GOLDEN JUBILEE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19997, 14 January 1927, Page 7

GOLDEN JUBILEE.

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL. CELEBRATIONS AT LAWRENCE. A MEMORABLE GATHERING. SPEECH BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. IMPERIAL AFFAIRS REVIEWED.

Wednesday. was a memorable day in the history ci the Tuapeka County Council inasmuch as it marked the completion of 50 years’ service in the interests of the ratepayers. During that long term the council has done a remarkable amount of work in the way of developing the district, and as years go on it will, no doubt, accomplish a great deal more. In order to mark the occasion in a fitting manner a dinner was held at Lawrence on Wednesday night. There was a very large attendance, and amongst those present were a number of distinguished guests. The chair was occupied by Mr A. G. Leary (Chairman of the County Council).

CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. In a few introductory remarks the chairman expressed pleasure at seeing so many people present. He took it as a compliment to the council that the invitations had been accepted so freely. He wished to express regret at the fact that the grand old man of the council—Mr F. Oudaille—was unable to be present. Mr Oudaille, who was 100 years old last August, joined the council when it came into existence, and held the position of chairman for five vears. The Chairman intimated that Miss Mary Downie Stewart, Sir George Fenwick, Mr J. H. Waigth, Mr A. S. Herbert, Mr G. S. Edie, Mr W. Quin, Mr M'Lean, Mr H. Craig, and Mr E. Ottrey were unable to be present. .TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL The toast of the Tuapeka County Council was proposed by the Hon. G. J. Anderson, who referred to the fact that he arrived in Lawrence in 1862, a few months after Mr Knight. The county system arose out of the abolition of the provinces, which was a favourite idea of Sir George Grey. Sir Gaorge bitterly opposed the abolition of the provinces and the formation of the county councils. In moving the adaption of the Bill for the iflormation of councils Sir Julius Vogel made a very fine speech. There was a fine row over the question of boundaries. After outlining the proposals contained in the Bill Air Anderson said that at the first meeting of the Tuapeka County Council the banks were asked to quote a rate of interest on an overdraft of £SOOO, and the best offer they could get was 8 per cent. There was a provision in the Bill for raising special loans, but that was thrown i out by the Legislative Council. Sir George I Grey next proposed to separate the islands, and there were still hints of a similar movement to-day. He could remember the time when the South Island carried the North Island on its back. After the Bill was passed trouble arose in connection with the formation of county councils and the selection of county headquarters, but there was no trouble in Lawrence, and he understood that there had_ been no serious trouble since. If the original suggestion that watersheds should form the boundaries had been adopted the Tuapeka County would have lost a very valuable ratine area. Tuapeka was one of the first county councils and it was one of the largest and most progressive in New Zealand. In responding to the toast, the Chairman said the first meeting of the council was held on January 4, 1877, anil the second on January 17 of the same year. It was at the second meeting that Mr J. J. Woods was appointee! clerk—(Applause.) The first engineer was Mr Johnson and he understood that he was a first-class engineer in every respect. On November 8, 1877, Mr Fraser, who was present that night, was elected to the council. In 1878 the total rates collected amounted to £1930, in 190 i thev were £2193. and in 1826 they had risen to £15,356. lire increase could be accounted for in several ways. The increased cost of administration had been very marked. For instance, the wages bill increased by 62 per cent./ between 1915 and 1925 and the salaries ot the administrative officers had increased by 72 per cent, in the same period. The increase was due in a large measure to the demand for better roads. In 1880 the gold revenue amounted to £4877, so that the gold winners in those days were responsible for finding practically four-fifths of the council's revenue. In 1900 the gold revenue had decreased to £2104, and to-day it was only £176. They were very much indebted to the early councillors and their successors for the conservative way in which they carried on the business of the council. The present council was in the happy position of having a loan indebtedness of only £5235 and bv 1940 that would be wiped out completely. The total cost of administration was 7.42 per cent, of the revenue which was very favourable when compared with the position of other county councils. He was sure that there were very few counties where the percentage was so low There were 1000 miles of road in the countv, 300 miles of which were metalled. 