DOINGS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 71, 23 March 1877, Page 2

DOINGS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

TO THE EDITOR OV THE AKAROA JJAIL. Sir, —To a large number of those persons resident within the county of Akaroa, the announcement by Messrs. Fleming and Hay to the intent that they are prepared to vote for the bringing of the Counties Act into full operation, will give great satisfaction! That we require some such body sitting at various periods throughout the year, with whom the General Government can,confer, and to whom they may refer in all matters concerning the welfare of our county, must be quite evident to any unprejudiced person. It is also self-evident that we require a body that is superior to lioad Boards, to carry out the larger public works, wherein the whole county is concerned and to whom the ratepayers may apply for help when a lioad• Board fails to do its duty. There are, moreover, numerous matters, such as survey of roads, management of reserves, &c, that will probably hereafter be placed as much as possible under their management, if not now included in their duties. Presuming that the Council will, without more ' a-do' at their next sitting, pass a resolution bringing the Act into full operation, I venture to draw their attention to a very important matter and to make a few suggestions. First, it will be remembered that sometime ago, a deputation waited on and interviewed the Provincial Government about the draining of the lakes and the railway to Akaroa, on which occasion Mr. Montgomery pointed out that a sum of about £130,000 was due to the Peninsula on account of waste lands sold, or words to that effect. The suggestions I make, are :—That the Council should, at its next sitting, resolve itself into a committee of " Ways and Means," to consider questions similar to these. Ist. What is the area of waste lands that has been sold? 2nd. How much money has been received by the Waste Lands Board for the same. What sums of money had been received by Koad Boards, and expended in other ways by Provincial and General Governments within the county. How much of that sum, if received by the Provincial Government under the head of three eighths of the " Custom's Duties" and " Capitation Grant" has been expended,on the Peninsula in each case up to tue present date. In concluding I desire to state that I am induced to draw attention to these matters because I firmly believe that we are entitled to have the balance of ihe amount received for land sold returned to us in

some shape or other; more particularly "when I take into consideration the fact that large sums of money, altogether about three millions, have been borrowed to make railways, and to carry out harbor ■works, which have benefited to a very small extent (if at all) the people of this county. Trusting that, the importance of the matter will induce you readily to grant the usual space, I am, yours &c, ALFEED JOBLIN. [This letter was received too late for publication in our last issue.—Ed. A.M.]