DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1897, 23 March 1880, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Drainage Board took place yesterday. Preeent—Messrs R. J. S. Harman (chairman), A. Duncan, H. J. Hall, O. R. Blakiston, J. E. Brown, H. J. Tailored, and Hobbs. Correspondence was read with reference to an accident which happened to a cabman named Mulholland, which he attributed to the carelessness of the City Council and Drainage Board. The secretary was instructed to make enquiries as to the precise locality of the accident.

In reply to a letter from the town clerk to the repairs of streets after drainage works, it was resolved that the works committee of the Drainage Board should meet the works committee of the City Council to disenss the matter, the former having power to act on behalf of the Board. A letter was read from Mr Batho, dated Victoria Chambers, Westminster, 29th Jan., stating that Mr. Clark, consulting engineer to the Drainage Board, had died on the 22nd of that month from cancer in the liver, also informing the Board as to the state of accounts and pumping machinery, at Mr Clark’s demise, and asking for instructions. This matter wes left in the hands of the Chairman to investigate and report upon at the next meeting of the Board.

A deputation waited on the Board with reference to the formation of a storm-water drain from "Winter’s Bead to Old Dudley’s Creek. The matter was referred to the engineer. It was resolved to affix the seal of the Board to Mr. Parson’s contract.

A letter was read from Mr J. E. Hill, calling the Board’s attention to the choked-up state of Jackson’s creek, through the overgrowth of the watercress. It was resolved that the work be carried out.

A memorial was read from certain landowners in the vicinity of the No. 1 drain, pointing out the necessity of deepening that portion of the drain where it passes through the sandbank into the Horseshoe lake.

Beferred to the engineer. The following printed statement of the finance committee appointed at the last meeting of the Board was laid upon the table : In performing the duties referred to the committee, viz., that of calculating the amount of rate necessary to meet the requirements of the Board for the current year, your committee have deemed it desirable to carefully consider the financial position of the Board and th-‘- working of the Act with its several amendments in relation thereto. In the original Christchurch District Drainage Act of 1875, the rating powers of the Board were limited to the levying of a general rate of Is in the £ over the whole district, thus treating it as one district, but in 1877 a section of the ratepayers became impressed with the idea that a general rate was unfair in principle, and that the country or “ suburban and rural ” portion of the district would be called upon to pay largely for the expenditure of the money spent within the city. This epinion led to action being taken which resulted in the Amended Act of 1877, which was introduced in the House of Bepresentatives and passed without this Board being cansulted in the matter.

The effect of this amendment was to compel the Board to levy specific rates, one for the city and one for each of the several suburban or rural districts respectively. _ The past expenditure from loan and the estimated expenditure within each district for the current year has now to be calculated separately, and a rate levied to cover tie interest and sinking fund chargeable to each respective district. There was also a change in the Government of the country, &c., the abolition of provincial governments, which came into operation about the same time this Board came into existence, which has had considerable effect in the working of the Board’s finances. Prior to 1875 the clearing of rivers and main drains was done by thePro'vincial Government, and consequently did not touch the pockets of the ratepayers, but the Drainage Act of 1875 vested all watercourses within the district in the Drainage Board, and accordingly the ratepayers naturally looked to the Board, not only to keep the_ old drains in order, but wherever surface drainage was required the Board was expected to cut new drains. This has led to an enormous number of applications, to the expenditure of large sums from loan, and to a very heavily increased annual recurring charge on the rates to keep the old and the new drains clear.

It is necessary to make this explanation because (yonr committee plainly foresee) that if the Board is to continue these works the rating power of the Board will, in the future, be quite inadequate to meet the expenditure, especially when the loan is all expended, as the whole of the interest and sinking fund has to be paid out of rate. At the present time the Board has expended about £IOO,OOO, or half the loan. The balance is invested at the same rate of interest we pay, and therefore the charges do not at present increase the rate except to provide a email sinking fund. It is with a view of considering the serious difficulty which will arise in the future that your committee recommend the Board and the ratepayers to consider what will be best step to take. One thing is clear, either the Board must obtain increased rating powers or else the County Council or Municipalities and Bead Boards must face the position and undertake some of the works now devolving on this Board.

