DRAINAGE BOARD.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4289, 29 April 1879, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

A special meeting of the above Board was held yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. Present, Messrs H. J. Tancred (chairman), F. Hobbs, J. V. Boss, B. J. S. Harman, A. Duncan, J. E. Brown, and H. J. Hall. The Oh-irman explained that the meeting had been called pursuant to a resolution passed at the last ordinary meeting, which was then read. In a preliminary conversa-to-al discussion, the question of adjusting the rates as affecting the different districts was alluded to, and the question asked whether that was to form a part of the special business. Mr J. E. Brown, as a member who had taken an aclire part in the matter, explained that the question was raised in reference to a report expected from the finance committee, and on the last day, some of the members being absent, it was adjourned. The finance committee, howerer, had not met since, and this meeting was called specially for the purpose of allocating rates and defraying expenditure in certain sub-districts. He might also state that the advice of the Board's solicitors had been obtained as to the Board's treatment of works, and the following was the letter received from Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw:— _ We are of opinion that after the provision for the sinking fund the Board can appropriate their, funds, whether arising from rates or borrowed monies to any works either of construction or maintenance authorised by the Act. Full discretionary power is given to the Board to determine the necessity of any work, aud out of what fnnds it shall be discharged, but we do not think the Board has power to decide once and for all time that maintenance shall be defrayed br rates. This question will be a recurring one, and must be decided whenever the expenditure is contemplated. .... _ -j v _ He desired to see that no injustice should be done to inch districts, and he was afraid that injustice "**» don 6 to 80me oi t^em ' He proceeded to show how this wb* the case, contending that tbe maintenance of these worKs in sub-districts should not be regarded as recurring work. He thought the expenditure ihonla be paid but of borrowed money, and that a rateTeho-id be levied throughout tba district to meet the interest and sir-ring fund. Upon the present system the sub-d-stricts stood at a distinct disadTantaea in _-_atio-i to the city, m proportion they hae nothing Uke a MM«ablf proportion of the borrowed money. X it had geeTthoughtby the' Legislature that th whole of the borrowed money would be -gmt in one portion of the district, whilst othei district, were specially taxed for to tenance of recurring rates, if tins had been contemplated, the Drainage Act would no bar. passed the Leg Mature. He did no begrudge the expenditure of £29j000 o borrowed money in Ohr-ft-hur-h city. « was h-rfdy necessary that the money should w erpended for the prosecution of very destraWworks, but be was anxious tbat the other districts should not-ufferin consequence. He aIK suggested that the drainage works in theat districts, instead of being temporary in cha tacter as at present, should be permanenttt made. The existing open drains co-id w covered up and placed in the position of per 7-mimt drains, which would prevent the re; curring expenditure for cleaning and genera maintenance. I-rthennore, he was afraic that if they continued as they had been goinf on in the past they would Boon come to thi end of their tether, one district being alresd] taxed to the l-m-inura- amount, another tc the extent of one-half, and a third hae reached within a quarter of the limit. H< was afraid if they persevered in their presem course, it would be necessary to proceed unde: the third clause of the Amended Act, am levy a rate of Is in the £ for tho whole dis trict. He concluded by moving the follow ing resolution—" That for this yM_ all ex penditure for works be defrayed out of loan s__d that only interest and sinking fond ac

counts, together with .office expenditure, £i defrayed out of rales to be levied." »>a--f--0--Sn--lßs»„_r^ rates were called upon to defray the expense j"»£!___ssM...^ the suburban districts. _), if. Bell krplained that none of ths permanent works had been charged to rates, -which were called npon simply for clearing the ditchea__od drains of rubbish, scrub, branches 'of trees, ke. In:the Aroi» -'Strict a large amount of rates had been expended in this way, but a- considerable sum of money had been spent in that district alone ont of the loan account. Mr Brown said most of the works were paid out of rates. All he required was a fair proportion of results for the rural districts. Mr Ben—None of the works properly socalled had been paid but of rates. By a mistake a few hundred pounds had. Mr Boss pointed out that by the idea propounded by Mr Brown, namely, the treatment jf all drains and ditches in suburban and -oral district* _8 permanent works, they would require a million of money to spend on those districts, Mr Brown said his idea was they ought to leave the rural drain- to Road Boards, and to construct our main drains in such a manner that they would not be an ever recurring charge on rates. So long as this was assured he did not care if Ohristchnrch got fourfifths of the money, Mr