BURGESSES’ ASSOCIATIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14975, 22 April 1909, Page 9

BURGESSES’ ASSOCIATIONS.

COMBINED MEETING. A meeting of tho Burgeses’ Associations in Christchurch was held in the Manchester Street Chambers last evening. There was an attendance of twenty members, and Dr C. J. Russell presided. . Fifty residents of Falsgravo Street, Mowbray Street and the adjoining locality forwarded a petition, asking the Association to assist them in trying to overcome serious flooding to which the locality was subject during heavy rains. Members of a deputation which presented the petition stated that the drainage of the district was exceedingly bad, and tho authorities seemed disinclined to take stops to secure any improvement. The methods of the local bodies were inadequate and obsolete, and ought not to bo tolerated in such a city as Christchurch. Dr Russell said that he was thoroughly in sympathy with the petition for better drainage. The Drainage Board only took away sewage water, and objected to take storm water. He thought something should be done to keep down tho storm water. Even if the present drains were kept clean tho trouble would not 1)0 so bad. Tho Association would do all it could to secure improvement. A letter was received from the Town Clerk of Christchurch, giving information regarding the number of quarries that had been offered for purchase to the City Council, and also giving the highest and lowest prices paid by tho Council for road metal. It was decided to ask the City Council for information regarding municipal markets. . A special commmittee presented a report, stating that it could see no reason why the City Council should abandon the idea of a municipal quarry. Tho committee thought that every effort should bo made before tho municipal election to obtain from all candidates clear expressions of opinion and indications of future action when the Council should be called up on to add to its municipal enterprises. Tho committee also recomended that samples of the metal from the various quarries in working order near the city should ho collected and kept for examination at the City Council yards, or some other convenient place. The report was adopted.

It was decided to ask the candidates for tho office of Mayor of Christchurch to address a public meeting before the polling day.