THE DRAINAGE BILL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2553, 14 June 1882, Page 4

THE DRAINAGE BILL.

The following is the toit of the petition which it is proposed to bo submitted to Parliament against the Drainage Bill:

In the matter of a Bill intituled the Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875, Amendment Aet, 1882. To the Honorable the Members of the Bouse of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled.

The humble petition of ratepayers and residents in the Chriatcharch drainagj district hamb'y Bheweth 1. That your petitioner* are ratepiyers and residents in the Chriatchurch draiaago district. 2. That yonr petitioners are reliably informed that the Chriatchurch District Draimgs Board have presented a Bill to your honorable Houae, to be called the Christchorch District Drainage Act, 1875, Amended Act, 1832, containing clauses whioh will enable the construction of water closet drains to be connected with the ■ewers, and thence by moans of a pumping station conveying their contents to the Sandhills reserves.

3. That your petitioners have persistently objected to the sewers b:iog used for bucli purpose, and tkey have brought their objections prominently before the Drainage Bi'ard, and have twice defeated the attempts made by the Board to introduce Bills into your honorable House having a Bimilar object in view. 4. That the Drainage Board have on several -occasions declared that they would not endeavor to seek either compulsory or permissive powers from Parliament for the purpose named, unless with the sanction of the ratepayers, and that tho present attempt has been extensively protested against by adverse resolutions passed at various meetings of ratepayers held for the consideration of the proposed Bill. 5. Tour petitioners have suggested that a .plebiscite be taken on this question, a course wliieh has been adopted with advantage upon less important matter?, but this has boon declined by the Drainage Board. 6. That your petitioners are of opinion that the system proposed by the Drainage Board is inconsistent with the present requirements of district; that it will be attended with a Tery large additional expenditure and consequent burthen from taxation ; that a considerable section of the ratepayers will be excluded from any participation in the imaginary benefits reuniting from the adoption of the scheme; that it is entirely speculative, and opposed to the general wishes of the ratepayers. That your petitioners respectfully request

that if the approval of your hon. House thai) be asked to the abore Bill named, that jom hon. House -mill reject the same for the reasons herein stated. And your petitioners will 67er pray, &c.