DRAINAGE MEETING AT PHILLIPGTOWN.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2532, 20 May 1882, Page 4

DRAINAGE MEETING AT PHILLIPGTOWN.

A meeting of ratepayers of the Henthcote district was hold at 8 o’clock last evening u the Phillipstown schoolroom to consider thi proposed amendments to the OhristoburcC District Drainage Act. About fifty person, were present. Mr F. Stevens was voted to the chair, ond having read the advertisement convening tit meeting, bespoke a patient hearing for Mr Jones.

Mr F. Jonas had great pleasure in meeting the electors on this occasion. The questsor they had met to consider was a very debatable one, and had eet them all by the ears. He considered this drainage question of the utmost importance. The now Board when elected four months ago, had not to propound fresh theories, but only to administer the affairs of the Board to tho best advantage. When they went into office they found nearly all the £20,000 loan spent, Tho outlet works at the Sandhills were nearly completed, and -the pumping station was ready. Many applications had been made for connections with the drain, nearly every hotelkeeper and also all the public institutions having applied for that purpose. Matters were cropping up that must bo dealt with, and the Board did not wish to work under a faulty Bill, and a committee had been appointed at his instigation to draw up a Bill to be sent to Parliament. A year ago ho had opposed the Bill then proposed, some of the clauses of which had been in sorted in this new Bill. A conference took place the other day which was a thoroughly representative gathering, several members of the Assembly and the tipper House, and also Mr Harman and Mr John Ollivier were present, these two gentlemen representing the two sides of the question. Tho Board wished to take counsel with tho ratepayers, and not thrust anything down their throats. At the conference the Bill was agreed to with but one dissentient, viz, Mr John Ollivier. He (Mr Jones) had been told that he had changed his opinion, which he denied, and he would prove to them that he had been consistent. They would remember the calculation made as to rating certain parts of the Heathoote district, and he was glad that rural Heathoote was rated at 4Jd in the £ instead of 9J, but he was sorry to tell them that the next rate would be fid in the £. [A Voice —" It will be Is in the £ soon.”] He did not think is would be more than fid. Soon matters were put on a proper basis. Tney would remember the compulsory clauses, which were struck out of the Bill. He opposed those clauses, and the Drainage Board did not go on with the Bill. He fought against the system of rating and the compulsory clauses, but he did not fight against the water system. He believed the system of draining excreta into Che sewers was the best way to drain the city. The Board wished particularly that persons should make connections with the sewers. Over £IOO,OOO had been spent in laying pipes in streets that will not be used for years, and the action of tho old Board in its last days was strongly objected to by him. There was a little money left, whioh the Board proposed to expend in laying pipes in some of the thickly populated streets of the city. He wished them to understand that it would be perfectly voluntary action for people to connect with the drains. In conclusion, he would ask them to weigh the matter well, and they would see that their very best interests were involved, as the only thing that wonld actuate him would be the interests of the ratepayers, Mr John Ollivier, who on rising was loudly cheered, was gratified that at last one member of the Drainage Board had the pluck to come before tho ratepayers with the courage of his opinions. Mr Jones had told them he was instrumental in getting up what be was glad to think be had found a word for —a conference. Well, six members of the Drainage Board, fonr members of tbo Assembly, two representatives of Road Boards, Mr Harman and himself. These M.H.R.’s tongues were tied of necessity, as the matter would come before them. He was struck with the solemn farce, and proposed a resolution to the effect that no action should be take i without consulting the ratepayers and taking a plebiscite on the question. Of course his motion was lost. Mr Harman then wanted the meeting to accept the Bill, and that the M.H.R.’s be asked to support it in the House. It was no conference—the thing was oat and dried. He would like to know if they were to be called upon year after year to oppose the affair. The continued treatment of them by the Board was insulting to them all. They had opposed tho previous Bill, and the Drainage Board dared not proceed in the matter. Now, as to this Bill of 1882, although purged of the objectionable clauses, he for one wonld never consent to allow it to pass into law. The Board bad not the power it claimed, or they wonld not have annoyed and insulted them by this Bill of 1882. It was called a Permissive Bill, but let them not be led away by that. The Bill was cunningly pat together to deceive the unwary. It {was the thin end of the wedge to force the system on the people against their will. Mr Jones had told them be was always a strong advocate of the system, but let them remember that at a meeting held last year he had said he was quite at one with them in opposing the Bill. [Cheers.] He (Mr Ollivier) was not one to eat his words, and he would propose that—“ This meeting pledges itself to do all in its power to prevent the passing of the Bill whioh the Drainage Board has announced its intention to ask Parliament to sanction, and request that the members for the district be respect, fully asked to oppose its introduction. That a copy of this resolution be sent to each of the members, and also to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary.” He would hold meetings in Woolston and also at the Oddfellows’ Hall in Ohristohuroh, and as long as he had breath in his body he would oppose the Bill till they would listen to reason like men. [Cheers.] Mr J. R. Hill briefly seconded the resolution, and in doing so reminded them that the rates at Oamaru were 4s fid in the £, and that state of things would soon result here if the Board got their cunningly devised Bill passed. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr J. R. Hill moved “ That our member ho requested to use all his influence to prevent the excreta being put in the drains till the voice of the ratepayers be taken upon the question.” The motion was seconded, and, on being put, Mr Jones said if he did not represent the opinions of the ratepayers he should be glad to be relieved of his position on the Board. In reply to Mr Staples, Mr Jones said he would qualify his remarks and act as they wished till the voice of the people was ascertained, and if it was opposed to his views he wonld resign his seat on the Board.

The resolution was then passed with only one dissentient. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.