PUBLIC MEETING AT CUST.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2018, 12 August 1880, Page 4

PUBLIC MEETING AT CUST.

A public meeting was held at the Bond Board office, Oust, on Wednesday afternoon, to oonsider the question of the proposed •iteration in the Counties Act, also the financial position of the distriot in connection with proposed works, also the water question. About thirty persons were present, and Mr Dickenson, chairman of tho Eo&d Board, occupied the chain The Chairman said that he had seen a short notice in tho papers staling that a Bill was before the Assembly for amending the Counties Act on clause 7, which would proride that in ease of counties where the Aot was not in operation the Governor was to be empowered to exeroise the functions of tho Gouncil. Tho Hon. Mr Hall, in moving the second reading of the Bill, said that there might be a difference of opinion, aid if he iound the majority against that proposal ho would be prepired to forego it, Having leon this, he had determined to call this meeting in order *o obtain some expression of opinion, and in _ case of any protoat being made it could be forwarded to the House while it was in session. Mr Higgins stated that he attended as a member of the County Counoil. He pointed out that the Councils were little better than .superior Boad Boards, and that if the Counties Aot was brought in it would add to the expense of local government, as well as to the taxation. The Ashley County Council, as they were aware, was the only Council which had not adopted the Aot in the South Island, and he took it that tho proposed amendment, giving the Governor power to bring in the Act, was aimed at this district. He did not think residents in the distriot had changed their minds. The Counties Aot conferred no special powers beyond those of granting licenses to hawkers and a few matters of that kind, and he did not see any advantage to bo sained by its adoption. He added that if the meeting decided to adopt the Act, he must say, as he had previously stated, that he could no longer continue to represent them. not say that it was proposed to give borrowing powers to the Councils. The Chairman thought it would be objectionable if they found their rates pledged as a guarantee fjr money borrowed. Mr O'Farrell proposed that the Aot should aot be brought into force. Mr Buddenklau asked if there was nothing to be said on the other side. If so many persons had accepted the Aot that surely was an argument for its general adoption. It was well known that several of the Boad Boards were not :,in a position to employ competent engineers or surveyors, and if the County Counoil had an engineer' he would be able to deal with many matters in the interests of the ratepayers. The Counties Aot seemed to be a stepping-stone between the Boad Boards and the Assembly, and if bo there was no doubt but the Boards might find themselves in a better position by the adoption of the Aot.

Mr Morrison objected to the Counties Act, as it iras no better than the Roads Ordinance, while they would by the adoption of the former become liable to a further rating power of 2s in the £. Mr Buddenklau observed that he thought -the rating power waa only to the extent of Is, and that would not be brought in except at the wish of the people, or with their consent. Mr Higgins thought if the Boards were to be done away with, and the County Council fiut in its place, that might be an argument or the Oounoils, but no doubt they would find it very inconvenient to deal with small matters. Mr Buddenklau agreed that the time '.had sot come to do away with Road Boards. Mr Hosegood pointed out that the Government did not consider the question of the goote which laid the egg. Mr O'JTarrell moved—" That in the opinion of this meeting ii is not desirable to give the Governor in Council power to enforce the powers of the Counties Act where the Act if cot in force." He did not see that the people ought to consent to further taxation, there was the property tax and prospect of school feet, and Road Board subsidies had been nearly done away with, while also Mr Stevens' proposal to set land aside for charitable purposes had been thrown out. Mr Morrison seconded the motion. Mr Garland wished to see the question ■fairly discussed as there was a great deal of ignorance on the point, and it was desirable to hear both sides. The Chairman said that several Councils had adopted the Aot, being induced to do so by the offers of subsidies which were held out, hut now it was a matter of regret with some that they had adopted their funotions. Mr Howson was in favor of fairly considering the question, in case that by not adopting the Counties Aot they in the Ashley District might still have to make good the principal which other counties might borrow and the interest on it. Mr Higgins said that that could not be done.