Avon District.—To give one case aa an example, we will take the Avon district. This district has for some years had a very low valuation, taken with a very slight increase from year to year, and it also happens to be the most swampy, requiring a large annual expenditure to drain away the surface water, and but for a surplus, which we shall explain later, it would require a rate of from Is Id to Is 3d in the £ to pay its interest on the loan on its proportion of general charges and the annual recurring charge for clearing creeks, whereas the Board has only power to levy la in the £. As it is, we cannot do with a less rate than lid for the present year. The only hope for the future is that the valuation will largely increase, and thus keep down the rate. It is self-evident that a low valuation means a high rate, and a high valuation a low ra City of Christchurch.—The effect of the amendment of the Drainage Act 1877 has tended to keep down the city rates, for although the city is charged with the large sum of .£47,338 18s 2d expended from loan up to 31st December last —which includes the £IB,OOO paid for outfall and other sewers —and with the sum of £15,007 10s, the estimated expenditure from loan for the current year, it is only necessary to levy a rate of 7d in the £, because_ of the high valuation, viz., £215,060, and with the large annual increase it does not seem likely the Board will he called upon to ever reach its limit of one Bhi'ling in the £, it it does it will bo only for a short period. In the future it willcertainly lessen every year. Heathccta District—ln the Heathcote district, in consequence of the small expenditure at present from loan for its especial benefit and the moderate sum for clearing rivers and creeks, we find a rate of 5d in the £ will be sufficient. Biccarton —This district has had less than ,£SOO expended from loan in it, and although it pays .£352 for clearing creeks, Ac., a rate of 4d in the £ will meet the present year’s expenditure. , , Sydenham and Spray don—For the purposes of rating, the small portion of the Spreydon Eoad Board district within the Christchurch drainage district is treated as one with Sydenham. These districts have had expended and will have—in* eluding estimate for current year the sum of <£20,246 to find interest for, together with other charges. The exact amount of rate cannot be ascertained until valuation roll is received. Surplus—Referring to the surplus mentioned in connection with the difficulty of finding funds from the Avon district, your committee find that in consequence of a net profit cf 19s 2d, on the sale of the debentures, over and above the £200,000, for which interest and sinking fund has to be provided, there is a surplus from last year of £3460 13s 7d, which they have considered should fairly be placed to the credit of rate account. This sum being equal to a rate of 2\ d m the £ on the total valuation of the whole district has enabled the rates to be fixed at the turns before mentioned.

Proportions of Costa of new outfall drain, pumping station, tank, &c.—The engineer in preparing his estimates for the current year allocated three-sixths of the cost of above works to Christchurch, and one-sixth each to the Heathcote, Sydenham, and Avon districts, but your committee have carefully considered the matter, and have based their calculations on the assumption that the proportions should be —Christchurch, 6-lOths ; Sydenham, 2-lOths ; Aron, l-10th ; Heathcote, l-10th. Total, 10lOths. Christchurch pays the full half as before, bnt Sydenham is charged fairly in propotion to area and mileage of sewers, which are much in excess of either Avon or Heathcote districts. We recommend these proportions to be adopted for current year. Frederick Hobbs, For Committee. March 22nd, 1880. Mr A. Duncan moved—“ That the statement,” which he described as Mr Hobbs’ speech as chairman of the committee, “be considered at once.” To this an amendment was moved by Mr J. E. Brown—“ That the consideration of it be deferred for a week, in order that the members might acquaint themselves more thoroughly with the figures.” The amendment was negatived. The Chairman then requested the secretary to read the committee’s report, whereupon he read the printed statement referred to. The report of the committee was adopted. It was resolved to notify the intention of the Board to make the following rates on the undermentioned districts under the control of the Board—viz., Christchurch, 7d in the £ ; Avon, lid in the £ : Heathcote, 5d in the £ ; and Ricoarton, 4d in the £. It was resolved—“ That the chairman be instructed to apply to the Colonial Government for the purchase of debentures to the amount of £2350, as an investment of sinking fund, and failing their being obtained in Now Zealand, the Board’s bankers be requested to endeavor to obtain them in London.” A letter was read from Mr W. D. Weod, requesting the Board to take action for the prevention of gravel being placed in the Wairarapa, thereby diminishing the flow of water to his mill at Riccarton. Referred to the engineer. Accounts to the amount of £1225 15s 8d were passed for payment, and after the transaction of some business of a minor character, the Board adjourned.