The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 9.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 180, 9 April 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 9.

Councillor. O'Reilly's motion, that the Council should negotiate a loan, is still before that body. It was, perhaps, quite as well that the proposition was negatived when first moved, so that, by being brought into notice and shelved— for that is what it really amounts to — both councillors and burgesses may have time for calm consideration and deliberation on a question which involves, notonly the welfare and proper management of the Borough, but also the stability of the Council itself,'inasmuch as there can be no possible use for a Mayor and Council to legislate for a municipality which has no funds. The Council, indeed, at a crisis of this kind, is very much on a par with a " footless stocking without a log," neither useful nor ornamental. Unfortunately, it is worse than useless ; it is actually, from its impecuniosity, obstructive to the progress of works required in the Borough—works which, if the town were under Road Board supervision, would have boen proceeded with weeks ago, and which, had not Akaroa boon honored by the title of " Borough," would have been bringing a certain amount of money into the place, directly or indirectly benefiting all. Now, however, things are at a dead-lock. Rumour hath it, and examination has to some extent proved the rumour, (mirabile dicta ! ) to be correct, that the principal bridges in the town are unsound, if not actually unsafe ; our main roads and other thoroughfares sadiy neod repairs before the winter sets in, and if this be not attended to with tho utmost promptitude, it will be too late ; the footpaths, the side-channels, all want looking to ; yet, what hope have the burgesses that these desirable and necessary works will be -carried out? The burden of the song -is—" We have no funds." Taking all tin's into consideration, the Borough Council should give the question of the proposed loan most careful and unprejudiced, thought and attention. The points at issue are these :— Will the Council borrow at once a sum sufficient to set in hand these public works, which are positively necessary for the safety and convenience of burgesses ? or, are the thoroughfares, bridges, &c, I of the Borough to go to rack and ruin,'

and the public to suffer, while the council twiddle their thumbs, and wait, like Danae, for a shower of gold ; or, in other words, until there are sufficient fuuds in the municipal coffers. The choice lies between standing still or going ahead, o r _ returning to Road Board rule. One fact, however, should not be lost sight of by his Worship the Mayor and Councillors, viz., that with the burgesses rests the final decision as to whether a loan shall be negotiated or not, so, in a measure, relieving the Council of the entire responsibility in the matter. As things [are at present, burgesses are simply paying rates, which are expended in salaries, stationery, and minor expenses, while the works for which these rates I are levied, and by which ratepayers ' should derive some benefit for their money are neglected, or rather, cannot |be performed. Such is the plain unvarnished state of municipal affairs, financial and otherwise, unsatisfactory and unpalatable, doubtless, but nevertheless the truth. It rests, then, with the Council and burgesses to settle upon, in their own interests, one or other of the alternatives mentioned above. If the loan suggested by Cr O'Reilly be too large, cut it down to the very least amount that will serve to get the necessary improvements and repairs within the Borough properly executed, and on which the Council will be able to pay the second and each succeeding year's interest; but, whatever is done, let the borough progress, not stand still, much less retrograde. It would be a pity to let that beautiful motto on the Borough Seal degenerate into—lf thou seekest a rotten Borough, behold it here ; yet, if some steps are not taken to improve or alter the present state of affairs, we greatly fear some classical satirist may well adopt the above loose, but applicable, translation.