WAIMAIRI ROADS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19167, 25 November 1927, Page 11

WAIMAIRI ROADS.

TO TH» BDITOB Or THB PBESi. Sir, —I have read Cr. Kitson's letter in to-day's Press in reply to mine of yesterday, and it is of the type that I expected. By his silence on the question of the condition of the Waimain roads he admits that they are not as Rood as they ought to be. He still, in effect, accuses Riccarton of being a thieving borough, quite regardless of the fact that the residents of the district affected aro only too anxious to be "stolen," and would welcome any attempt to rescue them from their present position. They have, as I said before, promoted a petition themselves to have their district brought into Riecarton, because they feel sure that they will obtain many advantages by doing so. As to the country roads, 1 stand corrected, but only in part, for if Fendalton does not contribute to county roads in Burwood and Stvx it still helps to pay for many country roads in the Fendalton riding. The quotation ot hgures is, to say the least, misleading, tor statistics, as everyone knows, can be made to prove anything if properly used. No mention is made of the fact that there are areas of unimproved land ln the district affected which would certainly bear heavier rates under the rating on unimproved value and whose owners will quite naturallv oppose the amalgamation. An attempt is made to show that all rates will be increased, including that of residential properties, which is misleading. Residents of Riccarton know that the rates in Riccarton on a given house and sec tion in the Deans' Estate are several pounds a year less than on a corresponding house and section in the area affected and as the outside bodies' rates will be the same in both cases, the difference will be in the local rate. *endaltonian» hits the nail on the ?'« his .letter in to-day's Press. and his opinion is typical of the opinion „f residents of the district proposed to be merged.—Yours etc RICCARTON RATEPAYER. November 2ltn. RICCARTON BOROUGH AND WAIMAIRI COUNTY. TO THS BDITOB OF TBI PBESS. Sir,—We are informed that a petition is being circulated for signature by the ratepayers of a certain portion of the Waimairi County praying to be included in the Riccarton Borough, and that some of the persona taking round such petition for signature have stated that the trustees of the estate of the late John Deans are supporting the petition, and are anxious to be included in the Riccarton Borough, and that, as evidencing the desire of the trustees to have the estate included in such borough, the trustees havo /promised to give a strip of land to provide access to the Riccarton Bush from tho western boundary. We are instructed to state that no one has been authorised to make such statements. They • are incorrect, and the trustees desire to give them an absolute and unqualified denial. We have been instructed on behalf of the Deans Estate to oppose the inclusion of the land in the Riccarton Borough. As to the Deans Estate giving access to the Riccarton Bush from the west, we are informed by the trustees that they had offered to give the Waimairi County a strip of land for access to the bush from the west, but on hearing of the present project to extend the boundaries of fhe Borough, they at once wrote to the County withdrawing their offer. As the trustees of the Deans Estate do not wish any person to sign the petition under such a misapprehension as to the statement! to which we have "called attention being correct, we shall be pleased if you will kindly publish this letter.—Tours, etc., DUNCAN, COTTERILL, AND CO. November 24th, 1927.