300 were formed, and 400 were unformed. The conditions had changed very much in recent years, and the every-increasmg use of motor cars bad led to a demand for better roads., The problem was how to maintain good roads, and that was one that had not yet been solved. The Alain Highways Board had dong splendid work, and ho was quite, satisfied that if it, had not been for the assistance given by that body t be "'ain Highways would not be in the condition they were in to-day. He thought the time would come when the whole cost of reading would hove to come from some other source than the ratepayers. At one time the traffic was all local, but, now ** was practically all foreign, and for what little local traffic there was the farmers were paying their share of the money to the councils through the Main Highways Board. He was sure the motorists were unite prepared to be taxed for the maintenance of the mam highways, _ provided they were getting value for their money. He would like to pay a tribute to the members of the present council ”bey were a verv fine body of men, and he had always found that they were out to do t hrir‘ level Vest for the ratepayers. Air J K. Simpson, who also responded ‘ tc the toast, stated that he had served on local bodies in the district for more than 30 years. He was elected to toe Tuapeka County Council in 1896 and to the Hospital Board in 1897. He vwas chairman of the County Council in 1900. He had also served for many years on the Borough Council, and ns Mayor ot the town. He had always tried to_ do ins best. The responsibilities and importance of the council as a local body had greatly increased during the last 30 years. In 1897 the total rateable value of the property within the boundaries of the county was £2,363,190. This represented an increase of no less a sum than £1,541,424 In 1896 the total rates levied were £2/164 at three-farthings in the pound. -Now the rate was doubled to • £14,/ 66. ■pbus the councillors had nearly six times as much. money as their predecessors in 1896 to spend, wise or otherwise. He felt quite confident that the Ipeal bodies of the district and the rate-

payers they represented would during the next 50 years deal as wisely and prudently with financial and other matters as they had done during the past 50 years. We are proud of our record in the past. So far as the County Council was concerned, most of the goodwill and co-operation had been due to the business ability of their respected and esteemed county clerk, Air J. J. Woods. The ratepayers, residents, and local bodies of tno district owed him much, and one* ould not say too much in praise of the zeal, energy, industry, and knowledge that he had put into his work, or of tire urbanity and courtesy he had shown to all and sundry during the half-century which had elapsed since he began his official career. THE BRITISH EMPIRE. The toast of "The British Empire” was proposed by Mr J. B. M‘Kinlay, who expressed pleasure at the presence of such a distinguished guest as Mr James Allen. The speaker said Sir James could be best described as one of our great Empire builders, and one could not help being proud of belonging to the Empire when we had such a man to represent us. ADDRESS BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. Sir James Allen said it was a joy to him to return to New Zealand, and particularly to his old electorate. He was specially pleased to return to Lawrence, but there were regrets because many of his old friends had passed away and their places had been taken by younger men. He had been deeply interested to view the monument to the fallen soldiers who had laid down their lives for the well-being of the Empire. The deeds of those who had gone before were an inspiration to people to dare and do and build up the Empire. At the Imperial Conference in 1923 the problems were much the same as they were in 1926. In 1923 the Canadian delegate (Mr Mackenzie King) was a very strong Imperialist. He was not so sure about General Smutts, who was a charming gentleman. The Imperial constitution was not written, but it was a thing that developed from time to time os events arose. In 1923 Mr Mackenzie King knew that the safety of Canada depended on adherence to the British Empire. Mr Amery was wise enough to create a Dominion Office which dealt solely with the dominions, and there was also a Colonial Office. Since then there had been a remarkable growth of Imperial feeling. New Zealand was fai away, and did not realise the difficulties in regard to