COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 388, 23 April 1880, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail.

Sir.—ln penning this I think I need not apologise, as it is" a common axiom that public men and public bodies are open to fair criticism. Now. Sir, in reviewing the business acts done by the above body tdnce the Counties Act came into force, they are summed up by the number four :— 1. Doling out to the Road Boards a paltry pittance, which might have been done through the General Government, and at the last distribution even these small amounts were parted with only after strong remonstrances from the various Road Boards, and then witb a very bad grace, 2. Building a stately mansion at tbe cost of about £1200, in "which to discharge the weighty business of the County, and in tbe erection of this superb edifice anticipating the requirements of afutuie generation, forgetung that the present and not tbe future should engross tbe whole of their united wisdom and forethought. 3. Mulcting the O'Kain's Bay Road Board of £50, under the pretence of improving the Summit road in that district, which money has been utterly wasted through not giving the Engineer definite instructions ; and I fail to see in justice by what rip;ht the Council can debit that Board witb £50, when, through their oun incapacity, the money is thrown away. 4. Undertaking to form part of the Balguerie road (by the-bye, should it not have been proclaimed a County road/, which may be all right, provided they bring their wisdom to bear upon tbe subject, and not make a road to one man's property, leaving it to his caprice to stop all or any of the settlers above him. Tbe new Balguerie ioad m course of construction entirely cuts off communication with the Purple Peak road, and in the interest of other settlers the Council has a right to the fee simple of a properly graded line from the end of this road to its junction with tbat of tbe Purple Peak ; and 1 feel assured tbat if this request is made, contingent on forming the lower part or otherwise, it will be acceded to and it is only reasonable that it should considering the Council has entertained an offer from Mr Lelievre to accept £50 an compensation to improve the grade to this one property. In conclusion, Sir, I agree with One oi; the Members" tbat they should he paid it tbey are of any use, inasmuch as it would be unreasonable to expect members iron, tbe extremes of tbe County to attend ; and even now the small remuneration they receive can scarcely pay horso hire and

travelling expenses. I believe facts are reliable data, therefore I hope the Councillors will not consider me a very

severe censor. _ » , ' Apologising" for so "largely trespassing upon your space, I am, Yours &c,

ONE INTERESTED