MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 3,000 Copies Daily. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21, 1904. THE KAIRANGA COUNTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7913, 21 September 1904, Page 4

MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 3,000 Copies Daily. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21, 1904. THE KAIRANGA COUNTY.

It is a healthy sign to find ratepayers in a Borough or County giving local affairs their earnest attention, for while they are brought .more into touch with matters affecting their own interests, their energy usually results in the requirements of a district receiving careful attention. The Kairanga County supplies a case in point, keen interest in, its affairs having been aroused by the series of meetings held to protest against—in the opinion of the Taonui riding ratepayers — the high ratesassessed this year by. the County Council. The result of the several meetings held was a preliminary expression of opinion at a meeting of the County Council in favour of a lower rate, a special meeting yet having to be held before the rate now proposed is struck. The meetings, however, have had another result, viz., a request from ratepayers of the Taonui Riding for the partition of the Riding on the ground that their valuation entitles them to additional representation on the County Council. The petitioners state that the valuation of the Taonui Riding is d 91,136,629. • and the Fitzherbert Riding £492,778.7 The, Taonui Riding has five representatives on the! Council and the Fitzherbert Riding three. On their valuation ratepayers in the former riding consider they are greatly under-represented, residents of the Stony Creek and Bunnythorpe districts, in particular, contending they should have a representative on the Council. In support •of their."desire a petition was presented to the County Council meeting yesterday praying that the Taonui riding should be subdivided, -which would give them a better opportunity of obtaining thenwish. There was no opposition shown to the proposal in the Council, members generally agreeing that tlie wider repre- , sentation would be conducive to the best interests ■ of-the county in that, .particularly, the whole of the ratepayers would be directly represented. It" is understood the petitioners are in favour of subdividing the riding into six wards but the members of the Council thought one subdivision would be ample. In the latter case there would be an in-j crease of one member on the Council, but the whole question as to the number of new members to be added to the Council depends on the decision of the Council when the question is finally determined hi March next, as is necessary by the provisions of the Counties Act, which regulates the periods when matters of this nature are dealt with. It is understood that the subdivision

that will find most favour. with the' present. County.Council is the '■ natural one 'formed by''the Rangitikei Line, which separates the Taonui Riding in its" upper and lower portions. The present | members of the Council hold office till November, 1905, so'that they* with the addition .of the councillor to be elected; in place of Cr H. J. Manson, will decide the' whole question. There seems little doubt that the proposal will be sanctioned.