A GROWING CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10927, 17 November 1913, Page 7

A GROWING CITY.

BOUNDARIES EXTENDING NORTH AND EAST. SHIRLEY ACQUISITION. Every now and again small areas lying on the fringe of the oitj' wake up to the fact that they would bo bettor off inside the city, enjoying the benefit* of proper sanitation, refuse removal, comparatively good roads, water supply and reduced rates. The latest area to come in is a stretch of 250 acres, with a ratepayer to every acre, bounded on the north by Shirley Road from Hill's Road to the Canal Reserve,' thence to Bank's Avenue, and thence along Dudley Creek Road to the confluence of the Creek with the Avon, and along the Avon to the city boundary. . This is a little corner beyond Richmond that seems to fit naturally into the city, and the City Council some time ago agreed to offer no objection to the amalgamation, winch is now virtually assured. In the new area;there.'are_6i miles of road, of which 4£ are interior roads and the.remainder main roads, kept up' at'the joint expense of the city and the Waimairi County. The ratepayers realised long ago that they would pay less in the city. It was computed that an average section, valued at £l2O, with a house of £SOO, would pay 50 per cent less in oity. rates than 'Waimairi rates, allowing for the difference of 2s per cent in fire insurance* The method of securing a poll for the inclusion of a new. area is to present a petition to the Governor signed by- at least 15 per cent of the ratepayers concerned. A poll is then authorised, and a bare majority is required to carry the proposition, which is subject to the consent of the City Council to the amalgamation. There are many areas lying outside the city that would like to come in. Particularly is this so in the Papanui district, where the city boundary stops at May's Road.