LITTLE RIVER ROADS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 621, 27 June 1882, Page 2

LITTLE RIVER ROADS.

A public meeting of the ratepayers of Little River was held at the School on the evening of the 23rd inst. The attendance was better than usual, and a keen interest was displayed throughout the proceedings. In the intervals between the addresses the settlers discharged at each other a fire of pointed observations, half jocular, hall sarcastic, but wholly pithy and suggestive. On the motion of Mr Olphert, seconded by Mr G. E. Joblin, Mr Buchanan was moved to the chair. He said he was unaware of the meeting being held till he had scon the advertisement calling it ir the Mail. He was aware that many oi their roads were in a bad slate, and thai something ought to be done to reined) this. He did not know exactly whai course the meeting proposed to adopt, bin he should have much pleasure in aiding all he could. He then requested the gentlemen who were principally instrumental ir calling the meeting to state what theii proposals were. Mr Olphert said, as one whose name was attached to th? requisition calling the meeting, he would state what were 'iis opinions on the matter. It was a mutter generally known that the Road Board had expended much more on roads at the other end oi the district than on this, and the consequence was that there the roads were generally numerous and good, while here it was just the other way—the road* formed were few, and their state generally was very bad, excepting the co.tcli road, and that was getting very rotten in places. This was a state of things that could not longer be endured. The railway was now open, and the roads must be opened, or the produce of the valleys could not be transported to the railway, and the district would suffer in consequence, and the railway too. Little River only wanted what they ware fairly entitled to. and he considered that the funds now at the .disposal of the Road Board should be expended in making the roads here available for traffic. He was not a large ratepayer, but he was interested in the prosperity of the dietrict. He was glad to see large landholders present, and trusted with their assistance something might be done. Mr Coop admitted there was a good deal of force in what Mr Olphert had said, and he thought good might result from the meeting, if the proper course were adopted : but he was satisfied it would be of no use to apply to the Road Board. They had only about £400, and Little River would not get that. In his opinion the proper course would be to apply to the Government, through their member, for a special grant for the Little River roads. Th« Government owed a large sum to this Peninsu'a, resulting from tho land fund and it was only justice.that that should b< obtained. If the meeting confined thei; attention to applying to the Road Beard it would be a mistake, but if they appliec to the Government for a special grant, hi could not see why they should not get it Mr Anson said the distance of hi; station was such as effectively to exclud< him from much participation in the proceedings of the Little River ratepayers Being present, however, and a ratepayer he would express in a few words hii opinion on the subject that had brough thorn together. He was quite in accorc with Mr Coop as to the inutility of applying to the Road Board no satisfactory result would be arrived at. Other partiei were perpetually applying to them, anc the result was always the same. Nc assistance could be obtained on the genera plea of " want of funds." The settlers oi Wainui had found themselves very mud: in the same position as those of Little River, and they in their difficulty resorted to the County Council. He would suggesi this course as a do.-irable one for tht Little River settlers to take. The Road Boards had done good work in their time but that time was now passed away, and the County Council was the fitting body to supersede them. He quite agreed that the roads here must be kept in good condition that produce might be conveyed to the station, otherwise the advantages to be derived from the contiguity of the railway would not be se.-ured. He would suggest that if a special grant were applied for the application should be made to the County Council, and this body couUi communicate with Govern ment. Mr Coop said he agreed with Mr Anson, and would support a resolution embodying his proposal. Th.c Chairman asked if Mr Olphert were prepared with any resolution. Mr Olphert said he had not a resolution ready, as he was desirous of first hearing the matter discussed, but he would presently be prepared with one. He was of opinion that if a special grant were applied for, the application should be made through the Road Board, as that was the body entrusted with the charge of tho roads by the ratepayers. The Chairman thought that in that case that Mr Anson or Mr Coop might state their proposition by way of amendment. Mr G. E. Joblin said that their local affairs just at present were somewhat picturesque in their aspect, and not of a gratifying character; but there were some hopeful features apparent, and this meeting was one of them, and if they persevered, order might be envolved out of the existing confusion. He had listened to the remarks made by the previous speakers, and their scope was very wide indeed. One thing appeared to be indisputable, and that was, that the roads must receive prompt attention. But the difficulty was to determine how this