DEPUTATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 4283, 17 November 1876, Page 2

DEPUTATIONS.

COUNTY REPRESENTATION.

Messrs Reeves, John Reid, Glendining, Mackerras, Fargie, and Isaac Green waited this morning on the Commissioner of Cnsr toms, being introduced by Mr Burns, M.H.R., who explained that their object was to bring under the bon. gentleman’s notice what the residents in the North-east Valley considered tojbe the unfair representation given to their riding, of which they formed part in the County of Waikouaiti. The depntaticn suggested that an alteration should be made either in the direction of a fresh, distribution of members or that an additional member should be given to the North-east Valley. They considered they were entitled to more consideration than they bad received, on account of the population the district contained.

Mr Reeves put the matter shortly: North of the Waikouaiti river there were six representatives, while south of it there were only three. Taking its population and the importance of the district, they considered they were entitled to quite as much, if not greater representation, than the northern part of the County.

Mr M'Lean had given this matter a good deal of careful consideration. He had been afraid to go amongst the people to seek their advice, because everyone wanted his own district to get extra representation. This matter had been brought under his notice by Mr Green and Mr M'Fadyen, the Clerk of the North-east Valley Board. The arrangement would only be of a temporary character, the County Council having power to alter boundaries. In fixing the ridings they had adhered as closely as possible to the old road districts, in older to utilise the Road Boards’ rolls, and so push on the County elections. If Kavensbourne and other townships at present connected with the North-east Valley district became municipalities, the latter would be left with a small population. He thought the thing was fairly divided in the meantime. He had taken the best advice he could, and in making the divisions had acted to the best of his judgment. Mr John Retd said that if they regarded

/ the North-east ; respect . to its popolationpr. the\atobttnt of property in it, it was entMechto more representationthan any dtker riding in tho County. i ' \ Mr M'Dsan ; The Palmerston pfeople complain .that they are, not ■, sufficiently represented. . ’' Mr Run): But Hawksbnry :is decidedly oyer-represented. The interests of the „ people oh the south side of the Waikouaiti ,Uiver are not identiCalwith those .on the other side of it. _ Mr M ‘Lean objected ,to the Waikouaiti River being regarded as a boundary. It . would be just as fair to take the Pleasant River as a boundary, and say that north of it had only three members, while the south had six. At first he had thonght’of joining two of the ridings, and so giving three members to each, but found that plan would not work ; then it was intended to put the thickly-populated places about Dunedin into one County, but there were difficulties in the way of doing that; while to make seven ridings, giving one member to each, would have caused dissatifaction. He did think the south portion of the district was represented too small. Mr Retd observed that it now appealed the Commissioner of Customs admitted reluctantly that the North-east Valley was hot adequately represented, but the word ** reluctantly " being objected to by Mr M’Lean it vas withdrawn. Mr M'Lean: So long as I think I am doing justice, I cannot help giving dissatisfaction in some quarters. . Mr Reeves inquired if Mr M'Lean would postpone the publication of the proposed ridings until he had given the matter further consideration. Mr M'Lean replied that the * Gazette * would not be issued till to-morrow, andhe would give the matter further consideration to-day. A member of the deputation inquired Why Hawksbnry had two members and Northeast Valley only one. # 1 Mr M'Lean replied on account of its population and the size of the district. Only a small portion of Hawksbnry was a municipality, and he would recommend the latter to dissolve and become part of the Coußfy. ' Mr Green hoped the Commissiener would give the matter bis favorable consideration and try to remedy the grievance of the district, because if that were not done this would only be the commencement of the dissatisfaction. The riding would not bp trampled upon by the northern put of the County. ANOTHER MUNICH*ALTTV t Messrs Dench, Fletcher, and Sutherland attended as a deputation to urge the desirability of joining blocks 1 and 2, Lower Harbor, into a municipality. Mr M'Lean observed that he knew, the district pretty well, andhe urged them tq become part of Port Chalmers. Of course it was difficult to suggest anything when, people had made np their minds that they wanted a certain thing; but he thought they should rather endeavor to join Port Chalmers, and so make one strong municipality instead of two weak ones. Mr Dench mentioned some of the reasons that weighed with the residents in asking for and desiring to be proclaimed a separate municipality. For twenty-two years they had lived there without obtaining as much, as a track, and it was only of very recent years, through their own exertions and the assistance given them by Mr Macandrew, that they had got land communication with •Port Chalmers. Since then, the population had increased w6nderfully, now numbering 400 persons ; it contained rateable property valued at between LIS, OOO abd L 14,000,' was 120 acres in extent, and would yield ovei Ll5O a year in rates. Having accomplished so mnch almost unaided, they „ were sanguine of being able to do a great deal more if formed into a municipality. They could not look to or expect any assistance from Port Chalmers, and so strong was the feeling with the Yen- ■ denis against amalgamation with the Port, 1 that they would prefer being part of the road district if the present application could not he complied with. «. - Mr M'Lean informed that the new Mnni- ’ cipal Bill had been purposely delayed from ’ coming into operation before January next, 1 because the Otago municipalities might not care to come under it without making pre- ’ parations, and with the near existence of that Act he would not feel himself justified in proclaiming the district a municipality 1 under the Provincial Ordinance. He again urged the desirability of joining Port Chalmers. He was always averse to going against public feeling in a district; and he counselled the deputation to take home with ■ them a copy of the Municipal Bill, to zee if 1 they w<re able to comply with the require- ’ ments of sections 17 and 18 thereof, and to consider carefully what steps they would 1 take under it.