AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 61, 16 February 1877, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the above Council was held yesterday morning, at Mrs. Haines' Hotel, on the Hill Top, the whole of the members being present. CORRESPONDENCE. Circular letters were read . and received from the Colonial Secretary's office, Wellington, asking for information re Council's banking business, and enclosing map of the county boundaries for the South Island. petition. A petition, Bigned by a number of the residents of the Wainui District, was laid on the table, piaying for the improvement of certain roads in the Wainui District.: It was resolved to postpone its consideration, pending a decision being arrived at whether the Council resolved to assume its functions. valuation. The Chairman reported that in accordance with the Act, he had forwarded the complete assessment of the County to the Government, before the 31st January. ADJOURNED DEBATE ON ADOPTION OF THE ACT. Mr. Baker said that when the adjournment was made that day four weeks, it was with a view to giv 3 members more time for the consideration of the question, and also to learn the decision of the Selwyn County Council. He was. very glad to have had the opportunity for further consideration. The more he had read and heard, the more he became convinced of the necessity of the establishment of such a system of local self-government. At the meeting of the Selwyn an adjournment was made without afinal decision being come to. In fact the members appeared to know very little more of the measure than they themselves, and certainly failed to throw any light on the question Certainly a few things came out, but they were just as forward as before. The Hon. John Hall spoke* in favour of its adoption, others against it, but not strongly. What decision the Selwyn County was likely to come to, he could not say, as many of the members appeared to be quite undecided. Whatever decision that body might arrive at, he thought it should in no way influence or guide the Akaroa County in their verdict, as the Selwyn was totally differently situated to the Peninsula, nature making it so. Road Boards m the Selwyn could deal with inatterß they were cognisant of, but he asked

what people at a distance knew about the requirements of Okain's, Little River, and Pigeon Bay. They want representatives to act in consort, and cement the interest of all parts of the district in one. There was another great objection to be advanced against the rejection of the Act, and that was, all their little details would have to be referred to Wellington for a settlement, which would necessarily.-involve a considerable amount of delay, and it was not to be expected that officials, situated at such a distance, could have any local knowledge of the matters referred to them. They ought to have some body well up in the requirements of the place. It was not likely the Government would pay much heed to the representation of private individuals. It might possibly listen to Road Boards, but it would certainly be more likely to listen to such a body as the County Council. He had also heard objections urged against the adoption of the Act on the score that its administration would involve great expense. The Council might meet monthly, and the only officer required would a clerk. He believed that Mr. Latter was ready and willing to act as chairman for the first year Avithout salary. Therefore the slight expenses in connection with the carrying out of the Act could not be compared with the immense benefits likely to be gained. The County would form an important link between the Road Boards and the Government in Wellington. There was another objection urged against the Act —that it was full of contradictions. Surely the Council had full confidence in the gentlemen administrating the Government at Wellington. They were not like Pharoah with the Israelites requiring bricks to be made witouth straw. He thought the Council should place confidence in the gentlemen who stood at the head of affairs in Wellington, and he felt convinced that it would be in the interests of the district to adopt the Act. He was perfectly open to argument, and if any member could show him that its adoption would be likely to prove in any way detrimental to the district, he certainly would pledge himself to vote against it. Mr. CEBBiE.said that his views had inno way undergone a change since last meeting. The more knowledge he had gained from the papers and the Act, the more he considered it would be to the advantage of the Country not to adopt the Act, at least for this year. He had also made inquiries from likely persons in town, and their opinions agreed with his. If the Act be adopted, an engineer, secretary, overseer, &c, would bo required, and of course their salaries would have to be paid. Many ratepayers would have to pay a £40 rateto the Road Board,.and another to the County. He warned them to be careful about taxation, which was coming quite fast enough, but he asked them not to let it come too fast. He held in his hand leading articles which had appeared in the Lyttelton Times, and also a local culled from the RangioraStandard (laughter) supporting his views. The Chairman said that no newspaper should influence a member when he had the Act before him. Mr. Gejbbie said that he was not the writer of the leading articles in question. He had been informed by Mr. AnsleyMurray, and other members of the House of Representatives, that the Council would receive the subsidies whether the Act wasadopted or not. It had been stated at the last meeting that the Council would lose the sum of £10,000 in the event of rejecting the Act. That statement was not correct. His desire was simply that it should become a distributive body for the time being. Mr. Barker said that he was of the same opinion as Mr. Gebbie. The more he had read about the Act, the more he had occasion to dislike it. Mr. Baker had not informed them one iota of the benefitlikely to accrue from the adoption of th& Act. ' • Mr. Baker—ls there no advantagein having local men instead of Wellington officials. Mr. Barker contended that Road Boardswere the best fitted body to discharge thefunctions of local government. The Chairman said that the subject was of too important a nature to bo decided hurriedly, and it