PUBLIC MEETING AT ST. ALBANS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2251, 20 June 1881, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT ST. ALBANS.

A public meeting of the ratepayers of Knightstown, St. Albans, Merivale, and Papanui, was held in the district schoolroom on Saturday night, to consider business connected with the formation of a new municipality. There was a largo attendance of ratepayers. Mr J. L, Wilson was voted to tho chair.

The Chairman read the advertisement calling the meeting, and said he would explain what steps had been taken up to the present. The idea of the formation of a municipality in a portion of tho Avon district had commended itself to several of them, as the present Board had not been working harmoniously, and the representations of deputations appeared to carry little weight with the Board. Their wants differed materially from those of the rural portions of the district, and they were unable to do what they wanted from want of funds, and from want of legal power. By the proposed change they would get income which they could not get at present. They were not going to increase the burdens of the ratepayers, for they had not power to do so, while they would have sources of income from two or three points which they did not now possess—hotel licenses, dog taxes, hawkers’ end auctioneers’ licenses, and fines under the by-laws, which would amount to between £3OO and £4OO a year, which they did not get a penny of at present. The change would not increase their working expenses, and they would then be a better position than now. The question that more immediately troubled them was that of the name. Ho had been accused of calling the meeting in an outside place to hoodwink the ratepayers over this question; but that was a mistake, and he hoped nothing would happen to mar the change. [Applanse.j He had first suggested “ The Avon Borough,” as a name, but it was thought that this might be confusing, and then Papanui was suggested. To decide the question he had called the present meeting, and ho hoped they would not quarrel over this matter. He favored the name that would be most agreeable to the bulk of the ratepayers, and signatures had been obtained under the idea that the name was to be Papanui, [No, no.] There were 1050 bouses in the proposed district, and the assessment would yield £2OOO in another year. The western boundary of the new municipality would be Aikman’s jroad up to Northooto road, the northern boundary, thence down to Winter’s road and to Philpot’s road, the eastern boundary, thence to Gresson’s corner, and the southern boundary the North belt.

Mr Briggs moved—“ That in the opinion of the meeting it is desirable that the district as described by the chairman be erected into a municipality under the Municipal Corporations Act of 1876.” Mr Smith seconded the motion. Mr Moore moved as an amendment—

“That the district be reduced by coming across Innes’ road, and taking in Bingsland at the other end.”

Mr Ellen was of opinion that if they had a borough they should take the whole lot, which would give them one of the best boroughs south of the line. They proposed to include the good and bad parts all together. Mr Noall seconded the amendment.

Mr Thomas said their requests had met with no response from the Hoad Board. The municipality idea arose in Papanui, where it had been fermenting for two years. He thought that all objections could be easily met. He did not think that the name had much to do with the matter. Native names should be retained wherever possible. Fapanui had a prior right, although they were quite prepared to waive that right. Mr Briggs thought the question of a name was not now under discussion.

After some further discussion, the Chairman said he did not know whether Bingsland could be taken in or not. They could only have nine square miles surface. Mr Briggs said he would amend the motion so as to read “ and so much of Bingsland as the Act will allow.”

The seconder of Mr Briggs’ motion declined to agree to the alteration. The Chairman said this end of the district would have the voting power, and could keep out Papanui until the municipality was divided into wards, which he would go in for as soon as possible. In deciding the matter only the votes of ratepayers in the proposed bound allies could be taken.

In response to the request of a ratepayer, the Chairman again described the boundaries of the proposed new municipality. A Voice—The ratepayers of Bingsland have not been asked to attend. Mr Plesher would like to know all that had been done in the matter. They had been told, in the first instance, that Bingsland had been struck out, and no reason had been given. The question was one that affected the whole of the ratepayers of the Avon district. He thought certain information had been withheld, and no one knew whether the ratepayers of Bingsland were favorable one way or other. The Chairman said he did not know that there was anything behind the curtain. At the preliminary meeting it wos carried hat Bingsland should be cut off, and no one opposed it. He heard from a gentleman in the Bingsland district that he did not want to come in, but the matter was left to this meeting to decide. Mr Goodland said an attempt had been made by a hole-and-corner meeting to lead the whole district by the nose. Mr Briggs—“ That is not so.” The Chairman said in calling the meeting he invited representatives from each portion of the district, in order that the meeting might be settled amicably and properly. The Hon. J. T. Peacock, referring to the preliminary meeting, said the whole thing had been discussed there, and the right course had been taken. They had done what they considered best for the district, smd sent round petitions to those who were inclined to fall in with the matter. It was open to those who opposed it to get up counter petitions. He had only come to the meeting to decide the question of a name, and he was prepared to accept any name. They should decide now whether they wanted a municipality or whether they did not. Mr John Matson said the meeting had been called to name the district, and he did not think it was competent for them to alter the boundaries. If that matter was to be discussed a general meeting of the whole of the ratepayers should be called. The Chairman said the name must be on the petition to be forwarded to the Government. Mr Blakiston thought it a mistake to form a large municipality. It would be far better for the district he represented to join with Christchurch. The creation of the municipality would lead to extravagance. The Hon. J. T. Peacock hoped that when Mr Blakiston spoke of extravagance he had not in his mind’s eye the Drainage Board, of which he was a member. [Hear, hear.] The Chairman then put the amendment, which was lost by an overwhelming majority. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. The question of the name of the municipality then came under discussion, Mr Dixey proposed, and Mr Spooner seconded, that the name be St. Albans. Mr Jackson proposed Fapanui as the name. Mr Ellen seconded this. Mr Briggs proposed that to avoid all local jealousy the municipality should be called Gordon, after her Majesty's representative. [Hisses.] Mr Gordon proposed that Springfield should bo the name. Mr Smith proposed “ North Avon,” Mr Cooper seconded the motion. The only names moved and seconded being St. Albans, Papanni and North Avon, the Chairman put them to the meeting, with the result that a large majority decided in favor of St. Albans. Mr J. Matson said that the name of the new municipality should be decided by a ballot of the ratepayers, to be taken at the Hoad Board office. Ho would demand a poll. The demand ef a poll was seconded by Mr Ellen, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.