-elect-ed board was held last evening. Present: —Messrs W. H. Kobinson, \V. Searle, P. Baker, W. Cunningham, H. P. Evans, and W. Thompson. • ' ' Mr W. H. Robinson was unanimously re-elected chairman for the ensuing; year. Before commencing the ordinary business, a. vote of condolence was passed to Mr W. Kerr, a member of the board, in his recent sad bereavement. ■ - v

A letter was received from Christchurch in connection with the "Our Day" Red Cross appeal.—ln view of the local appeal to be made at an early date, it was decided to donate £3 3s, the amount to be handed to tho AshM)urton Uo'l Cro&s branch.

The Ashburton A. and P. Association wrote asking for a remission of rates on the show grounds, and pointing out that tho local authorities now had power to remit rates on A. and P. grounds.—Tho * secretary reported that the rates on the grounds, including a water rate, amounted to £15.—It was decided to reply that the board at the present time could not see its way clear to remit the rates. , j

The following committees ■.werri- | elected:—Lighting: Messrs W. Kerr, Searle, and Evans; reserves: Messrs Searle, Baker, and Evans; sanitary: Messrs Thompson, Baker, and Searle; t works, Messrs Kerr, Cunningham, and ' Thompson ; water: Messrs Evans, Thompson, and Cunningham: finance, Messrs Kerr, Baker, and Cunningham. The inspector reported that a^ satisfactory state of cleanliness existed in the board's district. Four property owners had been served with notices to have gorse cut and grubbed. The roads had been clear of stray cattle during the month.—The report was adopted. ' . ' The matter of arranging for the pur-! chase of small birds' eggs was left in tho hands of the chairman and secretary. Mr Cunningham' said it was time that several properties in the board's district were re-valued. —The chairman said it would .be necessary to have, a re-valuation before the next rate was struck. A re-valuation could be made early in tho year.—Tt was decided to instruct tho clerk to write to the Valuation Department and find out whether., a re-valuation could be made this year. Mr Scafle moved, and Mr Evans seconded —"That the • board take into consideration the question of rating on unimproved value " —The motion was lost.

Greater Ashburton Scheme. Mr Searlc said that as this'was the first "meeting oi tlio new Iward, the time would be opportune to stai-t out and do something for the improvement of the district. The Creator Asliburton scheme -andUhe recent, poll for a channelling scheme had bo<m turned down. Both of thos»> propdk.alH-had had a-lot of opposition from the board. He considered the board now should set about to devise an improvement, scheme in which members would be unanimous. He considered a commissioner should be got vfrom Wellington, and an area defined with a view to getting a Greater Ashburton scheme. He then raO ved—"That a commissioner be procured from "Wellington to define a. residential area with a view to a Greater •Ashburton scheme.'. ' '• ' . ;

Mr Evans seconded the motion. . Mr Thompson said Mr Soarle should, have sunk his difference, in regard to the loan proposal. Ho felt sure if mem-, bers hart worked together that the loan would have boon carried. No doubt the ratepayers were anxious to pet improvements made. Personally, he was in favour of the channelling, and if a certain area, was done at n time the whole scheme could be completed within about eight years. If Mr Searle was willing to help with the channelling scheme he (Mr Thompson) would help with the Greater Ashburton scheme. The chairman said a groat deal ot money collected in rates had been spent in taking polls that could have been spent to advantage in the district. 11 a commissioner came down from Wellington, that would mean more money. HtT considered the board should get out somp scheme, to improve the district out of the present rates. He had considered the matter, and had found that out of the present rates a good deal of channelling could bo done each year. 'The board could spend about £160 in channelling this year, and ii this amount was subsidised by ratepayers along whose frontage the. channels would pass, a fair length of channelling could be done. The board'had now placed two proposals before the ratepayers, and it was time to stop „...,.. ,m ' r f money and do something practical with the money collected in rates. Mr Cunningham said he could not support the- Greater Ashburton scheme He did not think the board should push the district into another governing body's district until asked by the ratepayers. He favoured some im- | provement being carried out,. provided it i could be done without much additional expenst*. . . Mr Evans asked what would be tlie cost of getting a. commissioner to define the area. The chairman said he could not anpivpi- the. question at present. Mr Evans said lie agreed that the board had fired away a lot?-, of money over the channelling poll. Because this-had ■been- done, there was no. reason to suppose that more money wonic be wasted. The district wanted drainage badly, and he would like to see this work undertaken. Ho could quite understand people with largo areas in the district not wishing-, to apreo to the Greater Ashburton scheme,'but it was a pity for that reason that others near tho Borough should be kept out. Mr Se-nrle said he felt sure that another poll would be taken on the Greater Ashburton scheme within the term of tho present board. Ho did not think it advisable to go in for channelling if there-- was a prospect of linking-up with the Borough to get underground' drainage. The'motion, was lost—Messrs Baker, Searle, .and ' Evans voting for, and Messrs Thompson, Cunningham, and

the chairman voting- against. The chairman gave his casting vote against the motion. The chairman moved, .-aid Mr Evans seconded, that tho Works Committee report to next mooting on the cost of channelling the East Unit.—The motion was carried. Accounts.amounting t," £107 Gs were passed for payment.