AKAROA COUNTY' COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 69, 16 March 1877, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY' COUNCIL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AKAEOA MAIL. "To be, or not to be ; that is the question." Sm, —I admire your pithy little leader of the 2nd inst, showing that the action of the Selwyn County Council should not influence our members, the districts being entirely different. Those who have read the Times of the last six months cannot but have been struck with the personal abuse heaped upon supporters of the present Government, men of unquestionable integrity of purpose and of admitted talent. The Hon. John Hall is characterized as "having as much aptitude for Boards, as an Irish shillelah in a fair" has for heads. A whole column is devoted to sneering Mr. Stevens. Our member, Mr. Montgomery, is taunted with wilfully misleading his constituents by withholding matters of vital importance. As to Major Atkinson and his coadjutors he says, "They are all "honorable men." Mr. " Stevens knows in his heart they are lead"ing us on to financial ruin, and yet- he " crapes his face, and mutters an apology, "befoK' he adjusts the rope and draws the " bolt." It is an old axiom in law —no case, abuse the other side, and I imagine many readers will think with me, that is _ the cause for the virulent attacks of the Times. Let me briefly advert to a few reasons (omitted in my last letter) why I consider we should be unwise to refuse the Act. What kind of administration may we expect, if the funds of the various Road Boards are distributed by a Commissioner (a stranger probably), appointed by the Central Government, which must be the case if no County Board exists. The Peninsula requires the constant residence of a competent engineer. Who is to pay for one V Again annual subsidies arising from surplus land revenue are due to the Counties and payable in certain proportions to meet the exigencies of each case. Who is to lay before the Wellington Government our requirements, and endeavour to get sufficient sums to meet the peculiarities of this district ? The folly of arguing that the districts must share and share alike,' is apparent when nothing in the Act supports such a theory. There is no reason whatever why the functions of Road Boards should he in any way interfered with, in fact their proportion of money has to be handed over by the County without the least attempted control as to expenditure, and I still urge considering the land sales, taking place daily (last Thursday week reaching £31.896), that the Koad Boards will be considerable sufferers in the amount they receive as a subsidy should no County Council be in existence. —I am, yours, &c. M.E.A.