PROPOSED DISSOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF KUMARA.

Kumara Times, Issue 1755, 16 May 1882, Page 2

PROPOSED DISSOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF KUMARA.

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE ; THEATRE ROYAL.

Pursuant to an advertisement by Mr R. J. Seddon, a raemher of the Borough Council of Kumara, a public meeting was held in the Theatre Royal last evening, to discuss the question of the dissolution of the Borough of Kumara. There was a large number of persons present, the majority of whom were non-ratepayers, who had probably come into town in the expectntion of visiting Burton's Royal Australian Circus, which was announced to perform last evening, but which, owing to the late inclement weather had been retarded in its transit to Kumara, and therefore was not opened last night. Mr W. Barnett, who is also a member of the Borough Council, was called to the chair.

The Chairman opened the proceedings by reading the advertisement calling the meeting, as follows.— " Those in favor of the broad policy and the development of the Kumara goldfields and the opening op of the lands adjoining the borough are invited to attend. Those who wish to continue che infliction of excessive taxation, and a starvation or survival of the fittest impolitic course are challenged to attend and defend their actions, and shew cause why a minority are to coerce a majority.—R. J. Serdon." The meeting was called to discuss the question of merging the Borough into the County of Westland. He hoped the speakers would get a fair and impartial hearing. He would first call upon the convener of the meeting to address them. Mr R. J. Seb©on said that be was a representative of the ratepayers iu the Borough and County Councils, and both of those bodies had decided by resolutions to merge the Borough of Kumara into the County of Westland. He moved—

That in the- opinion of this meeting the steps taken by the Borough Council of Kumara and the- County Council of Westland m petitioning his* Excellency the Governor to dissolve the Borough of Kumara is.- wise, and wili prove advantageous to the district art large-, there being too much local government ire the Provincial district of Westland.

It had been said that the ratepayers hud not been consulted in this matter. He considered that as the members of the Borough Council were the representatives of the ratepayers, theirs was the voice of the ratepayers; however, he had called this m'eetrng to give the ratepayers an- opportunity of expressing their opinion on the subject. He sug* gested that the members of the Borough Council should all resign : thfit was the fairest way of testing the matter. In adducing reasons, Mr Seddon stated that when the question of having a borough was first mooted,- he was opposed to it; but when a majority of the rateuayers- decided that Kumara, should-

be constituted a borough, he represented them in their Council, and became the first Mayor. The town was now well formed and the streets were made. If they looked at the balance-sheet of the Borough Council, they would find that one-third of the revenue was ahsorbed in administrative expenses. He considered the time had arrived when something else should be done with the money. Mr Seddou then quoted figures from the recently-issued balance-sheet of the Borough Council to show that out of £I6OO expended during the year by the borough, only £IOOO wag spent on. works beneficial to the district. He ridiculed the fact of so large an amount as £44 being squandered in legal expenses, whilst the Borough Council would not entertain a motion to extend Seddon street to the boundary of the borough, with the view of making a road to the sea beach. [Applause.] The speaker then referred to the large revenue of the Connty of Westland, and intimated that the revenue of the borough could be more judiciously expended by the Council of the county. He remarked that two-thirds of the community at the present time were doing what is known as dead-horse work. The £6OO spent in administrative expenses of the borough would be better spent in bringing in water-supply than on streets in this town.—[Applause.] The Borough Council would not give one pepny to the late agitation re water supply." He disclaimed any personal interest in the matter. He cared not what form of government was adopted ; their money was simply being frittered away. In referring to the opposition to the movernont he - asked—Why should twentyfive persons rule tke borough? He would take care when he got to Wellington that the minority should not coerce the majority.—[Applause.] He bad endeavoured to prove by his actions what was the best for the community,— [Applause.} The motion was seconded by Mr Preston, who remarked that the Borough Council had made a drain, and then blocked it up.—[Laughter.}

The Chairman said he observed the Chairman of the County Council present. He Would like to bear him speak to the subject.