would be far better to make another adjournment to afford additional time for consideration. He was still of the same opinion that the Council would act unadvisedly were it to reject the Act.. There was no doubt that there were anomalies in the measure, but in its working they would have an opportunity of pointing them out to'the. Government, with a view to amendment next session. If rejected, every small matter must be referred to Wellington. He would have been glad to have had the Selwyn County's decision before them that day, as that body was composed of many gentlemen who had lengthened experience in legislative assembliesAt the same time the situation of the two Counties was totally different. ' There was a great deal of the Akaroa County yet unroaded, and consequently they would want engineering skill. Works hitherto carried out by the Government would now be entrusted to the County, and whether the County accept the responsibility or not those works would have to be constructed, and it matter but little whether the Government or County paid for the services of an engineer, as in the end the taxpayers would have to pay that officer's salary. If the County consent to undertake the expenditure of the £4,000 special grant, he was of opinion that the County could reasonably claim a certain portion of that vote for engineering and other assistance incurred in the construction of these works. He did not see why the County and Road Boards should in any way clash. The powers conferred on the County Council were of a much wider scope than those vested in Road Boards. The Peninsula, above all other places, required a representative body to lay its requirements before the Executive Government of the colony, as there were questions continually arising. It was only last week that an election took place for the Trust Board, and two large districts were only allotted one polling booth each, and that at the extreme end of each place; the consequence was that not one-half the electors [ recorded their votes. It has been urged repeatedly during the debate the advisability of taking the measure up by-and-bye. If the Council decided not to bring the Act into operation, it must submit a scheme for the proportion of the revenue among the various Road Boards, and the consequence would be that the County would be without revenue till June, 1878 —in fact it would be a body without life. There were many questions likely to arise that in deciding the County Council would prove of great service. As to the question of expense, putting aside the remuneration proposed to be paid to the Chairman, as

that would not be required, he thought that £300 would suffice for the first year, £200 for the clerk, and £100 for an office. If they threw away the chance of local self-government, it was not a power they could readily take up again. Mr. Fleming said that he had slightly altered his opinion since last meeting, and was now inclined to go in for the Act. He did not much value to newspaper views on the question, as it was evident the proprietors of these journals were more or less interested: As to the small article which appeared in the JRangiora Standard, it was written by a gentleman whom he well'knew, and he was always inclined to look upon with great doubt anything emanating from that source. There would be no harm in making another adjournment, although he had a long journey to come. He would prefer incurring a loss of time rather than commit an error. He would therefore propose—" That the Council at its rising do adjourn till the 22nd March, at 11 o'clock, atHaine's Hotel." Mr. Dalglish seconded the adjournment, and said that he was of the opinion, that the acceptance of the Act as a whole would rather tend to assist the Road Boards in the discharge of their functions than otherwise. If the measure be rejected, they could render no assistance. Mr. Tanored had said at the meeting of the Selwyn County that to understand the Act it must be adopted. In the Selwyn County there were any number of Road Boards, and he was of the opinion that it would be clearly to the advantage of the Peninsula to adopt the Act. Mr. Barker would oppose an adjournment, as he knew of Road Boards who were anxiously waiting the Council's decision previous to undertaking works. Mr. Priest said he was not in favour of adopting the Act, as it would be the means of creating two taxing bodies. He was of opinion that one was quite enough. Districts like Okain's would be taied to keep up fine roads outside. Mr. Baker —How about the "construction of roads to your place ? Mr. Priest—We will do as we have done for years. Mr. Hay was in favour of an adjournment, as he considered it would be well for all to take time to consider the matter. At one time he was opposed to the Act, but lie had thought the matter out, and he believed its adoption would be to the advantage of the Peninsula. Many of the councils who decided not to adopt the Act were now rescinding their resolutions. He would not like to see the Act carried out forthwith, as he would like to have as long as possible to consider the question. There was other business for the Council to consider, such as the appointment of a clerk, the selection of a Bank, &c. This being a busy season, the Council could not well undertake works, and therefore an adjournment would do no harm. Mr. Fleming said that since the last meeting he had written to Mr. Rolleston, in reference to the road between Pigeon Bay and Port Levy, as the centre of it had been shut up by the Hays. Mr. Hay explained that the surveyor had altered the line that week, and it was again opened. After some further discussion, the Chairman put the motion for adjournment, when Messrs. Baker, Dalglish, Hay, Fleming, and the Chairman supported it, Messrs Gebbie, Priest, Bradley and Baker voting against. The motion was therefore carried by a majority of one. VOTE OF THANKS. Mr. Baker said that Mr. Latter had gone to no end of trouble in the preparation of the rate rolls, and had lost much time in the matter. He would therefore move—" That a cordial vote of thankß be given in his favour." Mr. Dalglish seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Latter, in returning thanks, said he had received very valuable assistance from Mr. Hay, Mr. Dalglish, and other gentlemen in the work. The Council then adjourned.