ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 58, 6 February 1877, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

[We are at all times ready to give expression to every shade of opinion, but in n6 case do we hold ourselves responsible for the sentiments of our correspondents.]

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AKAROA MAIL. Sir, —Three months or more have elapsed since the road which when completed on the south side of the harbour will open up an extensive and very valuable tract of country, has been carried up to a certain gorse fence, hard by a precipice which looks down upon the beack Any attempt to progress from this point in the direction towards which the road is intended is now an impossibility, and even if this were not the case, would involve an infringement of the Trespass Act. The road therefore for the time is utterly useless, at any rate that part of it from which the old road diverges. Along the old road, which is only a bridle path, it is possible at this season

of the year, and in broad daylight, to reach Wainui in safety. In attempting to construct the new road, the intention has been that this growing and important settlement may be arrived at, irrespective of the seasons, and it would be difficult to point out a work, the completion of which, would be fraught with more important results. But notwithstanding this, the whole thing seeriis to be now in a perfect dead-lock. The point at which the road in question ceases, certainly comriiands an excellent view of the beautiful valley before it. The rocks which jut out into the sea, the rich pasture land which reaches down to its very edge, dotted about with many hamlets, and sheltered by the ranges, form a very beautiful scene. But it is the practical part of the matter we have to deal with, which is this—a road has been constructed at great expense, having a most important object for its termination, from the main road at Barry's Bay, and has been completed through nearly all its distance ; but that as far as Wainui is concerned, the principle place for whose accommodation it was intended. Owing to the stoppage which has now taken place in its construction nearly at the end of it, it might almost as well have never been made.

Under the Provincial Government the work was to have been proceeded with. Tenders were invited for carrying it down to the beach, but then came Abolition, and the matter was referred to Wellington. A contractor, who sent in a tender four months ago, hears through a side-wind that the matter is shelved for a time, and that in all probability it will be long before it is decided upon, but he receives no official communication on the matter, and his deposit is still kept. This to say the least of it is ridiculous, and unsatisfactory, and very trying to those who belong to this district, and wish for its progress and welfare. It is well, however, that attention should be drawn particularly at this juncture to cases of this kind. There are other instances on the Peninsula where the important interest of districts is sacrificed, for the time at any rate, to the dilatory action of those in whose hands the carrying out of works is now placed. And when we consider that instead of having our local Executive at Christchurch, with a man at the head of it like Mr. Rolleston, who was always ready to give fair play to the Peninsula, and all the more because of its isolated position, we shall have to refer all questions of general importance to the seat of Government, from which we are so far removed. We may expect that most serious disadvantages from cases like that which is here alluded to, will be constantly occurring. With the best intention on the part of the General Government it will be impossible for it to deal advantageously with questions which may be of vital interest to particular districts, the merits of which can only be properly appreciated by local men. _ The Peninsula by its very conformation is especially affected by this consideration. Acts ox Ordinances which may be applicable to other districts, may be extremely undesirable here. It has been the intention of the Legislature that evils which must in this way be constantly accruing, should be remedied by the provision of a County Council. Why this provision should not be made available it would be impossible for anyone to give a really satisfactory reason. It is absurd to suppose that the different Road Boards can deal with the many questions that must affect us. They cannot do so now, they are not likely to do so as the district becomes more developed, and these questions necessarily in increase number and importance. The members of the County Council may, if they will, save us from the very serious disadvantages, we of the Peninsula shall in an especial manner be subjected, to by having our local affiairs regulated in Wellington. At the last meeting of the County Council, a strong feeling was evinced, that it would be well to gain more information as to the position the Council would occupy did they decide upon adopting the Act. It would have been impossible for them to have taken a wiser course. Since then, however, much light has been thrown upon the manner. There was an impression at the time on the minds of several of the members ; of the Council, that if the Act were adopted the district must at once be plunged into heavy expenses, and under this view of the matter they very naturally and properly hesitated to decide on its adoption. The question, however, assumes a very different form, when we find that the Act may be adopted without any heavy expenses being incurred, that the Council, may in fact meet, and deal with questions affecting the welfare of its district, without levying a rate, without appointing a staff of officers to attend it, and without indeed interfering in any way with the action of the Road Boards. This is the course which was advised to be taken at the meeting of the Selwyn County Council by the Hon. John Hall. He enumerates reasons why the Council should not give up their position, he shows that local difficulties must of necessity take place in every district, that the questions affecting them are referred under the Act to the County Council, and that if the County Council resolve not to meet those questions will be referred to the Government in Wellington, as he says " a very inconvenient mode of dealing with local questions." Surely we have reason to say this also. Mr. Hall then goes on to show the great disadvantages that must arise if the Council become a mere distributive body, from their having to decide on what proportion the funds will have to be paid to the different Road Boards so long beforehand. There is no doubt that in every county, where'the Act is not adopted, the County Council must by the 31st March, at the latest, fix the proportion in which all moneys payable to the county shall be divided among the Road Boards during the year ending June 30, 1878, and this proportion once fixed cannot be departed from. Altogether, surely we have reason enough to look forward with anxiety to the decision of the next meeting of the County Council. It rests with them to prevent this district having its local affairs managed by a Government at a distance, instead of there being directed by one upon the spot. And not only is this the case. Questions may arise from time to time of such paramount importance that they will not come under the exact province of the County Council to deal with, but which may be influenced for good by the machinery which the county possesses, or rather by the power which the county may possess, of giving expression through its representatives to its public opinion. Is there not such a question before the Peninsula now ?

The Drainage of Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth, and the construction of a railway to this harbour affects even the remotest portions of this district. Only let this . project be properly carried out, and the prosperity of the Peninsula as a district is * secured. It may be a considerable time before a railway actually reaches the harbour. Though come it must in time, for nature has given us the best harbour in,% the colony, and in time it must become an emporium for commerce. But at any rate wo need not look far ahead to see a railway at Little River, and there is not a Bay in the Peninsula that will not feel that a new life has sprung up in the place as soon as that object has been attained. The members for the Trust which is to be created for carrying this out will shortly be elected. Upon them will devolve the working arrangements of the matter, but this is quite certain that those arrangements may greatly be facilitated, and the general object greatly advanced by the . co-operation which the county would have the power of affording. There are great difficulties to be avoided. There are most undoubted advantages to be gained, and all this without incurring any heavy expense if the Council decide upon adopting the Act. As this is now clearly the case, has not the district a right to expect that the Council will not hesitate as to the course they will pursue. I am, &c, SCRUTATOR.