Hsrman here pointed out that the motion had not been seconded, and he became the seconder pro forma, so aa to admit of discussion being pursued to order. Mr Hall remarked that to oorer in all the drains throughout tbe rural districts and make them permanent works would cost almost as muoh as the whole of the deep sewer scheme of Christchurch. Mr Harman thought the last speaker laboured under a misapprehension. He (Mr Harman) did not understand Mr Brown to mean that all the drains must necessarily be built in with brick or concrete. Mr Brown-was not prepared to say bow each drain should be treated; but, that was a matter whioh ought to come before the Board, and, personally, he would use his best endeavours to see the principle carried out. Mr A. Duncan moved as an amendment— " That the system upon which rates shall be levied during this year be that recommended in the report dated August 22nd, 1877." In support thereof, he said, to his mind, that was the only fair way of dealing with the question, as it would place the Board in a better position financially, whilst giving to each district a fair share of benefit. It was not possible to help there being two daises of works—inasmuch as each district must hare special works carried ont to meet the peculiar circumstances of its case, and if an equal rate for the whole district for these works were imposed, .it would eventually equalise itself. His own opinion was that it would hare been better not to hare had the amended Act. At the time he thought it was put forward by outsider-, who thought they would hare to pay for the drainage of. Christchurch; but, time had proved that this city and its suburbs could pay for their own drainage, and, no doubt- the rural districts now find it would hare been better for them to remain as they were before. The report referred : to in the amendment just proposed by Mr Duncan was adopted by the Board in August, 1877, and is recorded in the minute book as follows:— All salaries of engineering staff and expenditure in connection therewith from the constitution of the Board, until completion of the permanent works (afterwards when only maintenance is necessary, this should be a charge on rate account), also half secretary's salary, the other half be'ng divided and charged equally to drainage rate account, and the Local Board of Health; rent of office t. be divided in the same manner; ordinary office, stationery, sundries, &c, in the same proportion. All works that hare to be executed annually, or at short intervals, such as clearing rivers, creeks, watercourses or ditches which have been or are to be taken over by the Board; also all repairs that may be required in the permanent works after they have been passed as completed, but any new works that may be needed to give greater effect to the permanent works shall not be charged against rates, but against loan; the rate account shall also be charged with interest and sinking fond on loan, and the expenses incident to ths collection of rites. Permanent works shall be considered all works of a permanent character, whether connected with the sewage scheme or open drains in the rural districts, and all works, the construction of which maybe required as temporary works, to enable tha permanent works to be carried but. The cost of any works classified as above are to be charged against loan, as well as the purchase of all lands and compensation to owners, together with the law and other expenses contingent thereupon. Mr Hall seconded the amendment. Mr Hobbs spoke in support of it. He had a good deal to do with the Drainage Bill when it was first drawn up. At the time it did appear -that an injustice might possibly be done to some of the out districts, but he foresaw that that 'would in time right itself. For instance, taking the question of a general rate, it was true Christchurch would require large expenditure out of loan during the earlier portion of the Board's work; but, as they found already, such works in course of construction were not confined to Ohristchnrch, they were designed to extend a considerable distance into the suburbs, who would reap the benefit of their outlay. If Mr Brown considered the principle of a general rate unfair, the proper thing would be to alter the area of the district*, and make them more distinct. Mr Harman expressed the opinion that this discussion would prove useful, as he believed it would enable the Board to put themselves in a position more strictly in accordance with the law than that which they occupied before. In this connection he referred to the advice received from the Board's solicitors, from which it appeared that they must not attempt to lay down a principle for all time regarding these charges, since they would thus be interfering with a discretion which might be fairly exercised by their successors. He had given a good deal of thought to this question, but he confessed he had always come back to the one conclusion, that there was only one satisfactory principle to adopt, which was the one they were proceeding on. He felt sure that any one examining the position carefully would be driven to this conclusion. After some further discussion, in whioh seve-al of the arguments formerly used were reproduced, The question was put to the meeting, and Mr Duncan's amendment was carried. ! The Board then rose. ■■_■_■■---■■_————-—-