DRAINAGE BOARD RATES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11531, 18 March 1898, Page 6

DRAINAGE BOARD RATES.

For the current year the total estimated deficiency for the sewage area of the Christchurch Drainage Board is =63112, of which -£2234 is for Christchurch City. Under the Act, any ' deficiency in the sewage area is chargeable to the rural areas, provided that the maximum rate shall not exceed three-farthings in the £ on the capital value. .The extra rating consequently leviable on the rural areas to mate up the above shortage is as follows: —Rural Sydenham £244, Avon =6976, Heathcote £827, Riccarton £877 and Spreydon £188; involving the maximum rate in each case. For several years the full rate of three-farthinge has, roughly speaking, been levied on the same data. By way of illustration, the case of Riccarton may be instanced, where the amount required would, but for this deficiency, be only £756 instead of the £1633 now payable. About twelve or fourteen years ago the rate on the sewage area produced £3OOO more than at the present time, and the rural districts only paid about onehalf of their present drainage rates. The great decrease in the values of city property is, of course, the cause of the heavy burden now thrown on the outlying districts.