conferences, but the time was coming when something would have to be done in the way of holding round-table conferences, which should be held very frequently. New Zealand must be represented in London to enable these conferences to be held. The discussions by the High Commissioners at Mr Amery’s office had been very valuable, and they had enabled them to realise the difficulties confronting the Empire. The High Commissioners had met regularly and had discussed Imperial prob lems, and it was his privilege to prepare a list of the subjects to be discussed at the recent Imperial Conference. If nothing else had been done than had been done in regard to General Hertzog, the Confer cnee would have been a great success. General Hertzog had gone back to South Africa thoroughly imbued with the idea of adhering to the EmEmpire and with the Imperial spirit. Mr Mackenzie King had gone back to Canada with a strengthened resolve to stick to the Empire, and the president of the Irish Free State had also been impressed by the Conference. The difficulties facing the Empire were very largely misunderstand-/ mgs among ourselves and with foreign nations with whom we were in relationship. The first misunderstandings might be dissipated by solidity within the Empire and constant round-tho-table conference between representatives of the Mothei Country and the dominions. A High Commissioner had to place aside party politics for the benefit of the dominion as a whole. If he differed from his PrimeMinister, his immediate resignation was most advisable. The bonds of Empire were to-day stronger than they were three months ago. During his term of office a. High Commissioner he had been acquainted with representatives of foreign countries. At the League of Nations Assembly New Zealand voted as a separate entity; ana, although the Dominion differed in minor questions, sho voted with Great Britain on important matters. The foreign countries know of the* influence possessed in the world by the Empire. The Empire delegation to the Assembly worked quietly, and the influence grew year by year Much of the good done was due to the high ideals of such men as Lord Balfour 1 and Lord Robert Cecil, whoso work had j been carried on by Sir Austen Chamber- ; lain. j *T cannot conclude without saying something about the enormous value to the world of the influence of the British Empire in dealings with foreign peoples uf its own dominions and territories,” said Sir James. “I think it will bo admitted throughout the world that no nation or organisation can deal with native or tropical questions with the same experience I and justice as we do in Great Britain, and though you may find, as wo find to-day,' j Great Britain subject, apparently to eriti- | cism by Chinese, believe me, if I know anything about it, we have only to live quietly through that criticism and never lose our heads. Thanks to Heaven, Groat Britain has not lost her head with China in all these differences, and has not used force and rifles to do something to enable a cry to be raised in China w'hich would create a very much more hostile view towards Great Britain, not only by those sections supporting China, but the world generally.” There was no possibility of coming to a conclusion on the Chinese question. Sir James asked what was the power in China to-day of Mr Wellington Koo, who was friendly towards Britain. The Peking Government controlled Northern China, and Canton and Uangkow were controlled by any Government or army. Until China’s internal difficulties were settled Great Brittain could do nothing more than exercise profound patience, and should not take any action that might, and would, he wrongly interpreted by those who wished to do Great Britain harm. In time China would settle

it* difficulty, and the endurance of the scoffing and injustice heaped on Britain would bo rewarded. “The League of Nations has recognised that cliques have formed among some of the nations, and that these are dangerous,’’ Sir James stated “We recognise that politics and policies change. If Great Britain and the Empire are to exercise any greater force and influence at the League of Nations Assembly and elsewhere. we must get down to bedrock — instil into the minds of the individual people representing the Empire the ideals of right, justice, and determination to do the right thing, and let the world know wo are not out for laudation of ourselves, but to serve our own country and those who belong to other countries. I beg you to remember that, however big these international and Imperial problems are, you have to get down to the men and women of your own country with the ideals of justice and truth before you can get the world purified as we would wish it to be.’’ NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT. The toast of the Now Zealand Parliament was proposed by Mr John Edie, who expressed the opinion that the New Zealand Parliament would compare with any Parliament in the Empire. Tn Sir James Allen they had a local product who had represented the Dominion with honour not only in New Zealand, but also as High Commissioner. He was sure that during the war the New Zealand soldiers were second to none and that they represented the backbone of the country. The Hon. Mr Anderson said that if Parliament was a reflex of the people and if it was a reflex of those present it must be a jolly good Parliament. The Tuapeka district had sent somo exceedingly able men to Parliament, and some of them would leave their names on the scroll of fame, including Sir James Allen, who was a groat credit to the Dominion. Messrs Horn, Dickson. and Waito, M.P.’s, also responded to the toast. EX-COTTNCILLOES. The toast of “Ex-councillors” was proposed by Mr John Bennetts, who referred to the enormous amount of work done by councillors for nothing. There had been' some fine men amongst the ex-coun-cillors, and they had done excellent work, whose efforts would >e remembered for a long time. The speaker paid a tribute to the work of Mr Woods, who had made duty his ideal, and who had carried out his duties superbly. The same remarks applied to the ex-councillors. Mr R. A. Rodger said he was very pleased to re-visit Lawrence and to do honour to Mr Woods. It was pleasing to note that such fine service to the ratepayers was fittingly recognised. The old councillors did yeoman service in establishing lines of communication throughout the country. The people to-day were reaping the rewards of their labours. At one time a visit to Lawrence for a meeting of the council occupied nearly a week. It had always been a pleasure to him to attend the meetings of the council. It should be a duty and a pleasure to anyone to render service to the other fellow. He would strongly recommend anyone who could do so to put in service as a member of a local bodv. Men like Crs Bennetts and Simpson deserved great credit for the way they had cr.rried on for so many years. / . . Mr Alex. Fraser said he arrived in New Zealand in 1861, and was at Gabriel’s Gully a month after the rush. At that time Tuapeka was a wilderness, and but for the discovery of gold it would probably have remained a pastoral country. Lawrence was then regarded as the capital of the goldfields country, and it was probably still the capitalMr P. MTnerney said he had never been guilty of a long speech, and he was not going to be guilty thqt night. He believed that the cost of the maintenance of hosiptals should be borne by the Government and not by the ratepayers. The ratepayers were keeping hospitals going all over the country, but the Government had means of collecting money that no local body had. The ex-councillors had done great work for the country. He would like to pay a tribute to Mr Edie for his work as engineer, especially in connection with the construction of bridges. The speaker also referred in appreciative terms to the work done by Mr Woods. KINDRED LOCAL BODIES. The toast of “Kindred Local Bodies” was proposed by, Mi D. M’Lennau, who said he admired the charitable spirit of Mr Woods. Mr W. E. S. Knight expressed his great pleasure in attending the celebrations and in honouring Mr Woods. The speaker said he arrived in the district in 1862, and in 1906 he was appointed to the County Council, becoming chairman very soon afterwards. Since 1911 he had been a member of the Hospital Board, of which he had now been chairman for 10 years. It was his experience as a member of the Tuapeka County Council that gave him confidence to stand for the Hospital Board. The Hospital Board had been against a borrowing policy so far, but he was afraid that a change must be made in the near future. There were essentia! services which must be paid for, and the board found itself running into debt owing to increasing salaries, equipment, etc. There was a desire to see the Dunedin Hospital the leading hospital in the Dominion. but that meant heavy expenditure. There were no fewer than 13 institutions under the board’s control, and the costs were mounting up. There must be a borrowing policy, but what did that moan? It meant that interest and sinking fund would have to be paid. The expenditure was mounting up, and there was no doubt that the rates would have to be increased in the near future. Mr J. L. Rooney (Mayor of Roxburgh) -aid he would like to compliment the Tnapeka County Council on the present condition of the roads. He had heard people say that the Tuapeka County roads compared favourably with other roads in the Dominion. The present state of affairs was very different from what prevailed in the past. Mr Bennetts