MEETING RE DRAINAGE OF BINGSLAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2091, 5 November 1880, Page 4

MEETING RE DRAINAGE OF BINGSLAND.

A meeting was hold at the district schoolroom, Bingsland, yesterday evening, to take into consideration the action of the Christchurch District Drainage Board in reference to the drainage of Bingsland, There was a very fair attendance of ratepayers, Mr J. Grierson being elected to the chair. The Chairman said he had called this meeting at the request of Mr J. L. Wilson, chairman of the Avon Hoad Board. He m -r say that he had received a letter from Mr J. E. Brown, their representative on the Drainage Board, in which that gentleman said a previous engagement in the country would prevent him from being present. He had also invited Mr Harman to be present, from whom he bad received a letter of apology for his absence. The letter from Mr Brown to which the Chairman referred was read, Mr Brown desiring to say that the reason, in his opinion, for the excessive rates in the Avon district was the character of the major part of the works by the Drainage Board necessitating a yearly recurring charge. Ho had on the Board strenuously opposed what he believed to be a great injustice to the Avon district, but was nevertheless powerless to prevent what he was compelled to tolerate. Mr Harman wrote to the that a careful investigation into the financial position of the Drainage Board, with special reference to the amount of rates that could bo levied on the Avon district, as the basis of assessment for the current year, disclosed the fact that the Board would not at present bo justified in expending the money proposed for the improvement of Bingsland. The Board, however, were anxious to meet the wishes of the ratepayers, and would carry out the work as soon as possible. The Chairman proceeded to state the facts they had to consider, end road the correspondence between himself and the Board, with the resolutions passed by the Board as to the applications sent to them from this district. In conclusion he pointed out that this meeting had bean called by way of enabling an expression of opinion to go forth touching the action of the Drainage Board. Mr Bwann moved the first resolution, as fellows: —“That considering the repeated promises of the Drainage Board to execute the necessary drainage works in this locality, this meeting expresses its astonishment at the Board now declining to proceed with those works, and protests against any further postponement of the same.” In speaking to the resolution Mr Swan drew attention to the amount of money taken from the district, for which they received no return, whilst a large amount of the Drainage Board revenue was expended on agricultural land. No doubt the Board were pushed for funds, but it was hard that this district should have to pay for their mismanagement. Mr Lewis seconded the motion, and remarked that the Drainage Board were quite ready to increase their rates, but were seemingly determined to do nothing for the district. The motion was carried.

Mr Fieshor said they had for a long time been played with, and must insist npon being treated as men and not as schoolboys. The resolution ho had to propose was—“ That the reasons alleged by the Board for the course they are adopting are perfectly unjustifiable, inasmuch as, according to their own estimate of the cost of the work proposed, the rates from this locality alone will more than provide for interest and sinking fund of the same. 11 He went over the ground of complaint previously set forward and urged by a deputation from this district to the Drainage Board. The assessment of this district for the past year amounted to £7149, yielding a revenue of £357 at a shilling rate, and this was likely to be increased considerably during the present year. Thus they were contributing sufficient to pay for interest and sinking fund in connection with the work they proposed, and next year, as he bad pointed out, there would be a margin over and above that of more than £IOO. There had been a general increase in the assessment of the entire drainage district since the introduction of the scheme, and Bingsland had increased with the others. The reasons put forward by the Drainage Board were altogether futile, as to the neglect of this district, which should not be made to suffer for their mistakes, and he thought the meeting would be perfectly justified in passing the resolution ho proposed. Mr Pearce seconded, and concurred in the necessity of agitating till they received their unquestionable rights. The motion was pub to the meeting, and carried new eon. Mr Richardson moved—“ That this meeting protests in the strongest possible manner against the Board continuing to apply the rates of the locality to defray the cost of works from which we receive no benefit, whilst the drainage of this part of the district is entirely neglected, to the detriment of the health and interests of the inhabitants; and we hereby call upon ths Board to stop immediately such a misappropriation of our rates.” Mr Stewart seconded the motion. Several speakers pointed out how much the district stood in need of surface drainage. The resolution was carried. Mr Kerr proposed a resolution to the effect that this meeting expresses its indignation at the manner in which the Board has acted, believing that it has deliberately deceived the deputation. Mr Boundy seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. Mr Berry moved that the above resolutions be supported by a petition from the ratepayers, and that the following gentlemen be a committee to represent the case and secure redress for the district :—Messrs Grierson, Wilson, Fleeher, Kerr, Swann, Kent, Pierce, Hubbard, Taylor, Hepburn, Ledsham, and the mover. Mr Fleeher seconded the motion, which was carried. The meeting terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman.