THE RICHMOND RATEPAYERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14202, 26 October 1906, Page 4

THE RICHMOND RATEPAYERS.

VENTILATION OF GRIEVANCES. Last evening a meeting of ratepayers was held in the Richmond Schoolroom, for the purpose of discussing grievances under Which the Richmond ratepayers are labouring. Mr J. A. Flesher presided, and there was a moderate attendance. Mr R. S. Ward, the convener of the meeting, said there was great need of municipal reform in Richmond. The dust nuisance was very deleterious to traders, particularly to butchers. The go wage needed great attention, and the lighting of the streets was disgraceful .—antiquated oil-lamps—although they were practically alongside of the gas mains. The City Council in this and in all other matters, showed but little inclination to help, and treated the Richmond ratepayers in a most curb manner. He moved—“ That this public meeting of ratepayers is diesa isfied with the attention that has hither o been accorded Richmond by the Christchurch City Council, and that a deputation be appointed to wait on the Council, and bring before it our wants, wth a request for' its immediate attention.” Mr J. Richards seconded the motion. Mr H. Langford said Richmond Was one of the finest suburbs in Greater Christchurch, and one of the mest neglected, particularly in the matter of lighting, the dust nuisance, drainage and general sanitation, and also the footpaths, which were, in many cases, not asphalted. Tills was notwithstanding the fact that they paid their full share of the rates. : Mr J. Richards said it had , been mentioned that Stanmore Road was very uneven and hollow; the grading had been very badly done in the fi;st instance, and no remedy could bo got excepting by regrading the whole road. The Rev J. Smith said it had been stated that Richmond did not get a fair share of the rates, a statement which was perfectly true. A penny-wise and pound foolish policy had been pursued, particularly in the matter of drainage. The Council’s idea of keeping a street in order was to cut the grass on t.. 0 sidewalk. Mr J. Kay sail the drainage around hie house was disgraceful, and on a hot day most offensive. The Rev J. Orchard said he was a councillor, but represented himself only, and personally he had done what he could for any matters brought under his notice, and certain definite grievances had been rectified, notably the Swann’s Road side-channels, and drainage in different parte. He hoped that gas lamps would soon replace the present oil lamps. It was useless to try to remedy Stanmore Read, because the now tramlines would soon bo laid there, and very shortly Richmond would be splendidly served by trams. Water-carts should certainly come to Richmond. The right thing had been done in calling the meeting, and he hoped the Richmond ratepayers would organise themselves into a Burgesses’ Association and agitato and educate until municipal reform was an established fact. If the water could bo got from the school bath (as lie believed was the case), he thought there would be no insuperable difficulty in the way of getting water-carts for the borough of Richmond. Replying, Mr Ward said that he gave Councillor Orchard great credit for assisting them to get ,a deep sewer, and in other ways. The chairman said that a groat blunder had been made in the expenditure of loan money on Stanmore Road. The idea was to drain to Stanmore Road and then down to the River, but the channelling had not been laid in such a way as to allow of this. The City Council engineer had been negligent in the matter of grading Stanmore Road and adjoining streets. Before the tramline was built, the levels should be obtained from the Council, and the work done properly. . The motion was carried unanimously. . In accordance with the resolution, | the following were appointed a deputation to wait on the City Council:— ( Messrs Langford, Ward, Pilkington and I Flesher. 1 Mr H. Langford moved and Mr Richards seconded—“ That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is necessary that , Stanmore Road should lie re-graded be-. ifore the tramway construction is proceeded with, and that thy meeting re-'

quests the Council to make the necessary provision for that purpose.” The motion was carried. It was also resolved unanimously that a Richmond Burgesses’ Association should be formed.