DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1288, 6 May 1878, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

An adjourned meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board took place this morning at 10 in the offices of the Board. Present —Messrs Tancred (chairman), Hobbs, Harman, Duncan, Hall, and Ross. The minutes of the last meeting were read and comfirmed. EATING. The meeting then went into committee for the purpose of considering the report of the sub-committee (Messrs Duncan and Hobbs) on the question of apportioning the amount of the rates to be paid by the several districts under the jurisdiction of the Board. After some discussion, the business of the general meeting was resumed. Before putting the resolutions, Mr Duncan said he wished to make a few remarks. In the first place he would like to draw attention to a statement which had recently appeared in one of the papers, headed the Biter Bit.” The paragraph in question was not only false in fact, bnt was very illadvised, and calculated to create a bad impression on the minds of the ratepayers, and bring the Board into] contempt. With reference to the assessments which would be stated in the resolution to be submitted, he considered they were framed in a perfectly equitable manner. The reason for assessing the rural districts at a higher rate than the boroughs was on account of their having lengthy creeks to be cleared. If it was the wish of the country people that the Board should take under their charge more of these creeks and ditches, it was only reasonable to expect that they should pay for them. In his opinion more drains were sought to be imposed on the Board than it bad a right to undertake. The rural districts at the present time had to pay a little higher than the boroughs. The expenditure in the rural districts was for clearing rivers, watercourses, and drains, which were recurring works, but that the expenditure on these was not likely to increase, therefore the rates would rather decrease than otherwise. There was, however, an inclination on the part of the Road Boards to thrust on the Drainage Board works of a very minor character, and if the Board were to take over all those the rates would naturally rise. It was only a question whether the Road Boards which were now relieved from trenching on their shilling rate for drains which they previously had had to do, could not manage those minor matters. In Christchurch and Sydenham where there where few or no watercourses little had to be raised to pay for recurring works. The rates would be expended in paying interest and sinking fund for the capital invested in permanent works. The cost of the works already done or contemplated for the current year was estimaed for Christchurch a little over £:50,000, but it was to bo hoped that this same ratio of increase in the value of assessments that had taken place both in Christchurch and the rural districts during the past few years would keep up. The probability increase value of the assessment would be sufficient to pay interest and sinking fund on the works as they progressed without entailing very much, if any, higher rates than what were struck at the present time. Mr Rent endorsed moet ot the opinions

oresscd by Mr Duncan. Although the rates alight at first appear rather high, there was good value fov them when it was taken into consideration the number of creeks and watercourses that would be kept clear. He did aot believe there was any likelihood of an increase in the rates for the future, although there wne a steady increase in population and m the value of property and buildings generally. He anticipated that Mr Clarke’s scheme would inaugurate a more healthy slate of things. Mr Harman agreed with the last speaker as to the increasing value of rateable property in the suburban districts, and thought that if Mr Clarke’s scheme were adopted there would be no probability of an increase in the drainage rate. The public should not be brought erroneously to think that the scheme of Mr Clarke was too expensive a luxury to be afforded. Mr Hall considered that as time progressed the likelihood was that there would rather be a decrease than an increase in the drainage rates. After some discussion the following resolutions were moved and carried : “ That the clearing of the Avon river, from the Fendaltown bridge to the Estuary, be made a general charge on the rates of Christchurch, Avon, and Heathcote districts, distributed proportionately to the benefits which in the opinion of the Hoard they respectively derive from such clearing—viz., £250 on Christchurch, £75 on Avon, and £75 on Haathcoto. That the following rates to be levied in the following districts respectively— To City of Christchurch, 51 d in the pound ; Avon Road District, 7d ; Riccarton, 7d; Heathcote, 6d; Sydenham Borough, old; Spreydon Eoad District, 7d. That the Board notify their intendon to levy the rates as agreed to by them as follows—viz,, on Sydenham, 54dinthe pound ; Heathcote, 6d ; Avon, 7d; Riccarton, 7d; Spreydon, 7d. That the said rate shall be for the period ending December 31st, 1878 ; that it shall be payable on the 20th May, 1878; and that the rate books are open for inspection at the office of the Board in Hereford street, Christchurch. That the chairman be authorised to deposit £40.000 for 12 months, £10,003 for six months, and £IO,OOO for 3 months, at the rates fixed by agreement with the Bank of New Zealand.” Before adjourning the meeting Mr Harman said he wished it to be known that the reason for excluding Christ chuach for the present in the third resolution was that the Board hud not received a copy of the Christchurch roll, and therefore was unable to comply with the requirements of the Act, which provides that it shall be open for the inspection of the public. The meeting then adjourned.