The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1643, 4 January 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1882.

Rumors are afloat that an attempt is about to be made to abolish the Borongh of Kunw.-a and merge it into the County of Westland. If such is the case, it becomes necessary to consider what the result of such a step, if carried out, would be. As a matter of course there are arguments for and against It appears that the preposterous maimer in which the Licensing Act has been framed has more to do with the matter than anything else. There is a most absurd difference between the license fee to be paid in boroughs, and out of them. In the first instance, the fee is fixed at £4O, and the latter at £25. This disparity is too great, and it is difficult to understand how any legislature could arrive at such a conelusion, except upon consideration of the fact that there was a very large number of new members in the House who knew positively nothing of the previous legislation on the subject they were dealit<« with. It is true that two publicans held seats in the House ; but it is a fact to be noted that neither of them spoke a single word at the second reading of the bill, although that is the only occasion on which its general principle* could be discussed. We find that the discussion was confined to Mr Dick, Sir W. Pox, Colonel Trimble, and the Auckland wind-bag, Mr Speight. One of the two publicans, Mr Bastings, c;r-

tainly did move amendments in Committee, but the time had gone by, and his efforts were fruitless. It certainly does appear hard that one living just inside a borough should p&y a very high license fee, while one living just outside, should pay a very low one; but there are a variety of considerations to be dealt with in the matter, outside of the mere question of the license fee. We believe, in the first place, that it was a most decided mistake to create a borough here ; but, it having been created, we have to consider from every point cf view whether it would be judicious to mei'ge it into the county.' If such an event took place, the large revenues of this place would simply be played ducks and drakes with in other parts ©f Westland. Probably the merging of the borough would be followed by the seat of the County Government being transferred to this place from Hokitika; but that would be only a doubtful advantage; and, besides, that result might, if necessary, take place without any change in our local institutions. The borough has an endowment of 500 acres near the town, and, in the event of merging, that would be immediately pounced upon and disposed of some way for the benefit of other parts of Westland. .Kutnara can boast of streets superior by far to those of many towns which have been established for thirty years, while the drainage of the town is all that can be expected. This has been the work of the Borough Council. Again, it is imperatively necessary that Kumara should have a supply of water for the 1 extinguishment of fires; and, if the merging takes place, good-bye to all chance of obtaining such a Kumara has been specially favored with regard to fires. This may be good luck or good management, but the fact remains that the water-supply is urgently needed, and every reasonable man must know that the County Council would not be at all likely to supply funds for such a purpose. In addition to this, it must not be forgotten that the municipal by-laws have worked well, and although they are douUless capable of improvement, the loss of them would be very seriously felt. Altogether, the advantages of retaining the borough appear to preponderate against the benefits to be derived from its abolition.