GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16704, 8 April 1922, Page 9

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

THE AVONSIDE PETITION. OPPOSING EVIDENCE. Evidence in opposition to a petition that the A von side Riding of the Heath - cote County should be brought into Greater Christohurch was heard to-day by Mr Wyvera Wilson, sitting as a commission. He bad associated with him Mi G- H. Bullard (Commissioner of Crown Lands) and Mr I>. H. Pulla.r (Government Valuer). Mr A- F. Wright appeared for the petitioners. Mr M. J. Gres son for objectors, and Mr F. W. Johnston for the Heatheote County Council. Richard L. M. Kitlo. who has land near Wainoni. said tlfat it was much too soon for the district to think of joining the city. It would not receive compensating benefits for’ the extrnrates amalgamation would impose.

To Air Wright : ’The electrical service in the district was satisfactory. James Taylor Dickie. Shorthand Street, said that he signed the original petition in favour of joining, but withdrew his signature, as he found that he would not receive the benefits he had expected; the Heatheote County Council was giving the same benefits as the City Council would give. The electrical service was quite satisfactory. Henry John Oiley said that he had eleven acres in tlie district close to the present city boundary. This land would not be ripe for sub-division for twenty years. He did not buy it to cut up. He could not see the slightest benefit in joining the city. To Air Wright: The district was going ahead very slowly. It would not go ahead any quicker if it joined the city. Alfred Edward Bodger said that he had seventeen acres on Page’s Road, going through to Bexley Rond. He used the land as a dairy farm. He always had opposed joining the city. Frederick Boulton Hughes, salesman. Breeze’s Road, said that he never could find any advantage in joining. Not 19 per cent of the residents wished to join. No sensible man would dispute the right to submit the question to a poll. George Alexander Malaquin. Bexley Road, owner of twenty-three acres, gave evidence against the petition. Maurice Alfred Patrick, Page’s Road, said that the services supplied by the' Heatheote County Council were satisfactory.

Mr Gresson said that- sandy land in Bromley had been voluntarily withdrawn bv petitioners from the area to be taken in. but there seemed to be no difference between it and sandy land in Avonside it was proposed to bring into the city. Air Wright said that there was a difference between the sandy part of Bromley and the sandy part of Avonside, ns one was a residential area and the other was unsettled. The Commissioner said that the Commission would report on the Avonside petition. HILLSBOROUGH PETITION. EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT. The Commission considered a petition that the Hillsborough Riding of the Heatheote County should be taken into the city. Mr Wright, for the petitioners, said that fire protection, good roads, and footpaths were the main reasons that actuated petitioners. There was dissatisfaction in the district with the management of public affaire. Elijah J. Cooksley said that the district certainly was suitable for municipal control. The main Opawa Road had been in a bad way for a. long time. Waggons from the Hillsborough quarries and brick works, going into the city, cut it up. It should be paved and macadamised. Hills in the district were ideal residential sites, but they could not be taken advantage of unless the district joined the city and had a. good water supply. Air Johnston: Aren’t you actuated by a wish to get rid-of the wheel tax in the Heatheote County?—l haven’t had anything to do with a wheeled vehicle for about six years.

Do you suggest that all the flat land in the district used for grazing at present should come into the city?— They can look after themselves. Some of that land is owned by men who don’t live in the district. What about your electrical installation ?—We have the best in the country, and the cheapest. And about tlie water supply, if the City Council gives it to you, won’t you be rated in a special rating area? Water supply is paid for out of ordinary rates.

Mr Gresson : AVha<fc can the City Council do to the Opawa Road that the County Council can’t do?—The City Council spent £ISOO on part of the Opawa Road last year, and greatly improved it. Tlie City Council spend money on the road, and the County Council won’t. Your main complaint is that the County Council does not effectively administer the district ?—That is part of the complaint. Mr H. I>. A eland (for Mr C. M. Ollivier, an objector) : Have you considered that if you join the city, and if you cut up the considerable area of land you possess, you'll have to put aside five per cent for u public park? -No. That’s one of the privileges you’d have by joining the city.—Well, it's the first I’ve hoard of it. To Air Gresson : He was satisfied that the present city reservoir would be sufficient for sending water up to the hills in the riding. Edwin Charles Brown said that ho lived on Murray Aynsley’s Hill, which wa.s in the riding. Fire prevention was one of the greatest privileges amalgamation would confer. The Hon G. J. Smith, M.L.C., St Martins, said that lie wished to come into tlie city, mainly for fire protection. a question on which he felt strongly. Cecil C. M. Ollivier. who opposed the petition, said that some residents in the district had paid large sums for drainage and water supply. If the district was joined to tlie city, they would have to pay for water they would not need. Fire protection would b<* useless to witness, as a fire engine could not get water up the hill to his place. The Opawa. Road could be put into good order easily by the County Council. He had about fourteen acres, and was about 200 feet above the flat land To Air Wright: Some residents wished to come into the city to escape the county wheel-tax. Rates in the city were going up enormously People could not have things unless thev paid for them, and if the City Council liked to take over the Hillsborough roads and spend much money on them, it certainly could improve them. Mr Johnston called evidence against the petition. Albert Henry Adams, member for Ihe riding on the Heatheote County Council, said that 90 per cent of the ratepayers wore satisfied with county control. Part of the district was used for large orchards. Air Wright; Hasn’t the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals written to your council protesting a-gainst horses pulling drays along the ,

GAenmag'k Brick Kilns Road?- Not j that I know of. Francis Bnunton, farmer. Joseph Harrison, gardener and orchardist, Robert Thompson, carpenter, and Alexander Jardin, dairyman, gave evidence against tho petition. The Commissione said that the Commission would report, oq the Hillsborough petition. The Commissioner said that tire Cumspent the Feudal ton riding of the AYairnairi County, which it is proposed to take into the Riccarton Borough, on Thursday, but as the Mayor of Rio carton is away, consideration of the FendaJton petition was. deferred until somp. date early in May.