COUNTY COUNCIL DOINGS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 479, 25 February 1881, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL DOINGS.

To the Editor.

S lß) —The Akaroa County Council met last Saturday, ran up another score of travelling expenses, and decided (on behalf of Mr Joseph Libeau) that the public-shall no longer travel the old Duvauchelle s Bay road. Some other trifling routine business was also transacted, and the farce ended ; and this is all, we are supposed to believe, for the benefit of the already overburdened taxpayer.

The supposition forces itself upon me that an elective public body would be conservative of the public interests. Are they so ? A glance at the arguments used by the County Councillors in Libeau's case may throw some light on the case.

One member—a clerical gentleman from the Port Victoria district, and who is also a cattle dealer—said on a former occasion, when the matter was before him, that he didn't like being led into temptation, and he had been tempted io swear at that rofirl. It is a convenient short cut for cattle as well as the genus homo, and what a pity Mr Bradley should think the former were to be considered in preference to the latter, and be forthwith decided that the road must be closed. Bravo ! Mr Hay, of Pigeonßßar,} r , was afraid that some day the road might cost the ratepayers something, and therefore it ought to be closed. A canny Scot's logic, nao doot. Mr Williams followed, and was of the same opinion as Mr Hay, of course, and the sale of the road would also materially improve the financial position of the A. and W. Road Board ; therefore, the road should be closed. Mr Gebbie, like the parrot, said nothing. Mr McDonald ditto, though tiie features of both appeared radiant with their suppressed eloquence. Mr Barker had been watching his opportunity, and, after writing for a short time furiously, rose, and he would propose that the road should be stopped. He considered the arguments used were conclusive. Mr Coop considered that as a petition signed by 29 ratepayers had been presented against the closing, he thought those people were entitled to fair consideration. They were there to guard the public interests. The present action was not of that character. The Chairman bad travelled the road for years, and he considered it a public convenience. It was a handy short cut, and no good or benefit could result to the ratepayers from its closing, but the reverse. On the question being put that the road be closed, Messrs Williams, Brad'ey. Gebbie, Barker, McDonald, and Hay voted Aye ; and the Chairman, Messrs Coop, and Fleming against. I ask you to kindly publish this letter, because I noticed your reporter was not present in time on Saturday to hear what was said, and, as I was present, many poople have been asking for fuller in formation than is contained in your very meagre report of Tuesday last.—l am, etc., T. M.