AVON ROAD BOARD DISTRICT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6494, 20 December 1881, Page 5

AVON ROAD BOARD DISTRICT.

A public meeting of the ratepayers of the above-named District was held at the Faponui Town Hall last evening to consider the position of tho District re the new Borough of 8t Albans and other matters. There was a fair attendance. On the motion of Mr B. Mitchell, Mr J.T- Matson was voted to the chair. Mr B. Mitchell said he would endeavour to explain why they had been invited to meet that evening. Since tho Avon district had been divided into five words under the Road Board, recently the new Borough of St Albans had been formed oat of tho district. This had swallowed up the greater portion of three wards, in one or which only throe ratepayers were left, yet, so far as he could gather, that ward would still have the right to send a member to tho Road Board, os well os the remnants of the other (wo words. This was a matter of some importance for them to consider, os they wore on the eve of a now Bond Board election. He, for one, was pleased that such was the cose—that these words should continue to elect members—rather than go book to the old arrangement, whereby the majority of the ratepayers in the Bond Board district could send any five members they thought fit, and thus swamp the Interests of those residing in tho smaller words. Seeing that the new Borough had absorbed a very largo portion of the district, and another portion had proposed going under the Bieoarton Boad Board, it had been thought advisable to take steps to elicit discussion on the matter. Ho suggested that a deputation should be appointed to wait on the Boad Board at their meeting on Thursday night, to ascertain tho _ exact position of affairs, and at the same time to collect information from other sources, and report to a future meeting. They would then be in a position to decide on some plan of action. They should consider whether, if a portion of the Avon district went over to the Biooarton Board, as was proposed, it would not be the best course for the remainder of the district, less the St Albans Borough and Bingsland, to go over with them. Tho Borough was an established fact, but it was not quite settled whether that portion of the district to the west of the North road would go under the Biocarton Board. The County Council would, be believed, discuss the matter at their next meeting, and the question was whether the ratepayers should not take action and enter a protest against the proposed joining of a portion of this district to that of Kiccarton. Mr Mumo thought it woe too late to take action in the matter of tho secession of a port of the district to Riccarton now.

Mr Erase was of opinion that if one portion of the district joined Biocarton the remainder had better follow. If St Albans and the portion of the west of the North rood were taken away, what would become of the Aron district, especially if another Borough was formed out of Papanoi in a year or so. Mr Mnnro : The people of Fapanui don’t want a Borough at all. Mr Dunlop, at Mr Mitchell’s request, described the boundaries of the hew Borough of 8t Albans. It comprised the whole of No. 1 Ward, except a small portion along the Harewood road and Norman’s lane; all No. 2 Ward except the holdings of three ratepayers—Messrs Philpott Brothers and Chamberlain ; and No. 8 Ward, with the exception of a small portion near the Stanmore road i Wards 4 and 5 remaining to the Board. The Board had a legal opinion from their solicitors, to the effect that the portions of the three Wards remaining from which the Borough of 8t Albans had been formed, had ■till the right to return members to the Eoad Board. He believed there could be no readjustment of the Wards till after the next election. Mr Duncan was opposed to seceding to fcno Bicoarton Board. In his opinion, all scceders should bo “ out off with a shilling ” bv the Aron district. Ho thought they should endeavour to keep thoPapanui district intact, seeing it had institutions of its own, such as the Town Hall and Library, which should tend to bind Its inhabitants together, and not endeavour to divide the district. . Mr J. W. BUes moved—“ That this mooting deems it advisable that the whole of the remaining portion of the Avon district petition the Bicoarton Bead Board to incorporate it with tho Bicoarton district.^ Mr Kruse would second tho motion if Mr Ellen consented to add « except Bingsland after “ Avon district." Mr Ellen agreed to tho alteration. Borne discussion followed, during which Mr Delsbunt said ho had obtained an opinion from Mr G. Harper, to the effect that it was competent for anyone to protest to Government against a proposed secession of one portion of a Boad Board district to another, nut it was too late to do that now. Mr Dunlop said it was not too late to petition the County Council on tho matter at their meeting on Deo, 22. Mr Mitchell proposed, os an amendment—- « That the meeting appoint a deputation to wait on the Avon Boad Board on the matter, end gather information on tho subject from all sources for consideration at a future meeting of ratepayers. Mo would prefer more information before deciding on the course proposed in the motion. t _ Mr Duncan seconded the amendment. Mo was not in favour of giving up their reserve* to another district. Mr T. S. Weston agreed with tho amendment. Ho thought It was undesirable for them to hastily surrender their privileges to other bodies-as was proposed in tho motion. At next session of Parliament the question of local government would bo again brought up, and it was just possible that the Boad Boards might have largely-increased powers given to them, and tho County Councils be done away with. If >o, the Boad Boards would have large sums of money to disburse. Hence they should not bo too preclplUto m their desire to become absorbed In tho Bicoarton district. Their own district was a prosperous one, and probably would become an important centre , when, Instead of them having to seek Bicoarton, Biocarton would play second flddlo to them. (Applause.) , After some further discussion, the Chairman put the amendment, for which 30 hands were held up, only nine being in favourof the resolution. . « . , The amendment was therefore earned. Messrs Duncan, Ellen, Cress well, W. Norman, and E. Mitchell were »PP»“f deputation to interview the Avon Boad Board, and report to a meeting on Friday next. A vote of thank* to tbo Chairman concluded the meeting.