THE TUAPEKA RIDING BOUNDARIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 26

THE TUAPEKA RIDING BOUNDARIES.

SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Tuapeka County Council was held on Friday to take into consideration, the question of the readjustment of boundaries of the various ridings within the county. All the members, with the exception of Cr Bennet, were present. The Clerk read a letter from Cr Bennet expressing his regret tha. tJ through illhealth, he was unable to be present, and com e> ing his approval of the proposed readjustment as outlined by Messrs Edie and Pilling. A letter was also read from Mr Duncan M'Kenzie, Moa Flat, against sections 14, 15, and 16, Moa Flat Estate, being divided among three ridings. The following motion affirming the necessity for a readjustment of the present boundaries was moved by Cr Bennetts, seconded by Cr Stewart, and carried unanimously :— " That, in the opinion of this Council, the representation of the different ridings requires readjustment, and that, it having been found that, taking into corsidcration the number of ratepayers and rateable value, the representation of the ridings is insufficient, a special meeting of the council be called for Saturday, 28th day of March 1908, at 7 o'clock p.m., at the Council Chambers, Lawrence, to consider a resolution, and, if approved, to pass the same that, in order to make the representation of the separate ridings as far as possible proportionate to the rateable value and number of ratepayers of each riding, alterations of the ridings within the county be made, and that each of the said newlydefined ridings shall elect one councillor only, and a fapeoial order embodying the said resolution shall come into force on the first day of July, 1908." Mr Pilling submitted the following report: — When the question of the readjustrrent of the boundaries of the ridings was before you at your special meeting on the 29th ult., it was resolved that Mr Edie and myself (1) go into the readjustment scheme outlined by Mr Kcenan, member for Clarka Riding, and (2) further adjust the proposed boundaries (as per sketch plan) on lines inciicated by members themselves. Dealing first in order with Mr Kpenan's proposal: (1) The object in view is to retain the ridimjs as they now exist, merely readjusting the boundaries. In this way Clarks Riding would take a large slice of territory from the present Browns Riding and a portion from Gabriels Riding. From Browns Riding — from the punt at Rongahere running north-east and striking the Tamaiti dam, and thence upstream to the main road at Docberty's bridge, and then along the road eastward to the Lawrence Borough boundary ; thence on the eastward, taking that part of Gabriels Riding impinging on the Wetherstonee road and the Bungtown read — between the main Dunedin road and ihe two roads named — as far as the existing Gabriels Riding boundary. This loss of territory and revenue would mean £150 off the present Browns Riding and £30 off Gabriels Riding— total, £180. Added to the present £260 from Clarks Riding, that would Rive a total of £440 to Clarka Riding. Then Mr Keenan proposes to extent Wiatahuna Riding by taking that belt of country lying between the present Waitahuna boundry on the north side to MitchcH'B (or Pioneer) Creek, running down

