THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 15, 14 May 1877, Page 2

THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

[TOTHB BDITOB DfAKOAHTJA TIHES.] Sib.— Whilst quite agreeing with the remarks contained in your leading article of Friday last, open the subject of public works for Beefton,l desire to add a few words to what you have already said. Up to the present time the Couaty Council has existed only in name, all the essential functions of the body politic being still retained by the Board ; bat kt the coarse of a very short time the Road Board will become defunct, and it will then be to the Council the ratepayers will hare to look fora redress of public grievances. The Council, to my mind, has made a com* mencement which bodes no good to Beef* ton. Looking orer the estimate of c*» penditure contemplated for the current year,l find that not one sixpence of the public revenue is set down for tho format lion of streets and footpaths in Xeefton. What are our representatives about ? Do they think that the householders in the back parts of the town will tamely submit to pay rates year by year for the purpose of constructing fiddling bits of foot tracks in the outlying districts, while we have not yet as much as the stumps cleared from our doors. Does it ever occur to the members of the Council that oar wants, are entitled as much to consideration as well as those of the scattered mining population about the reefs? Aw we to be left for another yea* without access to our buildings is order that good foot tracks to the reefo ahoold be widened iato dray roads for the convenience of storekeepers and carriers, who make no concessions to consumers for the extra advantage? I ask, will the residents of the back part of the town stand by and see the Council work such injustice P— l bopa nofc. Is (he constitution of the Council as it is we begin to realise the danger of fee present basis of represent tation, and in my humble opinion the* sooner the Council is petitioned to re* adjust the representation of the different Hidings, the better. Aa matters now are, a resident living in the back part of the town hardly dare venture into town of a night for fear of being swallowed up in a mud puddle or breaking his neck over a log or stump, and yet if a wages man desires to visit Keefton from Boatman's ot Crashington at night, he may. do so with the greatest safety, having a nice metalled track to tempt him on the journey. It seems to me that the way the Council has commenced should stir op the residents to consider whether after all, in parting with the Eoad Board, we shall be doing something for which we shall be sorry at no distant time, and in conclusion I can only say that should the Ooaneil persevere in neglecting the town, they will only hurry on the opinion, which is fast gaining ground, that we shall never have out interests properly looked after until wo get a Municipality.— l am, Ac., Backstrbetbb. Beeftoo, May 11,1877.