AMALGAMATIONS ORDERED

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25916, 23 September 1949, Page 6

AMALGAMATIONS ORDERED

Final Schemes Promulgated BOUNDARY CHANGES ONLY Final schemes for the future areas and functions of local government in. the Christchurch metropolitan area, promulgated by the Local Government Commission, make only slight boundary alterations to the commission’s provisional schemes, issued on May 18. All major objections to the schemes have been disallowed. The effect of the 19 adjustments to the new boundaries originally fixed by the commission is that Taylor’s Mistake and Bowenvale npw enter the city of Christchurch. Small areas at Mount Pleasant and Hornby have also been added and a small area on Mount Pleasapt has been reinstated in the Heathcote Valley riding of the Heathcote County Council. Altogether 17 objections to the provisional schemes were lodged. Several, involving changes of boundaries, mainly by the City Council, were upheld wholly or partly, and the balance disallowed. The net effect of the adjustments is that 167 acres more than the area fixed in May are added to the city, which now has an area of 32,359 acres. Areas which now become part of the city are:— The borough of Riccarton, in which residents may have a poll on amalgamation. The whole of the Avonside and Bromley ridings, a portion of the Heathcote Valley riding, and Cashmere riding, and portions of the Mount Pleasant and Hillsborough ridings of the Heathcote county. ■ A portion of the Nos. 1 and 2 ridings of the Halswell county. A portion of the Sockburn riding, including the area comprising the Wigram aerodrome, and the Islington and Yaldhurst ridings of the Paparua county. The whole of the Middleton and Fendalton ridings, portions of the Marshland riding, and a portion of the Wairarapa, Papanui, Avon, and Styx ridings of the Waimairi county. A portion of the estuary of the Heathcote and Avon rivers. Taylor's Mistake is now included in the city by an alteration to scheme 7, excluding the rural areas of the former Sumner borough from the city, and including them in the Heathcote county. The excluded area now extends generally from Penguin Point and Godley Head in a westerly direction. The abolition of the Christchurch Drainage Board and Tramway Board is final, their functions being transferred to the City Council. District Committees Finally, the commission has promulgated:— That, with a view to preserving local interest and. reconciling the conflict between democratic principles and technical efficiency local districts with district committees be constituted throughout the metropolitan area. That statutory provision be made providing for a poll of the ratepayers of the reorganised city of Christchurch to be taken on the question of the adoption or rejection of the unimproved value rating system throughout the area.