BRIGHTON AND THE CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16986, 9 March 1923, Page 9

BRIGHTON AND THE CITY.

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH IDEAL. As municipal law stands at present only districts actually contiguous to each other can amalgamate. Avonside riding ol the Heathcote County Council intervenes between Greater Christchurch and the borough of New Brighton, and thus prevents the union ol the city and the borough. There is a provision in the Municipal Corporations Act. however, under which the* difficulty may he overcome and the way opened for the borough of iNe.c Brighton to be given an opportunetv of linking up with the city if the residents so desire. With that purpose ;n view Air D. G.Sullivan, ALP., who has been an active promoter of the Greater Christchurch idea, has given notice t > move at the next meeting of the Chris*:•churrh City Council that a petition he presented to the Governor-General asking that under the provisions of clause* 133 of the Municipal Corporations Act, that portion of the Heathcote Comity comprising Page's Road, between the boundaries of Christchurch and New Brighton, be added to the city. li this is done the two districts of‘Christchurch and New Brighton will be contiguous and amalgamation may take place ii it is the desire ol the people concerned. A good deal, of course, will depend on the attitude of the Heath cote Countv Council, under whose juris, diction Page’s Road is at present Should the City Council approve the motion Air Sullivan hopes to .secure the concurrence of the Heathcote Council. Section 133 ot the Municipal Cor point ions Act. 1020. provides as lo! (1 v If the council is of opmioiv that anv land adiacent. to th*. bojough an l not being portion of any other bo**align o' of .* town district, ought lo be included in the borough, the council ntav I present a petition to the GovernorGeneral praying that the hoiuidari.es o! the borough may be altered so as lo such adjacent land therein. (2) Every such petition shall define with reasonable certainty the boundaries oi the land proposed to be included. <3> On presentation to tin? GovernorGeneral of such petition the GovernorGeneral may. if he thinks fit. direct * ommission consisting of a magistrate. I Commissioner of Crown Lauds for the land district and district valuer under the Valuation of Land Act. 1908. t<> inquire and report to him as to whether the land defined in the peti--1 tion or any part thereof should he in- : eluded in the borough, j (4) Such commission shall have all the I powers of a commission Under the Com - j missions of Inquiry Act. 1908 | (o) If the commissioner reports to the I Governor- General that siirh lands, or , any part thereof, ought to he included , in the borough, the Governor-General i m;yv. by proclamation, alter the bound aries of the borough in accordance with the report of the commission. ; (61 The provisions of sub-sections 3 I aud 1 of the last preceding .section sbab. with the necessary modifications, nnplv in the case of the alteration of j the boundaries of a borough under this .section.