The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1880. PROPOSED ALTERATIONS IN THE COUNTY SYSTEM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 86, 22 June 1880, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1880. PROPOSED ALTERATIONS IN THE COUNTY SYSTEM.

1> It is an undeniable fact that the County system has not worlied -well since, its inaugm-ation ; and for this : various reasons may be assigned. It was. hastily conceived, and was intendedmore as a means of killing Provincialism than of really supplying local self-government to the Colony. It perpetuated Highways Boards and Road Boards, -which were in some respects similar to the County Councils ; and thus a two-fold set of machinery was created for doing what was really one work. It is therefore not to be* wondered at that the. system has not worked either smoothly or well. The dissatisfaction felt has not been loudly expressed, nor has it been canvassed in the leading journals of the Colony, for the reason that the writers in them have no opportunities of observing the working of the system of government which obtains outside ofthe Boroughs in which they live. Still the dissatisfaction has been none the less real. The Government recognise that certain amendments are necessary, as regards the financial arrangements of the Counties, as would be seen by the " new scheme of local finance " enunciated by Major Atkinson in his Financial Statement, and published recently in this journal. Still these amendments deal with only the financial aspect of the system, and leave untouched the anomalies and defects which are known to exist in the relations of the County Councils to the Boad Boards, and in the general powers of the Councils. The question has, however, been brought before •the House ot Bepresentatives by Mr Sutton, member for Napier, and though it is unlikely steps will be taken to amend the Counties Act during the present session, still the very fact that the attention of Parliament has been called to the matter will probably be a* most important step towards an improvement in the system, and will lead to full enquiry as to its effects. Subjoined is Mr Sutton's . motion, the consideration of which was adjourned for a week, .until the Government proposals in the Financial Statement have been considered : —

That, in order to assure the most effective system of local government at the least cosi of management, it is desirable that tinrelative positions of Counties and Roae' Boa ds should be put upon a more satisfactory footing: (I) That the Count. Aot be amended, and all Road Ho'ird or Highway Provinoial' 'cts repealed, nud Highway District** nbolished ; (2) That each County .ehali,be divided into Ridings, and each Hiding reconstituted into a Road Board ; (3) That the Road Board shall be the only rating body, and that its duties' shall be the construction and repair of all roads and drains within its borders, the construction of all small bridges, and all. otber works of local nature ; (4) That the County Council shall consist of the chairman of each Road Board, by virtue of bis position ; (5) That the revenue of the County shall be rents, licenses, fees, &c, at presen" payable, and a right to levy pro rata upor all the Road Boards for such further amounts aa may b > required ; (6) That th»dutios of the Council shall be construction of large bridges,,oßsisting the Road. Board-* by providing engineering assistance when frequired, to provide for tbe local contribution'to hospitals and charitable institutions, with power to alter boundaries of Ridings, and exercise a general supervision ovor the Road Boards ; (7) Tbat the Government be 1 requested to bring in a Bill during the [ session to give effect to these resolutions.

i It is not probable, we think, that the above scheme will be accepted- by the House, inasmuch as it perpetuates the dual system of local selfgovernment, which is useless, cumbrous, anil ■urweces^rily expeosiye. "Any "system Which" is to „cp*mmend itself to the country., must embrace the utterabo^tio^ of "felwEoad^b-irds, : if the CouflUeAWe.to. be. maintained. We shall watch with interest the debate oa Mx Sutton's motion.

A Suggestion-. — We would suggest than steps be taken to plant a belt of ornamental ,sh*ftult9^and.treeß around the Foxton School grounds.. .This, avo need hardly remind the townspeople, is tin* season for planting, and it "would ho in every way a very great advantage ii v tow pounds wero judioiously spept in the manner indicated. Many of the schoolchildren are of course compelled to travel a considerable distance, and are unable to go home during the lunoh hour. In a few years tho shrubs and trees, if planted, would afford very friendly shelter and abatfe to suoh, besides giving a handsome appearance to the Bchoolgrounds. Mr Hulke, we aro sure, would be extremely glad-^o* airect tho operations, and as the acceptance of r.ur suggestion wonld be a great benefit to " posterity," it is worthy of consideration.

Thb Voters' Roll. — We are continuing to receive the names of persons qualified to vote who desire to be registered. We xepeai.. ojk -iwDtatifi-o. to_uU v n registered persons who are qualified to call at the Hebald office, when their names will be taken.

Poem.— We have^received a copy of a poem in blank verse composed by the Rev. W. B. Marten, of Sandoo, and printed by a Wellington firm. The title of the brochure ig, "'Christ Weeping over Jerusalem,'' and the subject is. well worked out in a poem occupying over 60 pages. Mr Marten's style reminds us in ' places of the "Course of Time," but is far lees severe than Pol*, lock's. There are, of course, points to which exception might fairly be taken, but these"*" nre in matters of detail, and do not affect the general merit of the work, whioh undoubtedly proves tbat Mr Marten possesses the soul of a true poet. The price of the podm is only one shilling. '

Money Market.— The market continues well supplied with money in large sums, which is obtainable at 8; to 9 percent, upon very first-class securities. There is, however, a paucity of securities of this olass of fering, whilst there is a demand upon securities ofca lower class on which money i* not very readily obtainable it 9 to 10 por cent. There is also a gjod supply of money tbr discount of good commercial paper. Wellington. Price Uurre t.

