SOUTH HOKITIKA

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1925, Page 1

SOUTH HOKITIKA

MERGER INTO COUNTY

Another step in the legal process of merging South Hokitika into the AVestland County lias been taken. The authorities concerned have been notified of the decision of the Commission which sat on the matter in November 1923. It appears further action has been held over pending a revaluation of that portion of the Borough of Hokitika on the north side of the river. The Valuer-General has notified the Hon Minister of Internal Affairs that the revaluation of the Borough of Hokitika is now in hand, and the Hon Minister now proposes to give effect to (.he report of the Commission, which is to he duly made when the revaluation is completed.

The Commission which sat to determine the matter raised by a petition of tho residents of South Hokitika consisted of Messrs Meldrum S.AL, Alorpeth, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Carmichael, District Valuer The Hokitika Borough supported the prayer of the petitioners for the merger, which was opposed by the AVcstlnnd County Council. At the. inquiry Air Park appeared for the Hokitika" Borough Council and the petitioners, and Air Doogan for the AVcstlnnd County Council. The case for the petitioners was to the following effect. (a) —The area in question known as South Hokitika comprises 040 acres, and is almost completely isolated from the northern part of the Borough. 'I he two parts are divided by tho Hokitika river, the bed of which is three-quar-ters of a mile in width. The only means of crossing is by the railway bridge. 54 chains in length. (U) —There is no community of interest between the two portions. Hokitika South is not, and probably never will be used as a residential area by the business people of Hokitika north. It is too far detached and more over is wet, low-lying and liable to flooding. (,") Though the ratepayers of Hokitika South have been rated for the purpose nothing has ever been done by the Borough Council to supply them with electricity, gas. water, or sanitary arrangements; nor has the Boiough Council for many years expended a fair proportion of the rates raised in Hokitika South in repairing the roads in that area. (d) Hokitika South is practically a countrv district, is not likely within the life of the present generation to increase sufficiently in population to enable it to become an independent local bodv as e.g. a Town District, which hitter "would require a minimum ol householders within ils area. The case for the objectors as far as it was conisdered proved by the Westland County Council, was as follows:--q ’l’| le Borough Council has not m past, years expended a fair proportion of the rates raised by them m H»kitika South on the maintenance of the roads and bridges in that area, and it would cost a considerable sum to put them in a reasonable ra.tc ol repair. The Commission estimated the cost at £350. „ , o The lasi valuation of the Countv “was made in 1922, whereas the last valuation in the Borough was made in U)O7, and it would be unfair to meige Hokitika South within the County while these valuations stood. The Commissioners considered the difficulty could be got over by the Valuation Department making a new valuation of Hokitika South. The following recommendations were made accordingly by the Coinmisson-

l That the boundaries of Westland County and Hokitika Borough be aliens! so as to exclude the area ol Hokitika South from the Hokitika Borough and to include it in the "‘•‘stlaml Count v. I ; Thai it hr a coivlil mn precedent. |o such alteration ol boundaries that, a revaluation of the area of Hokitika South he made by the Valuation Department at the cost of the Hokitika Borough Council. 111.--That incidentally on the alteration of boundaries taking elf net. the Hokitika Borough Council pay to the West land Countv Council the sum ot £350 to enable the hitter body to put the roads and bridges in Hokitika South into a reasonable state ot repair. JV —That, each party pay its own costs; and that the costs of the Commission he paid in equal Parts by the Borough Council and the County Council.