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Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1925, Page 2

Mtt Mrnnocn at the County Council meeting very properly r< so the qtiostinn that the State value of the harbour in developing Civ-wn prop, rtv was sufli iont guarantee for the Government proceeding with the harbour works without a rating guarantee from tic residential area to constitute the harbour district. As a matter if fact the district is m w in the Gn-y----mouth harbour rating district, so that the In ality would ! e well covered with harbour obligations were a second liability to be imposed on it. It is doubtful, however, if the Government will proceed with a propcsal of the nature desired without- the local rating security. At the same time were it determined to go on with railway construction to provide means of access for the identical purpose proposed for the harbour. no guarantee would lie sought- for. lint in regard to harbour works it is doubtful if the Government' will undertake such a proposition as is proponed without till* ordinary safe-guard provided in such eases. The delimitation of the boundaries in .such an event- would he a matter for consideration I n with -steam tramway facilities saw'milling operations would extend tar back trom tbe locality of actual milling. The qm-s----tion is one for the residents to determine themselves, a- would he also the question of agreeing to submit to rating proposals as security. When the Minister of Mines and Marine was in the south district a few months ilgo. opinions expressed in the Wataroa district to the Minister wore averse to rating being imposed tor harbour improvement-. d lie Minister came away with a definite iinpre —ii n on the subjoet. as ho made clear to our reporter at the time. The Wataroa area would he an essential part of the harbour di'triet Irom a rating point ol view, and without it. any cost involved in harbour improvements would fall very heavily on tin so brought in. It is all important detail ol tin* genera! quest ion which must he determined before a final decision is reached. Km the present, however, the task ol tin deputation now pro'-ceiling to Wellington is to impress upon the. Government tin- general question of harhotn iml roveineut. and the ways and meantwill he discussed later. The proposals t-i provide income from shipping export dues would in themselves he effective. once the port is opened and mill ing operations est ablished. But it b the interval of time while these developments are taking place which has to l-e taken into a-count. It is <>l this phase where the initial dillieultx will le met. hut doubtless a way oil! will lie found by those bent so ell thnsiastieally on the full realisation o the scheme.

'l'm,; force of circumstances led the West land County Goum-il to readjust the members n pre-entalion at this week's meeting. Ihe step was taken in accordance with a | rovisam of the Counties' Act. which provides that the lepresentat-ion is to be governed by a rateable value and the number of electors. Hitherto, there were nine un-in-Ih-i's in the Council. three members being apportioned to each Hiding. Working oil the quota ol rateable value and 'lie number ol electors in the separate Hidings, it was tumid necessary to red ore the Northern Hiding liv one member, and add another member to tie.- Southern Hiding. 'lbis .vus the course adopted by the Council, and the alteration "ill take place at tile general election ol members in May next. The change is indicative of the steady progress . the southern district, where values are improving and population Increasing. The law provides for the representation question to he reviewed trieilni.olly. hut this is the first occasion for some years that it lias been found necessary to make any alteration.