Public Vaccivator. — Dr. Barber, L.R C.S., Ireland, is gazetted Public Vaccinator for the district of Foxton.

Railway Returns. — The railway returns for the four weeks ending M.iy 1 arepub r 'ished The. ri.'ceip's on the Wnnsnnui F xton line were £2,970, against -fi3,27-> f»r lhe corresponding period of last year. - The i<xpenßes of the line for the sime period were £1,981, or 60 70 per cent, of the re •oipts The rece ; pti pev mile of railway .(•••re £406, and the expenditure £271 pi-r mil**. Tlit* only line in I ! »e Colony n-Jjio.li •vas worked at a cheaper rite per mile than the local one was the New Plymouth, lli. expenses of which were £263, but against this must be placed the fact that wheeis the Foxton-WangMiiui line it 95 mile-* in length the New Plymouth lim* is only 33 miles long.

School Examinations.— By 'notice' dat«<l June 7, instant, tlio Minister of Education notifi-s that the following teaohers under the Wanganui. Education .Board hay* " pa*si'd in tlio subjects reg lirod to complet" former ez'iniuatioii," viz :— -Sarah Frances Roberta Bl.'th, *Roborfc Temple -Brown, Arthur Palmerston Burnham, Emma "ooper, Henry Hard wicke Dyer, Arthur Andrew Pearce England, -William Henry Harris, Ulement William Lee, Charles Henry Wilson Lock, Alexander Mair, Thomas Whaley Posfcans, Denis Quinlan, Francis Edward Watson.

local Board Works.— The Local Board have settled the much disputed matter of the road on to No. 1 Line ly cutting through the sandhill, . and avoiding Mr Gray's seeti* n. The cost of the work will be about £12. We heir the outting has been christened '** Puroell's Puss."

The Weather.— On Saturday and» Sunday a terrible thunderstorm raged in these districts, the thunder being at times deafen ing, and the lightning most vivid. The mate of the Jane Douglas steamer says that he saw more lightning in two honrs on Saturday evening tlian he had seen for ten years before, Yesterday morning the bad weather abated, and a beautiful day resulted.

Reclamation Contract. — Tenders are called for fenoing, snpply of manuka, &c, in connection with the above work.

Wanganui Steeplechase Meeting. — The abov* 1 meeting took plaoe on Saturday, and passed off very successfully. The fol lowing are the events and names of winners : — Wanganui Steeplechase, 175 soys — Kin*? Don, 1 ; Ada, 2 ; Old Ireland, 3. Maiden Steeplechase, 75 sova.-r-Eclipse, 1 ; Abolition, 2 ; Kangaroo, 3. Grand Stand Steeplechase, 60 soys. — Grey Momus, 1 ; f-Tard Times, 2; Matau, 3. Consolation. 30 soys.— Loch .Lomond, I ; Venture, 2 ; Matau, 3.

Railway. — We understand Mrßothernm has not reoeived further instructions a-» t> his removal from the management of the Wanganni-Foxton railway. The previous decision is probably being reconsidered.

Meeting of CRBoiTons — A meeti-ur. of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Henry Brown took i>l.;ee yesterday, Mr Loudon, triple, in the clnir. The tru'-'ee 'tiah* p statement as to the steps tuken to secure •uls'nndini/ 't'b's, frotn whioh it appear- tl rli^re wa9 very '■mill probv ility <>f ayvIhinsr beiug obtaine'! from that source, the whole of the claims being disputed. It »pt>e*red that the f >rmer trustee Hir Ciowther) had naid account** to T. Hut chison, solicitor, amounting to £22, whilst Mr Loudon had advanced £30 to Rult-r & Co., solicitors, to prevent certain legal proceedings already takei falling to'the ground. Ur Loudon also admitted that in all pro bability a further claim would be made by Mr Hutchison. Accounts amounting .to £78 were stated to be overhanging the estate, aa follow : — Trustee, advance tv Hutohison for Buller & Co., £30; V. G. Robinson, clerical assistance, £20,* 'us sell Bros., advertisina*, " £.5 13s: Stai'te. for legal services* to Brown in Bankruptcy Court, £23. To meet these accounts there was only £1 4s. It was also stated that actions were pending against Messrs Thyuue Linton k Op., and Mr TC. S. Thynne to wrest from them certain securities they held, but to carry on these further moneys would be wanted. The feeling of the meeting was unanimous against proceeding with these actions. Mr Thynne offered to pay his pwn lawyer's expenses, provided all litigation- were' stopped, release all claims against the estate, and pay £50 cash, provided a clear title were handed over to his firm for the* property on the Moutoa road, occupied by Mr Carrol, This proposal the whole of the creditors wero will ing to accept, exoept Mr Loudon, who '.'wished a guarantee from Messra Thynne, Linton & Co. that, thoy would not hold him responsible for his interest in the property. This Mt Thynne refused to give, and Mr London' 'therefore-* vfctoed the propocal, he having the majority of value. _ Thf proposition was therefore -carried in number, but lost in value. The meeting then separated, 1 'it* being understood the trustee was to spend any money available in suing defaulting debtors.