had been a member nf the Countv Council for over 30 years and had never missed a meeting except • through illness and that was not often. The speaker referred to the great possibilities of the Roxburgh power station and the extension of the railway to Roxburgh, the hitter being largely due to tbe efforts of Mr John Bennetts. The Roxburgh Borough jubilee would be celebrated next August, and he honed to see their notable visitors present at that gathering. Mr James Ritchie said the Tuapeka County Council had made great strides in the last 50 years, and he hoped it would make greater strides in the next 50 years. The road between Lawrence and Roxburgh was a credit to the county and he thought it would be an object lesson to other counties. The speaker referred to the question nf T.tt. cases. Until a few years ago only the North Canterbury and Otago Boards had made a serious effort to deal with the problem, fn the last few years eight boards had combined to erect a sanatorium at Waipiatn at a cost of £BO,OOO, whereas on the other hand two institutions were established by the Government in the North Island. This was a national matter, and he hoped the Government would remember that. He mentioned that 90 per cent, of the patients at Waipiata had been discharged with the disease arrested. MINING INTERESTS. The toast of “Mining Interests” was proposed by Mr Horn, who said he regarded the toast as one of the most important in the Lawrence district. The Gabriel’s Gully district was the first payable district opened in the South Island, and but for that discovery the development of this area would have been delayed for 100 years. There was plenty of gold to be won, but the cost of getting it was too heavy. The day would come, however, when all tbe old mining areas would bo worked up again. He was proud to say that he was a pioneer in the dredging industry. Mr W. R. Smyth expressed the opinion that the mining industry had been responsible for sending the district ahead. The pioneers were men nf grit and ability, and the work they had done had transferred Central Otago from a wilderness to a paradise. The decline of the mining industry was to be regretted, but that was largely a legacy of the war. The industry could not pass on the extra cost of production. There ,vcre still tremendous possibilities in the vicinity of Lawrence. At Blue Spur and Wctherstonos there were great fields awaiting development, and it was the duty of the Gnverni. jnt to see that it was reserved for mining purposes. He was very hopeful that there would be a revival of the industry, which would benefit Lawrence and the whole of New Zealand. The toast of the “Public Works Department” was proposed by Mr f. 1). Revie, who referred to the assistance given to the local bodies by the Public Works Department. The Tuapeka County Council had received every assistance- from the Public Works Department, and this was largely due to the work of Mr Marks, who understood the needs of the local bodies. Mr Marks complimented the council on its progressive spirit in its effort to adopt

up-to-date methods in regard to road improvement. The progress made had been remarkable, and in introducing the latest machinery the council and its engineer were to be congratulated. The relations between the Public Works Department had been very happy and in no case had they been happier than with the Tuapeka County Council OTHER TOASTS. The other toasts honoured were “The Ladies” (proposed by Mr J. Cameron, and responded to by Mr Murney), “The Press” (proposed by Mr T. Pilling and responded to by Mr J Norrie), and the Chairman” (proposed by Mr Anderson). During the evening several musical items were given, and the selections met with a very favourable reception. COUNCILLORS AND EXCOUNCILLORS. The following is a list of the councillors and ex-councillors: —Horace Bastings, Jas. Bonnet, James C. Brown, Jas. Buchanan, Jas. B. Borton, Jas. K. Brown. John Bennetts, Henry C. Clayton, Robert Cotton, George Cockburn, Robert G. Cotton, Wm. Cameron, John Eclie, Alex. Fraser, Wm. Honnor, Samuel Henry. George ITowat, J F Herbert, John Herbert, John Inghs, John F. Kitohing. F. W Knight, W. E. S Knight, John E. Keenan, Wm Livingston, A. C. Leary, David H. Mervyn Wm. D. Morrison, John Michael. John M’Farlane, Alex. M’Nab, P. MTneirney, D. M’Lennan. R. Macdonald, E. Murney, Francis Oudaille, E. Ottrey, Wm. Osborne. G. F. B. Poynter, Jas. Ritchie, John Rose. Robert A. Rodger, lan D. Revie, Jas. Rodger, Jas. Sim, Wm. Sheath. Jas. B. Rim Geo. H. Rtewart, J. K. Simpson, R. M, Smith, Edward Tubman, Geo. S. Walker and Robt. Wood. The members of the present council are Councillors A. C. Leary (chairman), John Bennetts, R. G. Cotton. Wm. ( amcron, D. M’Lennan, R. Macdonald, E. Murney, I. D. Revie and J. K. Simpson.