CHRISTCHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1712, 13 August 1875, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.)

This day.

Canterbury Road Boards and Abolition.

The Lyttelton Times speaking of the Road Board Finance Table published by it, points out that if the same rate is levied next year as last year, two suburban road board districts with 1,351 ratepayers would under the Abolition Bill gain £5,000, but that five districts with 6,980 ratepayers would lose £11,279, or if one shilling rate is levied, six road boards representing 2,214 ratepayers would gain by the Abolition Bill to the extent of £2,£00. But thirty-one road boards representing 6,117 ratepayers would lose £59,875. Speaking next of what will be done with the money thus saved from Road Boards, the Times says the balance of the Land Fund remaining over after paying the pound for pound endowment is to be divided between immigration, charitable, and public works. There is a balance for these purposes under the present system, which balance will be largely increased by the saving from Road Boards as proposed by the Bill. Immigration and public works are no doubt very good objects for the expenditure of public money, but electors must remember that the Bill places appropriation of the very large balance under discussion in the hands of the General Assembly. Remembering this, they will see there is no security that the new district of Canterbury will not lose its proportion of the colonial immigration expenditure in proportion to the amount supplied by the local land fund. The Bill is silent on this point, and members representing other districts in the Assembly would be loud enough in their demands to mulct Canterbury. The same observation will apply to the future expenditure on public works. It should not be forgotten also that the appropriation of localised land fund by the general land legislator can never be so satisfactory as appropriation by a local legislature.

Metropolitan Race Meeting.

The da/tes for the Christchurch Metropolitan meeting have been altered to November. 11, 12, 13 entries for cup, and C. J.C. To close on September 20. Weights to be declared on October 1.