A VOICE FROM OTAKI.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 92, 5 September 1877, Page 3

A VOICE FROM OTAKI.

TO THE EDITOE. Sib, — Of late the residents m this district have been placedin a somewhat curious position, and they have even now some difficulty to see their way clear ahead. Perhaps you are not aware that for the last fivo years wehave been outwardly a ward included within the Manawatu Highways District.; bat owing to Native difficulties the district was never assessed, consequently we never became ratepayers, nor havo we reaped the advantages springing from i local self government, which no doubt i accounts for our very backward position compared with' other younger communities, possessing no greater natural ad--1 vintages than we do. Sometime ago a step was taken by the Manawatu Highways Board to relieve us from our awkward position. A valuator was sent down here for the purpose of making a a valuation of this ward ; the outcome of which is a notice to pay rates, which of course was fully expected. Now cdmes our dilemma, and perhaps you can tell us how to act under the circumstances, as we have no desire to do anything unjust or underhand', 7 which is more than some of our friends can say who live not more than a hundred miles from our County seat of Government. A petition has been sent down here by some zealous friend, who wishes us to ask to be taken into the mystic circle of countyism ; and who has cut and dried everything to suit his view of the case to a nicety ; the sole object m view being to ' prevent us from connecting ourselves with the Highway Board system. His view of the case may be a correct one, bub after thinking quietly over the matter, it does seem to a "number of us m this forsaken place, that we will be acting with more real wisdom if wetake the necessary steps to form ourselves into a Highway Board, thereby at' once ' securing all the advantages offered m our local laws. We have repeated opportunities of ' witnessing the rapid strides made m trth'er parts of the province by wisely uftlJyuig'fchepowers conferred by " Highways" and other Local Acts, and. it does seem that more good is'likely to accrue if we adopt them-thau by allowing ourselves to b 6 drawn into the affectionate embrace of our niurh talked of County Council — who, by the way, seems to have succeeded most admil ably m spreading discord throughout the land. We would like to know how it is that this petition has been sent down here' so quietly, as' there has never been any discussion m any of the Council meetings about the position of Otaki to warrant any such step being taken by any one. And so'far as I know, the residents 1 here have no desire to sign the petition, Jribr will one half of them-really know what! they are doing if they do sign it. The' niatter'l firmly believe is purely Foxton, and as such ' can - never benefit Otaki m a commercial' point of view. 'Our leading idea is, .and lias been for some considerable'time past; to get v connected witli Wellington on the one side, ,and Palmerston, Wanganui, &c, on'th'e'other side ; and we feel confident" that it r is only a matter of time; as we know the scheme i^now being ventilated m Wellington. Thanks to the energy of the settlers m the ' Palmerston district, who have done with it as they do with other .matters, stepped boldly out by sending a petition to the Government, asking it to consider the advisability' of making a West Coast line of railway, to connect' the whole of the West Coast with the Empire City. Now, Mr Editor, that is' just -what we want, and if „ ,we can get it, Foxton may quietly look after us, but not for us, ' as our connections with that seaport will be extremely small. In the meantime we will look suspiciously on all such petitions emanating from the ' county* town, well knowing the spirit that prompts the whole affair ; or perhaps we may find ourselves m a similar position to that of Feilding, but left without the chance of getting our freedom. I think our best course* is to hold on, and take advantage of the appearances of the times. In the mean time I> suppose we will have to pay, rates, and/ try< to get the luxury of a member to .represent us m the Road Board. He will now have something to do, as our district will show some revenue, a thing we have never shewn m times past. I may say a great number of our lately mauufactured ratepayers had-serious objections to pay rates, and on the first appearance of the Collector, intimated their intention not to pay until compelled. -He did' his best to make ,out a good cause, .and requested the ratepayers to meet him m the schoolhouse m the evening for the purpose of discussing the /pros and cons. A»notice "was written out and .posted up, inviting ratepayers to attend the meeting. There was a good number there, and the busi--1 ness commenced by voting Mr Hadfield > to the chair. ( A large number of questions, some .rather strange ones, were put to.Mr, Linton,. whd answered them so , completely, .and satisfactorily, that be-

fore the meeting separated, it was resolved to pay the rates due, and get a suitable gentleman elected to represent the district at the Highway Board, and ultimately arrange for a separate Highway district. Taking all things into ! consideration it was most fortunate that 1 Mr Linton arranged a meeting, as from his long expeiiem-e m connection with the working of the Highways system, I he was just the perron to explain many . things that were surrounded with darkness to us. The meeting concluded by moving a vote of thanks to Mr Linton for his ai tendance and information, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman of the meeting. Hoping you will pardon this long trespass on your columns and allow me the same piivelege some other time, — I am, &c, ' Adieu.