to and including the Waipori Falls, and thenco joining the north-e?..=t corner of Waitahuna Riding. This added territory, to Waitahuna would give that riding, say, £34. The present rate revenue of Waitahuna Riding is £283, plus £34- from Waipori Riding, giving a total of £317. Then Cr Keenan proposes to push Waipori into Gabriels Riding westward and northward, with the result that Waipori' would take in rate revenue from Gabriels riding £25. Waipori's position would then be —Rate revenue at present, £194 ;i less £34 to Waitahuna, which leaves £160>, plus £25 from Gabriels, making a total of £185; or, in other words, £9 less tha.n the amount of rates from the present territory. Again, Cr Keenan proposes to extend the boundaries of Gabriels Riding to the Menzion Burn. This would take in the whole of Beaumont Riding on the east side of the Molyneux River and a portion of the present Teviot Riding between the Little Menzion Bum and the Menzion Burn, extending back to the county boundary on the north side. From Beaumont Riding, Gabriels would gain £50 in rates and form! Teviot Riding £25. Gabriels at present yields £185 in rates, less £25 to be given to Waipori Riding, leaving £160, or, with the. £75 from Beaumont and Teviot Ridings, a total of £235. Now for Browns Riding, with the loss of £150 in rate revenue, tq build up Clarks Riding: Cr Keenan proposes to give Browns that portion of Beau* I mont Riding from Beaumont dowrrj ward, whioh includes the Blue Mountain) ! watershed (east side), then onward, taking in that portion of Tapanui Riding between Black Cleugh. and Back Creek. This would! mean £65 In rates. At present Browns rate revenue is £439, less £150 to go to Clarka Ridng, leaving £289, plus £65 from Beaumont and Tapanui Ridings, totalling £354-, or £85 less rate revenue than at present* So far as we have folowed Cr Keenan'a scheme, it deals with the five lower ridings whose boundaries have been materially disturbed between themselves, adding only —Extension of territory to Gabriels (whieb mops up Beaumont Riding on the east si da of the Molyneux River, and that piece of? country belonging to Teviot Riding between the Little Menzion Burn and the Menzion Burn, producing in rate revenue £75; and that piece of country between Beaumont and Back Greek, belonging to; Beaumont and Tapanui Ridings, producing £65, or a total of £140. In other words, the five lower ridings, on the lines suggested by Cr Keenan, would add to theis present territory (through taking from Beaumont, Tapanui, and Teviot Ridings equivalent to about three-fourths of the area ofl Beaumont Riding from the four upper rid> ings and gaining thereby £140 in rates, without relieving that part of the county which produces the most revenue and where, it is generally admitted, there is greater need than elsewhere for a material re-adjustment of the boundaries. On the* one hand, you have, approximately, 900 ratepayers who return £1500 in rates, against 800 ratepayers, who return £35(K) in rates. This puts the whole position in a nutshell. Thus far we have only con* sidered the rate-revenue aspect of the proposed re-distribution of the ridings. What about the other features —community o£ interest, " workability" in carrying out the surfacing and other works (either from a member'b or an engineering standpoint) and the facilities of communication % Members can carry all these features im their mind's eye without our stopping to discuss them. In view of these circumstances, Cr Edie and myself did not consider it wise to push matters further, other than to add that we do not regard Cr Keenan's proposal as feasible when the scheme now beforo you (and practically approved of by councillors at their special meeting on the 29th February) again cornea up for consideration. We will now discuss (2) the further adjustment of the proposed! boundaries as indicated by councillors aft the special • meeting on the 29th ult* Briefly, we have pushed Beaumont Riding further into James Riding, the former gaining thereby seven additional ratepayers and £80 in rates. This will make the figures of the proposed Beaumont Riding —Number, of ratepayers, 110, as against 103; rates, £530, as against £450;— a gain of £80. The proposed James Riding takes fouu ratepayers (in place of the seven given to Boaumont) from Tapanui Riding, who bring £56 of rates with them. This makea the figures of James Riding —Number o£ ratepayers, 147; rate revenue, £950. Tapanui Riding, in losing four ratepayers and £56 in raifg. will, therefore have 226 ratepayers with £920 of rates, as against 230 ratepayers anji £975 in rates, respectively, i as set out in the return laid before coutij cillors at the special meeting. Briefly put, ' the alteration in 'he boundaries of Beau- | mont Riding are—Starting from Trig. BB I (Tutu Brae), the roadline is now followed} ! down to Chalmers bridge, thence joining on to the sketoh plan proposition at section 12, block VIII, and also including sections 5, 6, and 9, block XIII, Orookston district. The alteration in tiis Tapanui boundaries means the cutting off of the northwest corner (as showxi on fcho sketch plan) and making the roadline instead of tha block lino the boundary; this piece of country going on to James Riding. Tha boundaries of the proposed ridings fotf Gazette notification have been prepared and copies printed in view of tho passing by the council of the necetsary confirmatoryresolution later on. In conclusion, Ml 1! Edie and myself desire to say that we have carefully studied all the essentials of each) riding, and the plan of adjustment submitted to you (with the 6iight alterations indicated), wo feel assured, will give satisfaction generally to the ratepayers of tha county. In reply to Or Keenan, Mr Edi© said there was a difference of between £400 and £500 in the rateable value of the five lower 1 ridings in favour of the scheme submitted! to the special meeting on 29th February and the one outlined by Cr Keenan.-^ Tuapeka Time 3.