DRAINAGE OF THE FLAT.

Evening Star, Issue 4164, 1 July 1876, Page 2

DRAINAGE OF THE FLAT.

A meeting of residents on the Flat, which includes the Municipalities of South Dunedin and St. Kilda and the district of Kensington, was held in the Forbury School-house last evening ; Mr Moleney, Mayor of South Dunedin, presiding. The object of the meeting was to take combined action to discuss the.question of drainage, and put an end to the inundations which, periodically occur on the Flat.

The Chairman said the district he represented had always been in favor of one municipality, and if the others were not prepared to join them and form one municipality, as was formerly the case, South Dunedin would go in for drainage on its own. account. A surface canal would be necessary to effectually prevent floods—one that would carry the water to the beach, above the high tides. Mr Laydon moved—"That in the opinion of this meeting, in order thoroughly to drain the Flat, it is expedient that all concerned should unite for that purpose, and that a committee be appointed from each of the Municipal Councils of South Dunedin and St. Kilda, and from that portion of the Flat still under the Caversham Road Board, for the purpose of devising the best means to .attain that object, such committee to report to a future meeting." Mr Nacmaun suggested that it should be an instruction to the committee to propose a special drainage rate by the respective (Toun eila. ™

Mr Barrowman said they would require a special Act of Parliament to give bucJq administrative council or association power to levy a rate. Then there would be a disadvantage of not being able to gain the bonus or subsidy due to rates, u being a special rate, and there would be distinct bodies on behalf of different localities on the Flat, and they would clash in their action. If the municipalities went in individually they would stand a veiy poor chance of getting the necessary powers; whereas if they went in t gether the Government would have to give way to them. If the Flat intended to have any standing, and do any good use of itself it would have to go in for unity.

Mr Eager would not have unity. Th( y ■wanted nothing to do -with South Dunedin or the other abortions.

Mr Carey said he had lived on the Flat for fifteen years, and never to his knowledge had there been such a flood a3 the late one, and this was due to the South Dunedin Council stopping up certain drains. After a scene of great confusion, Mr Barrowman moved—"That, in the opinion of this meeting, the Bill proposed by Mr Stout should be passed into law, provided there would be a clause inserted to afford facilities for the incorporation of any and all the districts on the Flat, at the request of two-thirds of the ratepayers of each dwtrict." Mr Naumanx seconded Mr Barrowman's motion.

Mr Roughton moved, and Mr G. Wvber seconded, as an amendment —" That all further discussion of the question be postponed until such time as the ratepayers may think fit." Mr Dtxndon asked if the sole object in calling the meeting had not been to support Mr Stout in the House with the Validation Bill.

The Chairman said the recent high floods suggested the calling of the meeting. He held a petition in his hand which he desired the whole of the residents to sign, as it urged the Government to ratify the Bill. Mf Barrowman's motion was ultimately declared parried by 43 to 21. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.