DRAINAGE CONFERENCE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1769, 21 October 1879, Page 3

DRAINAGE CONFERENCE.

In accordance with a resolution paßsed at a meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council on Monday, October 13th, a conference of representatives of the Avon, Heathcote, Spreydon, and Biccarton Road Boards and the Sydenham Borough Council took place in the Borough Council Chamber last night. The following representatives were present: — Sydenham—Crs. White, Andrews, and Pavitt; Heathcote Mr Clcphane ; Avon—Messrs Philpott and FJesher ; Spreydon—Mr Miln ; and Biccarton —Messrs Nunweek and Boag. The chair was taken by Mr Clephane. The Borough Clerk read the letter inviting the attendance of the several representatives, and the replies received thereto. The Chairman apologised for the absenoe of Messrs Attwood and O'Neill, who were unable to attend. Or. Andrew sketched the existing state of the drainage question, averring that all that had been done up to the present time by the Drainage Board had been for the benefit of Christchurch, although the strongest argument which had been used by the self-elected members of the Drainage Board had been the necessity of draining the outlying districts. He considered that as regarded the large amount of money which had been spent, principally for the benefit of the city, the rates which had been imposed on the suburban districts were out of all proportion to the benefits they had received. It was for an equitable adjustment of these points that the conference had been called. The expenditure on the 3Terry road drain had practically been of no use to Sydenham, though the cost had been mainly charged to the Heathcote and Spreydon districts. It was moved by Cr. Andrew—" That the conference take the clauses of the amended Act and consider them seriatim." Cr. Pavitt seconded the resolution. Mr Flesher thought it would be the better plan for the several representatives first to state their individual grievances, and the means they proposed for their removal before they proceeded to the discission of the Act and the powers of the Board. Mr Pavitt said the Board instead of carrying out a scheme of surface drainage were engaged in carrying out a sewage scheme which in no way benefitted the suburbs, although they had to pay largely towards it. Mr Mealier moved as an amendment — " That the conference first consider whether the administration of the Drainage Board had been equitable to the outlying districts. Mr Miln socsm&ed the amendment, which was agreed to. Mr Miln thought this brought them no nearer to the object they had met to discuss, and he would, therefore, move—" That this meeting is of opinion that the Drainage Board has not done justice to the Borough of Sydenham and other suburban districts in their drainage scheme and that the rates levied have been excessive in proportion to the amount of work done in those districts. Cr. Pavitt seconded the motion. Mr Miln said there was only one"drain in his district (Spreydon) and all the Drainage Board had done was to clean it out, for which they had been rated a mm of £133. Mr Flesher stated with regard to the Avon district, it had been charged £937 lis this year out of rates alone, besides a further charge of £483 9s 5d out of th« loan for the outfall drain of Christchurch, which was generally allowed to benefit neither Christchurch nor the suburbs. A grave injustice had been done to the

cottage population of his district, in favour of the back country, in rating them at the rate of ninepence in the pound for work which had really not cost fourpence in the pound, it was the general impression that the administration of the Drainage Board was neither efficient nor eoonomical, and on the latter point he thought that the Road Boardß themselves would administer their own drainage scheme better by levying their own rates and carrying out their own work. The inequality of tho rates levied in different districts was also a grivance, and they ought to bo made uniform all over the suburbs. Mr Miln's motion was then put and carried. Or. White said there was a general impression that many of the districts were rated higher than they should be, and were paying a larger share than they had any right to. Ho would therefore move —"Thatthiß meeting is strongly of opinion that when the amendments to the Drainage Act are before Parliament a clause should be introduced which should compel the Board to charge the cost of maintaining their staff and_ tho cost of all works executed upon the district for the benefit of which the staff is maintained and the works are executed ; such cost to be ascertained at the end of each financial year by the Board, and a statement of the said cost, with the rate that the Board propose to levy, to be sent to the various Borough Councils and Road Boards concerned, who shall have a right to appeal against such statement or rate to a Court of Revision to be appointed for the purpose." Mr Philpoct soconded the resolution, wh was carried. It was moved by Mr Flesher, seconded by Mr Pavitt, and carried—" That the Drainage Board be urged to put in hand, without delay, such portions of their scheme as will offer proper drainage facilities for the Borough of Sydenham and thickly populated suburbs, such course being the chief and professed objoct for which tho Board was first established." On tho motion of Cr. Andrew, seconded by Mr Boag, the meeting proceeded to consider the clauses of the Amendment Act tcriatim, and subsequently adjourned.