attention could be , most effectively secured. Three proposals had been mooted, Ist application to the Road Board, 2nd application to Government through their member for special grant, and 3rd application to tho County Council. To him it appeared that application must in the first instance be made to the Road Board. That was the body elected by the ratepayers to attend to the roads in this locality, and application to them should precede application to any other body as to any satisfactory issue being achieved. The Little River Road Board had always squandered their resources in a reckless manner. Two or three years ago he had si me hopes they were improving, but those hopes had vanished now. The outlay of upwards of j £1000 in renewing the culverts on the Middle Valley road was a job that was the last straw that broke the camel's back. He then proceeded to confirm his statements by enumerating various works involving this, reckless exoenditure. challener-

accuracy, referring to several of the works as some of which he alleged the Chairman had full knowledge. Mr Anson : How about the expenditure of the County Council ? M r Joblin : That was worse Now, bad as all this was, it would not be remedied by abolition. If they abolished all their institutions, whose administration was faulty, they would have none left. He contended that the legitimate remedy was reformation, not abolition, and he would reform the Little River Road Board by making tho one district into two, so that each riding should be a Road Board district. One Boaid to meet at the TaiTapu, the other here, where the settlers are chiefly located. He believed such an arrangement would be both effective and economical, and the Boards could not then be manipulated, as the existing one was. Virtually their Board was an unchangeable one. as by manipulating the district, the Board continue 1 to exclude all who were not their nominees. Hence the Board, though not in fact, was in effect always the same. He admitted tbo ratepayers were primarily responsible for this. They should have turned the Board out long ago, and sent in a new set. Mr Coop : But suppose the new set were worse than the old one ? Mr Joblin : In that case let set No. 2 follow No. 1, and No 3. be elected. If the ratepayers resolved on having an effective Board they would get one. Ho disclaimed any personal feeling in thus criticising the Boards doings. What he wanted was a radical reform in the administration, and now was the time to obtain it. The opening of the railway was the commencement of a new era for Peninsula settlers, and if the latter did their duty that era could not fail to be a prosperous one. Tlih Acts of the Road Board constituted its history, and were legitimate subjects for comment. And the study of the history of a Road Board should be profitable even as the study of the history of a nition. With improved administration in our local institutions and unity of purpose, the Peninsula could not avoid prosperity. The prospects of unity of purpose were not very encouraging at present. Their Road Hoard was beseeching the (government to abolish the County Council, a most unjustifiable proceeding which they had no right whatever to take, as a corporate body, unless first authorised by their ratepayers. Thej might with equal propriety pray for the abolition of their School Committees, Licensing Bench and other local institutions. But under the circumstances the Board's action could have no significance, but would merely be one more foolish act added to the list, As a counterpoise to this, they had the settlers of Wainui petitioning the Council to " swallow them up," as he believed that was the meaning of the word " merge." Hβ could not say he was surprised at the Road Board's pro ceeding, but he certainly was at that of the Wainui ratepayers. Look at tie facts. Those settlers had, in common with others, powers conferred upon them to form roads, construct culverts, erect bridges, and maintain the same, when and where needed, and to raise funds for the purpose. Could anything be more desirable than this? Who should know when and whore these various anil important works were most needed better than the Wainui settlers themselves? Surely, no one. Then, why impose this duly upon Mr Boleyn, of Stony Bay, Mr Bradley, of Port Victoria, Mr Gebbie, of Gebbie's Valley, and himself—upon the County Council, who know incomparably less of the requirements of the district than the settlers themselves ? However desirable, largo acquirements are not indispensable for the decent administration of Road Board powers, Some modicum of knowledge, of w?al, of principle, and of patriotism were all that were required. Were not such to he found amongst the Wainui settlers ? lie was most anxious to see i,he County Council's importance augmented, but not by " swallowing up" other local bodies and appropriating their powers. An importance so acquired would be pernicious and precacarious. The importance he desired for it was one founded on the respect and confidence of the settlers ; and this was to be acquired by the Council devoting itself resolutely, perseveringly, and disinterestedly to the advancement of the interests of the Peninsula. The duties of the Council differed from those of the Road Boards. The former was general, the latter local. Where the Road Boards were doing their best the Council should render them eveiy possible assistance. Where they were inort the Council should seek to stimulate them, but no " swallowing up." The influence of the various Road Boards should he concentrated in the Council, and be by the latter weiided for the general good. And the utilisation of the harbor, the extension of the railway, the reclamation of the lake reserve, and the improvement of the line already constructed, were works especially within the province of the Council. The journey to Christchurch by Lincoln was 31 miles, if by way of Tai Tapu the distance would be reduced 7 miies. The cost attending this increased di.