THE BOROUGH AND THE RATEPAYERS. TO THE EDITOR.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8165, 20 April 1895, Page 3

THE BOROUGH AND THE RATEPAYERS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — What have tho Council clotio now ? Somo of them met tho other night, and in solemn conclave discussed certain nppeals now beforo tho Court. The Magistrate had hinted in Court that those appeals not heard might bo arranged on the decisions given. Some councillors, however, who have no properties — only leaseholders — with their proverbial wisdom, decided that certain cases must and shall go before the Court i The expense incurred thereby will of course cost theso councillors nothing, bub fall on thoso who hold a freehold section. I have also heard that the solicitor has had a bad qualve (Vliettfo through not calling evidence in the elevator oaso, This, however, is a compliment to the solicitor's intelligence and common senso in commodities decidedly at a premium among certain councillors. 1.0 U.D. April 18th,

The Christohurch Press days : A now Local Government Bill to bo introduced next session has been promised by more tliau one Minister, and has been roferred to by several members in their post sessional uddresses. Rumors of its proviiions have reuched vi, and we understand they are likely to include the sweeping away of all existing county, borough, and municipal councils, all road boards — and, in fact, all existing machinery from local self-govern-ment, and tho substitution of four local bodies for the whole colony, whicli shall exercisp all the powers that tho general Government do not care to retain. There is, wo believe, every probability that the new proposals will be in the main bucli as we have foreshadowed, and this probability gathers force from tho fact that at the leccnt meeting of municipal delegates to tho conference in Wellington a. resolution was carried m to the futility of continuing tho j»9*tifl{j» In tho f*9of *90 of the jJoiiiblUty of »U

municipalities being soon reformed out of existence. At nil events, it was decided by tlio delegates to postpone futuro meetings till the new Bill was ciioulatcd. One feature of the Hill, it is reported, will bo to givo the f much iso, and with it the power to levy rates and taxes, to every resideut of three mouths ia the colony.