Mr Garland asked if Mr Higgins could state the cost of managing the county, Mr Higgins could not say. It was no doubt likely that the Governor would if the amendment was brought in appoint a commissioner to manage the county affairs, in the same way as a commissioner appointed in a ■oheol district. The expense of the Ashley County Council was at present nil, and the chairman had paid for a few telegrams out of his own pocket. [Laughter.] Where the Act was in foroe some of the chairmen were paid £IOO a-year, then the clerk and engineer would eaoh cost £250. At Ashburton it was proposed to erect chambers, and that again would dip into the funds.

The Chairman said he had seen a return in which the costs of County Councils was from £4OO to £4OOO.

Mr Higgins thought the Councils had been economically managed in Canterbury. He pointed out the possibility of confliot between the Boards and Councils. Mr Mobs, he saw, had proposed in the Assembly that a committee of representatives of local bodies should be appointed to report on the -whole question of local government. In reply to Mr Marshall, Mr Higgins said the only large work carried out by a Council was the Malvern water race in the Selwyn County, and the plan for that was approved and the work started by the Provincial Council,

Mr Garland hoped the question of a county engineer would be well thought out. While they might object to rating, there were reasons for the bringing in of the Aot. Possibly it would be better to defer consideration till they had more information. Mr Howson pointed out that, with or without the County Act, Bead Boards could jointly employ a competent engineer. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Howson, seconded by Mr Marshall, it was resolved—" That the foregoing resolution be forwarded to Mr Bowen, as Mr MoorhoußO seems to have taken no notice of resolutions passed at a former meeting and forwarded to him." The Chairman read a petition from twentythree ratepayers, asking for a special meeting to consider the financial position of the district in connection with roods, and especially the one across the Cust Valley, that it should be postponed for the present. He stated that the Board had in hand £794 in current account, and £ISOO as fixed deposit. The estimate of the cost of this road for fencing formation and six bridges, £721; finished for dray traffic or a bridle track, £199 6s. Mr Boberts asked if the Board would not go in for more roads, and take away a number of the notices at the end of roads already formed and closed for repairs. * He raisod an objection to the notice calling the meeting. The Chairman read the notice, and ruled the advertisement in order. Mr Wm. Atkinson moved—" That the formation of the Cust Valley road be postponed for the present, owing to the great expense attending the formation and maintenance of the said road." He maintained that there was in his part of the distriot fifty miles of unformed roads, which connected with formed roads in other districts, which ought to be formed before any new works were gone into. The cost of the road in the valley wonld be only made at a oost of £1129. [A Ratepayer : "The roads on Ellis' flat do not want metal; there's a saving."] He pointed out that the proposed road was parallel with a formed road only fifty chains away, and to make it would involve the district in an expense which the funds would not stand. He urged that the residents in the Cust valley ought manfully to form themselves into a Drainage Board, to carry out such works as wonld enable them, to get on to their land. Mr 11. Thompson seconded. Mr Howson thought when the mover took such a broad view of the distriot, it would have been a sounder argument if he had obtained his signature from one, particular •vomer.

Mr Boberts moved "That the road through the Oust Valley be fenced and formed as a track for light traffic with as little delay as possible, according to the clerk's estimate." Mr Howson eoooaded, advocating that a* Mr Spiers had given his portion of the land towards the road, that part might bo fully formed for drays. Mr Hoaegood pointed out that persons from all parts of the district had signed tho pctiiion. Mr W. E. Loech said he and others who had signed tho petition would be willing to withdraw their signatures after hearing that the track could be made at a small coßt. The impression of those signing was that they were opposing a dray road. Mr W. Anderson pointed out that the Board was prepared to make a light traffic road, and if it was to the advantage of ratepayers, they would be willing to make it. The amendment was carried, only four being against it. The meeting next went into a consideration of a drainage question between the West Eyreton and Oust Boards, whioh the chairman explained was damaging one of the main roads at Bennett's. It was deoided that the Board should take further action, with a view of having the evil complained of remedied.