The Akaroa Mail, TUESDAY, JANUARY 23,1883. THE LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 681, 23 January 1883, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail, TUESDAY, JANUARY 23,1883. THE LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

It will be remembered that an Act to reconstitute the Harbor Board for the Port of Lyttelton was passed last session. This reconstitution was owing to the efforts of Mr E. 3. Wright to get a member for Ashburton on the Board. He was anxious that that great grainprodu,ing area, whose produce formed no inconsiderable porti>*n of the total exports from Port Lyttelton, should be represented. The House agreed with him to a certain extent, but members interested in other parts of the Provincial District of Canterbury said, " If jou are going to extend the representation, let our Counties elect a member too. Our produce goes from Lyttelton as well as Ashburton's." This argument was considered conclusive, and the Board was reconstituted as follows :-—

" 4. The Board shall, from and after the second Monday in the month of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty three, consist of fourteen members, of whom six shall form a quorum, and such members shall be respectively appointed, succeed to office, and be elected as follows:—(1) one member to be .appointed by the Governor; (2) the Mayor for the time being of the Borough of Lyttelton ; (3) one member to be elected by the ratepayers of the Borough of Lyttelton; (4) two members to be elected by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce from among the members thereof ; (5) two members to be elected by the ratepayers of the City of Christchurch; (6) one member to be elected by the ratepayers of the Borough of Sydenham ; (7) two members to be'elected by the Council of the County of Selwyn ;. (8) one member to be elected by the Council of the County of Ashley ; (9) one member to be elected by the Council of the County of Ashburton ; (10) one member to be elected by the ratepayers of the Borough of St. Albans; (11) one member to be elected by the Council of the County of Akaroa." - It will therefore be seen that our County Council has the right to elect a member to represent the County on the Board, and they will, of course, use that privilege. It will be remembered that the County Council, at their meeting on December 23rd, adjourned for eight weeks, that is, to Saturday, February 17th, but as the election takes place on the second Monday in February, that is, on February 12 th, we presume a special meeting will be called for that purpose. We presume that the most determined opponents to tbe Council will acknowledge they will have something to do on "this occasion, for it is of the greatest importance that if we are represented, we should be represented fitly. Many -will say -that the interests of Akaroa can hardly be affected by what is done-, by,the Lyttplton Harbor Board, but this is indeed a mistake. The time will come when an alternative port will be needed, and theilf Akaroa's magnificent harbor will be utilised. It i« only a short time ago that the idea was raised of dredging alongside our wharf, so that the steamers could come and go at low water. Had it really been determined to get this done, our having a member to represent our wants to the Lyttelton Board would have placed us in a very different position from that in which we now stand. In fact, a hundred things might, and probably will, arise, in which a member of the Lyttelton Harbor Board could be useful to Ak^roii,

The. Council, therefore, should not exercise the right of election without great consideration, and it should certainly be our duty to elect a local man, if popsible. Do not* let us give away our rights to t!*e first person who asks. Already we hear of gentlemen from Christchurch seeking the suffrages of our Councillors, and though no', doubt they are good men, and thoroughly con-_ versant with the wants of Christchurch," we venture to say that they know little or nothing of Akaroa ; and certainly Parliament, in passing the bill, meant, not to increase the Christchurch representation, but to allow a County that exports large quantities of cocksfoot and dairy produce, and not a little grain, to have a voice in the management of affairs at "the* gate of the Province. We have heard the names of Messrs J. Gebbie, W. B. Tosswill, and other local gentlemen mentioned, and we hope that on- 1 , at least, of the residents of the County who have means and leisure, will -notify to the County Council before February 12th comes, that they are willing to go once a month to sit on the Lyttellon Harbor Board in the interests j of the County of Akaroa.