PUBLIC MEETING AT KNIGHTSTOWN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3425, 2 April 1879, Page 4

PUBLIC MEETING AT KNIGHTSTOWN.

A publio meeting was held in the Readingroom, Knightstown, last night, to consider the aojbion of the Avon Road Board in levying a shilling rate in tho £. There were about 20 ratepayers present, Mr John Dixey in tho chair.

The Chairman stated that the meoting had been called at the desire of a number of ratepayers, to consider the question of a shilling general rate which the Avon Road Board had struck, and to come to some decision upon tho matter. The members of tho Road Board had been invited to attend the meeting. Mr Hawkins expressed an opinion that the rate of Is in the £ was too high. He moved that it be reduced to 6d in the £ for the genoral rate. He said there would be 7d in the £ for a drainage rate, besides 2d in the £ for the Waimakariri rate.

Mr Green, who Beconded the motion, thought tho Board made a great mistake in levying the rate when thoy had a considerable balanco lying at interest in the bank. If the whole of the money was spent in the district he would not object to a shilling rate, but as it was, he thought 6d sufficient. At the suggestion of the Chairman, Mr J. L. Wilson, (Chairman of the Avon Road Board) explained the object of the Board in levying the rate. Ho said this year the district received from the County Council, and also from the Government a subaidy of £ for £. The Avon Road Board, he thought, would get from the County Council the sum of £1800, in addition to the amount coming from the Government, and as it was thought that the Government might withdraw the subsidy the Road Board considered it would be well for the next year or co to put on a shilling rate. Tho Board at present was spending some £6000 or £7000 a year, and if the subsidies were not forthcoming they could not get work dono. At the present moment they had some £2000 in hand, but as ifc would not be a pleasant thing to ask an advance from the Bank at 10 per cent, tho Board had struck a shilling rate. * The speaker then explained that £700 had been spent in Bingsland, because' it was absolutely necessary to do bo for the safety of tho publio. Referring to the Knightstown road, Mr Wilson said an effort would be made to do the necessary work on it as speedily as possible. The district would be greatly improved by the widening of the road/especially when the drainage works were done.

A ratepayer asked Mr Wilson how muoh moneY had been spent on fche district by the Board during the last four or five years ? Mr Wilson said ho could not answer the question. In 'reply to another ratepayer, Mr "Wilson said he was of opinion that it was necessary the district should be lighted, and the question of lamps would shortly be taken; into consideration. The Road Board ■would meet on Friday next, when he would be glacl to lay any questions of the meeting before that body. Mr Wilson then referred to the necessity of having recreati n grounds in tho districts around Ohristchureh, and intimated that the Avon District would in all probability bo divided into wards this year, though ho could not say that the whole of tho money raised in each ward would bo spent in it.

Alter some discussion, Mr Wilson, as a ratepayer, ' moved an araendmont to the motion, viz. — " That the rate remain a shilling in the pound, as directed by the Board." Mr Spooner seconded the amendment, which was lost.

The original motion was then carried, with an addition to tho effect that a deputation wait upon the Avon Road Board to convoy to them the' decision of the meoting. The following ratepayers were then appointed a deputation to wait upon the Road Board on Monday next : — Messrs Green, Hawkins, and Henley. Votes of thanks were accorded to Mr Wilson and the Chairman, and the meeting separated.