GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17291, 1 November 1921, Page 6

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

WOOLSTON MERGES WITH CITY TO-DAY. The legal union of Woolston with the city will be effected a 6 from to-day. The Deputy-Mayor informed the City Council last night that a telegram had been received frprn. the Minister of Internal Affairs to the effect that -the union of the city with the borough of Woolston would take effect as from November Ist.

The Bv-laws and Finance Committee reported that the Minister of Internal Affairs had advised that the necessary proclamation regarding the union of Woolston borough with the city would be prspared forthwith, and he suggested November Ist as the date for the union. That date had been approved. There was a difficulty with regard to the Woolston Fire Board as there was no provision in the Fire Brigades' Act for the abolition of a Fire Board, but the Minister stated that special provision for the abolition of the Board would be made either in the J>'ire Brigades Amendment Bill which would probably be brought down this session or in the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal, etc. Bill. , x ■ , Regarding the supply of. electrical energy, the Electricity Committee pointed out that the Council supplied the current under license from the Public Works Department. The Spreydon Borough Council and the Woolston Borough. Council each held a separate license. The Committee was of opinion that on the union of a borough with a city the license should automatically extend to include the borough, and recommended that the Minister of Public J 36 requested to amepd the Public Works Act in that direction. Pursuant to notice, Mrs McCombs moved: "That the Minister of Internal Affairs be asked, by gazetted regulations or by proclamation, to grant facilities to the Christchurch City Council to cancel the present rate struck in Woolston, and substitute the rates levied in accordance with the determination of this Council." Mrs McCombs applied for leave to amend the motion in the direction of setting up a special committee to report on the adjustment of the rates. The Deputy-Mayor said that in any event Woolston was securing a gain by joining the city. There was no justification for the proposed refund. The Woolston Council had formulated its programme of works and struck a rate to cover the cost. Why, then; should the city be asked to pay the difference between what the works in Woolston cost and what the revenue based on the city rating would produce? The motion for leave to alter the notice of motion was lost, likewise the original motion itself. FINAL MEETING OF WOOLSTON ] COUNCIL. TH&EE CITY COUNCILLOES ELECTED. The final meeting of the Woolston Borough Council was held last evening, when the Mayor (Mr McGregor Wright) read a telegram' from; the Htfn. W. Downie Stewart, Minister of Internal Affairs, stating that the union of the borougn and the city had been gazetted on Thursday last, and would take effect as from to-day. When the routine business of the Council had been disposed of, the election of three representatives to sit on the Christchurch City Council was proceeded with. On the first count the Mayor (Mr McGregor Wright) and Cr. J. L. Gant were elected; (is Owen, L.. Hart, and„.D. JlcJftfteAtied for the 1 , third seat. Thei second count eliminated Cr. Mcßae, and the third count resulted in Cr. L. Hart being elected. Cr. D. Rowse offered his congratulations to the successful candidates, whom, he was sure, would do their duty to Woolston irrespective of partyCr. G. T. Owen also congratulated the three new city councillors. Cr. Mcßae said that as a defeated candidate he congratulated the, gentlemen who had been successful at the ballot. He had been a little disappointed, but his congratulations were none the less sincere on that account. At the next City Council elections he would be a candidate for office.

The Mayor and Crs Gant and Hart returned thanks, and said that all their efforts on the City Council would be towards furthering the interests of Woolston, without thought of any party. i ' Cr. Hart said that the Council should not disperse without expressing its appreciation of the services of the staff, and he moved that a hearty vote or thankß be accorded to all the members of the staff. The motion was carried unanimously. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Mayor entertained the councillors at supper.