COMPENSATION CLAIMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 238, 29 October 1878, Page 2

COMPENSATION CLAIMS.

This important enquiry is nearly concluded. Akaroa, at least the immediate surroundings of the Road Board offices, presented on Friday morning the appearance o± a fair upon a small scale, and the mixture of people was nearly as amusing. The interior of the offices presented a very lively scene; the fittings of the chamber comprised one deal table, at which the Commissioner* as some of our friends have styled him, sat. On his left was a table, looking very much like a carpenter's bench, and upon which was placed a map. The furniture in other respects consisted of one chair and two benches, a penny ink bottle, two pens and a pencil. There was a large muster of claimants, none possessing the rotundity of the great notability of the old country, but many with an assurance, and perhaps we might say, an amount of bounce in every degree equal to his. We were'amused at a few of the demands set up by some of our astute neighbors, and the pertinacious manner in which they laid down their claims. The Chairman, however, good easy man, heard them all very patiently, now and then putting in a quiet poke or two, and, by his questions, shewing that he was perfectly alive to the artful dodges of the pleaders; it rather amazed us that he succeeded in preserving the dignity of his cilice so well; some there were whose demeanour was ■ not of the soberest. If we might infer anything from the day's proceedings, we i might perhaps hazard an opinion that the larger number of the claims wfil be ad- [ mitted and recommended for immediate settlement. From remarks which occasionally fell from the Chairilian, wa are led to the conclusion that his own feeling was ono of astonishment that these claims had not been all settled years ago. In some cases the clearest instructions had been issued by the Government to the Provincial Engineer to survey and transmit plans of the diversions, to assess the value of the lands to be taken, and m other words to arrange fully and conclusively with the parties concerned, so as immediately to complete the business, and yet,* strange to say, nothing was ever done. Could this be the result, of apathy on, the part of Government; or was it pure neglect ? An active, .energetic administrator would have given such negligent servants their conge instantly, and without doubt wc'shonld then have found more diligence in their successors and might have been spared all this worry and expei>.- ; ;\ it has j been often said that the Peninsula was j neglected by tin; Government of the day, . an's who shall '--ay 11ii.9 Imy not been the case '? Roads laid out in impracticable •

places by lazy indifferent surveyors ; roads attempted to be made where no traffic could pass ; and then comes the day of necessity, and other routes are acquired— roads formed, compensation-«r;wi£bheld ; roads again blocked, tipt,' and the poor settler left to pine .and, complain, and to find a professing Government doing nothing, and knowing nothing but how "not to do it." Let us hope we have come to the end of this state of things, and that hencefortji, those difficulties settled, under our County Council or our Road Boards we may obtain by energy and application something in the shape of reality in administration, that we may be helped on instead of boing hindered and impeded. If Akaroa is ever to be the bustling, busy place we have destined her to bo in the future, it must awake slumbers ; it must show to the outside world 'that it is ready and only patiently waiting for its future mercies.

It is due, however, to the officers of the Corporation to add that the meeting after all was held in the wrong place, as we understand that the Town Clerk had madu every provision for jVIr Ollivier's accommodation at the Municipal Council offices, and it is to be regretted that no one representing the municipality was at hand to point out the mistake.