Mr P. Duxoan then carue forward. He said that being in town he had heard something of tfee meeting, and he thought he would come and hear the actual opinion of the people concerning the abolition of the borough. The ratepayers should have a voice in this matter—[Hear, hear]. Being a ratepayer himself, he would say thtff his position as Chairman of the County Council had nothing whatever to do with his presence there that evening.— [Hear, hear.] As a ratepayer he had been resident in Kumara from the' earliest stages. He was in favor now of the removal of the borough. The purposes for which the borough was formed were now removed. It had been said if the borough were removed its rates would be spent elsewhere. He considered that the borough having secured everything it wants, the balance of money should go to its goldfields. From the reports of the motion on the subject of merging the borough by the county, they might think the County Council at their meeting jumped at the proposal. He could assure them there was a very long and warm discussion on the subject. The balance of the town revenue, the speaker thought, should be spent on the goldfields.— [Applause.] The indebtedness of the county was very far from what bad been stated ; he would give them some figures to prove this, and to show what suras had been spent in the district. For i be year ending the 3lsfc March, 1879, there was spent on the Greenstone road, from Hokitika to Kumara (including widening contracts), the total sum of £5394 I& a 9tf . on the Kumara to Dillman Town road the same year, there was spent £1337 13s Id ; and in repairs of damage by flood to the m-ain road,- the smn of £l4Ol 7s 6d. Ir e the year following, new works on the Kumara goldfield cost the county £IOBS, and main Greenstone road maintenance £23S6\ In 1881 the maintenance of the Greenstone road cost £2435, and new works on the xvumara £9'Bs. During the year ending Slat March, 1882 : , new works cost £709" 9s, and main Greenstone road maintenance £2732 3s 6d. Besides these the Arahura bridge has had to be repeatedly lengthened, at a very heavy cost. The liabilities of the Council this day are :—-Bank overdraft,-£1231; current contracts, £727" •■ sundry small liabilities, £272; making a total of £2250. The assets are £llOT>, thus leaving the total liabilities at £1150: Then, again, the toll-gates have been removed, subsidies for rotes discontinued, and the borough revenue taken away! And here I may say, in a few words, that statements have been put in eircu*

latum regarding the indebtedness of the" Council that are false from beginning to end—the Council was never, finan-' ci-.Uly speaking, in a sounder state than it is at present— thanks to the good management of the Council ;>s a whole i and I think the County Council d* series credit instead of being misrepresented and maligned. And then the" cry is got tip by persons who do no§ know what they are talking about-J What has the County done - ftfr the district? what money has it spent? t have given figures which defy contradiction,- and that proves a great deal has been done j and the Coffncil would do more did its limited means allowsomething like £20,000 spent in oneriding • and costly works are now iu band for the district. And now, decide" the borough question as best you can i it is in the hands of the ratepayers. On behalf of the members of the County Council I will undertake to say that they want no special pleading, they watit rio coercive afgument,- nor do they want any plan of circumventing the 1 people as to whether the borough stands or falls. We do not want to* merge witbotft yolir will'. The Council say if it is to be removed, the revenue* would be apportioned on fair terms. I know there are other ratepayers who" entertain opinions diiferent to my own> if merging ia not necessary, retain your borough.—[Hear, hear,] He thauked them for their indulgent hearing.— [Applause.] It had been mooted that this movement was for the purpose of creating a new county. The object isto save too much government.—[Applause.] The Chairman said" there were ntf doubt two sides to the question. If looked like cowardice that the other' side did not come forward.—[Applause]/ He we are fooling away our abilities. [Laughter and applause.] The town is* one squsre mile", and costs £I6OO. The' County is 167 miles, aind costs only' £lo,oool—[Applause} Mr BarFf repudiated the assertion 1 that the opposition could be accused of cowardice. At the very commencement, he was opposed to the formation of a borough and council, One gentleman talked about his uncles, and his cousins, and his He would say most distinctly theopinion of the ratepayers ought to have been taken.—[Applause.) Oue ihing i D the resolution was peculiar amd a-lraosg miraculous, that the steps taken by the Council were " wise!" At the preseng time the Government are preparing a most comprehensive scheme of local self-government.; We should' wait and see wha-t this scheme is.—[Applause.] 1 A digest of it has already appeared itf the morning papers. This calling a meeting after the matter has been settled is a farce. W& shall be sacrificed if y as the Chairman we get " submerged,"—[Lh lighter and applause.] Mr Seddon remarked that the argument that a sclieme was being prepared! by Grovernnsent applied equally to his 4 resolution, as it would leave us free ta grasp at anything favorable to the community, instead of having our hands tied as by a borough. The Chairman then* put the resolution to the meeting; and declared it carried. Of course there were a lan»e number who, not being ratepayers o/ the borough, did not vote.Mr D. Hanmn then camte' forward and said, the resolution' hfcving been! carried, it was necessary to follow it up* by another. He would now move— That whereas the welfare of the re->-sidents within the borough chiefly depends 3 on ths prosperity- of the miners, in the? opinion of this meeting those who wish to* retain the borough are acting in a manner detrimental to themselves and injurious l to the miners of Kuroara and surrounding districts, That if a petition be sent up by them to Ms Excellency praying for* the retention of the borough, that the chairman of- this meeting be requested tocommunicate with the Government, with? a view of ascertainingtheft-names and the 5 value of property held by them in the borough.

The motion was seconded by Mr Montgoraiefy. The Chairman put the 1 motion to the 1 meeting, and declared it carried.

A vote of chants to the Chairman' terminated the proceedings.-