HAMILTON.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 422, 10 May 1877, Page 3

HAMILTON.

(Erom a correspondent.)

I noticed in your last week's issue, among other matters of importance to the district, that tho County Council has adopted the whole Act for no other reasons than th'at the roads wanted looking after, and that the County was very much in need of a public pound to save General Stanley tho trouble ot driving cattle to Macraes ; and also that some one offered a safe to keep tho County revenu6 in, which latter (the money I mean) I think themembers could carry in their breeches' pockets and pay the roadmen as they go along.

Now, what are the facts of the matter ? In the first place, when the Councillors were elected every one was dead against the County Act. What some of them advocated was to remain as they were, and be ready at any time, in the event of Separation or a return to our old system of yore, and thus let the present Government sec that at least one district was loyal to the principle that was maintained from the start, which was as follows : That the country was too thinly populated to be formed into counties, for the simple reason that the road lines alone would absorb all and more than the revenue that could be raised. Let us suppose for instance that the revenue of this county is £3400 (that is without rates, and I cannot see where it will come from even at that), and the length of road lines in the district 200 miles, and that one man be employed on every five miles to keep the same in repair, and do all carting, or one man in ten miles, say at Bs. per diem, would be £2490, besides County Inspector, £250; County Chairman, £250; County Engineer; .1250; County Clerk, £250; which would make a total of £324(3 sterling. Where is tho money to come from without rating property? I will venture to say' that before six months there will be either an overdraft at the bank or a shilling rate struck. . In any case tlie County Act is not popular here. Tho people of Puketoi fully endorse Mr. Williamson's view of the matter, and I am very proud that one at least of our County Councillors does not change with every wind that blows. It is nothing uncommon to hear of a politician denouncing the Government one day and the next day becoming a Cabinet Minister. Such is life in the Colony, of New Zealand ! But then it may be asked—What could tbey-havc-donc ? I "answer" they" could have died, or called a noble reserve, which lat'ter they would have found in the peo pie. »■ The people were not crying .out about the roads ; it was a few business men that wanted the roads kept good to keep the price of.ca'rtage low. Could any of the members of the Council show that any thing is sold cheaper by having good roads ? Is not every article that is consumed in the district as dear now' as it was six years ago, with the exception of bread, and that one article is owing to competition lower, not to good roads ? Gould they not have starved out even the Government sooner than break faith with tho people? Or, could they not see the same, or read the.Act from the first just as well as now ? Surely it has not been altered since last session. They simply found out, in my opinion, there was some charm about handling the money. Local self government sounds fine, but the tax-gatherer won't sound so well when we have to put o:.r hands into our poc-. kets and improve in value the Crown lands by making roads for the benefit of the'up-country storekeepers, and building bridges for easy access,.so that perhaps in three years' time we will have to shell. I out £5 per acre for the very IzTnd'we have I improved. By the bye, speaking of taxes reminds mc of a poll tax in Auckland city. The poll tax gatherer started on his first mission with white hat and gloves to macch. At the first house he called at he dived his head in and demauded the tax. Thooccupantbappened to be aTippcrary woman, and it was washing day with her ; so, just as be dived in and demanded the poll tax, Bridget held in her band a piece of stick about two feet long, which she used for stirring the clothes. " What did j'ou say yon wanted " said she ? " Come, come, my good woman, I have not time for a joke to-day, I want poll tax.'' " You want poll tax, do you," said Biddy, "then be jabers you'll have it and plenty of it too; if this bit ot a stick stands." The first blow drove his hat over his eyes. He immediately made for the door, groped his way out, and ran for it, every^lrishwoman in Auckland after him paying poll tax. He never gathered any more taxes that way. You inay be sure he made a rise at it, if he did not .increase the doctor's revenue. I hope the County will go'; that safe, as it would be very handy for a public pound, and would be safer than at Macraes.