DRAINAGE BOARD.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3988, 7 May 1878, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

An adjourned meeting of the Christchurch TWnsge Board took place yesterday morning jt 10 in the offices of the Board. Present —Messrs TancreJ (chairman), Hobbs, Har--loaßt Duncan, Hall, and Ross. The minutes of the last meeting were read gad oomfirmed. BATING. The meeting then went into committee for the purpose of considering the report of the job-committee (Messrs Duncan and Hobbs) cm the question of apportioning the amount of the rates to be paid by the several districts nnder the jurisdiction of the Board. After some discussion, the business of the general meeting was resumed. Befor* putting the resolutions, Mr Duncan said he wished to make a few remarks- In the first place he would like to draw attention to a statement which had recently appeared in one of the papers, headed the " Biter Bit." The paragraph in question was not only false in fact, bnt was very illidriied, and calculated to create a bad impression on the minds of the ratepayers, and iring the Boird into contempt. With reference to the assessments which woul 1 bj stated in the resolution to bs submitted, he considered they were framed in a perfectly equitable manner. The reason for assessing the rural districts at a higher rate than the boroughs was on account of their having lengthy creeks to be clcired. Kit was the run of the country people that the Board should take under their charge more of these greeks ar.d ditches, it was only reasonable to expect that they should pay for them. In his opinion more drains were sought to be fcanosed on the Board than it had a right to ciirtaie. The rural districts at the present time had to pay a little higher than the boroughs. The expenditure in the rural districts was for clearing rivers, watercourses, and drains, which were recurring works, but that the expenditure on these was not likely to increase, therefore the rates would rather decrease than otherwise. There was, howtrer, an inclination on the part of the Road Boards to thrust on the Drainage Board works of a very minor character, and if the Board were to take over all those the rates would naturally rise. It was only a question whether the Road Boards which were now relieved from trenching on their shilling rate for drains which they previously had had to do, could not manage those minor matters. In'Christchurch and Bydeuham where there where few or no watercourses little had to be railed to pay for recurring works. The rates would" be expended in paying interest and sinking fund for the capital invested in permanent works. The cost of the works already done or contemplated far the current year was e6timaed for Christchurch a little over £30,000, but it was to be hoped that this same ratio of increase in the value of assessments that had taken place both in Christchurch and the rural districts during the past few years would keep an. The probability increase value of the assessment would be sufficient to psy interest and sinking fund on the works as they progressed without entailing very much, if any, higher rates than what were struck at the present time. Mr RctJfniorsed most of the opinions expressed by Mr Duncan. Although the rates might at first appear rather high, there was mod value for them when it was taken into consideration the number of creeks and watercourses that would be kept clear. He did Bat believe there was any likelihood of an * increase in the rates for the future, although "' there was a steady increase in population and in the value of property and buildings -nerally. He uiticipited that Mr Clarke's scheme would inaugurate a more healthy stjte of things. Mr Herman agreed with the last ipf aker as to the increaw g value of rateable property in the suburban districts, and thought that if Mr Clarke's scheme were adopted there would be no probability of an increase in the draitage rate. The public should not be brought erroneously to think that the scheme of Mr Clarke was too expensive a luxury to be afforded. , Mr Hall considered that as time progressed the likelihood was that there would rather be a decrease than an increase in the drainage After some discussion the following resolutions were moved and carried: — " That tht clearing of the Avon river, from the Fendaltown bridge to the Estuary, be made a general charge on the rates of Christchurch, Avon, and Heathcote districts, distributed proportionately to the benefits which in the opinion of the Roard they respectively derive from such clearing—vis., £250 on Christchnrch, £75 on Avon, and £7o on Heathcote. That the following rates to be toried in the following districts respectively— To City of Christchurch, 6id in the pound ; Avon Road District, 7d; Riccarton, 7d; Heathcote, 6d; Sydenham Borough, sid ; Bswydon Road Dwtrict, 7d. That the Board notify their intention to levy the rates as screed to by them as follows—viz ,on Sydenham, Sfrdinthe pound ; Heathcote, 6d ; Avon, 7dj Riccarton, 7d; Bpreydon,7d. That the said rate shall be for the period ending December 31st, 1878; that it shall be payable on the 80th May, 1878; and that the rate books are open for inspection at the office of the Board in Hereford street, Christchurch. That the Airman be authorised to deposit £40,000 foi 12 months, £10,000 for six months, and £10,000 for 3 months, at the rates fixed by agreement with the Bank of New Zealand. Before adjourning the meeting Mr Harmai said he wished it to be known that the reasoi for excluding Christchuach for the present v the third resolution was that the Board hac not rece'red a copy of the Christchurch roll and therefore was unable to comply with tbi requirements of the Act, which provides tha it shall be open for the inspection of tin public The meeting then sdjouraed.