-stanr.'e partook of the character of an oppressive, grievous impost, equivalent to 25 per cent. Thus, the longer route demanded for travelling fees ,5s on every pound more than would be required for the shorter. This in the future would be a serious matti'i , , and would demand the attention of the Council. He did not believe, however, that the Council was the body to whom they should address themselves in lvlatiou to their roads. It had been repeatedly stated that there was a large sum of the land fund due from the Government; but he had made some enquiries, which had inspired him with doubt as to the possibility of establishing ' any such claim. Could any just grounds be found for ir, they should be made apparent by the Council, and pressed persistently upon the Government. What tney were entitled to they should have but he did not believe in the policy of besieging the Government for gratuities. Mr Coop said that the Road Board had only £400 at their disposal, but he believed there was a much larger sum available, and if a resolution were proposed for application to be made to the Board to make their principal roads passable, he would support it. If no good resulted, other measures would have to be resorted to. Finally, he would impress upon them the fact that the existing dissension between the local bodies reflected discredit upon the Peninsula, and was a bar to its progress. Mr Coop dissented entirely from Mr Joblin'a condemnation of their Road Board. He had belonged to it more than ten years. and he ehalleneed the

where so much work had been done tor so little money, He supposed money was -wanted to do the Western Valley road. That road he knew was bad, but they had only about £400, and that they would not spend here. The best plan would be J.O apply to the Government for a special grant. Mr Olphert said he was of opinion that if the Board could be induced to come and see the roads they would have them put in a better state, as if they became impassable the traffic to the railway must be stopped. He thought the Road' Board could find sufficient funds, as very little expenditure would henceforward be needed •♦between the Devil's Nob and Tui Tapu, as the railway would carry the traffic. He ■would propose the following resolution :— »'That a deputation be appointed to wait ■upon the Road Board to represent the state f the roads here, and invite the Board to visit the place and inspect the roads, the deputation to consist of the Chairman, and the Messrs G. JR. Joblin, G. Stanbury, G. W, Joblin, and the mover." Mr Harris seconded the resolution, say- " Sng that he hoped the Board's attention would be called especially to the state of the road going past Mrs Mnnro'a up to the first bridge, and across by Smith's and t Belcher's, below the Church. Mr Anson said lie hoped that t'io few /remarks he considered he was justified in making was not the cause of the long speech made by Mr Joblin, and the severe attack made by him on the settlers of Wainui. Hβ thought thut attack was an entirely unsatisfactory one. He specially objected to the term emasculated, in the "sense in which it was used. The Wainui' settlers were not lacking in the qualifications enumerated by,Mr Joblk as requisite for the administration of Road Board , powers. Oilier reasons had induced them to petition for the Road Board to be merged in the Council. First, very large sums had been expended by the Wainui Board, judiciously or injudiciously it might he, but certainly in a way that was unsatisfactory to many of the settlers. This led to a ■desire for an alteration. Then they were of opinion if a body of gentlemen from •other parts of the county hnd to decide where their roads were to be made, they 'would not be under the influence of the prejudice and partialities that must prevail in the district. They would be disinterested in their decision and be guided rby their engineer and other agents. He had never been on a Road Board, and hoped he never should be, but if he were, be could conceive it very difficult to resist rthe requests of friends, neighbors, and perhaps relations, in reference to particular roads, which it might be to the interest of such to have constructed. He admitted that their Road Board knew more about ithe roads than the Council ■; in fact, they iknew too much. He would suggeMt tliat an application for such a grant should be ■made direct to the County Council. Mr Joblin said the construction placed upon his remarks by Mr Ansorc was not warranted. There was some misapprehension. Mr Anson then proposed—"That a deputation wait on the County Council, to point out to them the urgent need there is , for money for road works in this district. and the absence of it in the Road Board ■coffers, affd to request them to apply to ■Government for a special grant." The amendment was seconded by Mr Coop, and, on being put, was lost, only two voting for it. The resolution was then carried. Thanks to the Chairman terminated 'the ipioceedings.