NEW RIDING.

Patea Mail, 9 August 1881, Page 3

NEW RIDING.

At the monthly meeting of the County Council, Mr Bridge mooted the formation of a new Riding north of Hawera, to give settlers in the new district a proportionate representation on the County Council. He said : I saw a letter in the paper the other day, from Mr Marchant, suggesting that we should form a new Riding for the Waimate and Ngaire districts. It may be said that the Hawera portion of the County has petitioned the House to make a separate County, but it does not follow that a new County will be constituted. That petition may be thrown out. Mr Partridge : I see it is done and gazetted. Mr Bridge ; No ; if the Governor’s proclamation is not objected to in Parliament, that proclamation will take effect as soon as the session is over. Until the session terminates, we may not know whether Hawera will be made a separate County or not. I think we should increase the number of representatives, in the northern district by making a new Riding, and the present would be an opportune time, as the elections take place next December. At any rate we might take preliminary steps, and if the new County is formed we need not go any farther ; and if not, we can proclaim a new Riding. The Act prescribes that the Council may constitute a new Riding, but we cannot have more than nine representatives oh the Council, and we should have to alter the present allotment of members to Ridings. Chairman : The same letter has been under my notice, and I did go into jv scheme the other day as to altering certain boundaries. If the petition for a new County is not granted, I think we should make a change not only by appointing say one member up north, but also make certain changes in this direction. For instance, I think Waverley would be overrepresented according to population. It would be for consideration whether two members would not do for the Waverley Riding, and then extend the Otoia Riding say to Tongahoe ; then make a new Riding for the bush country around Ngaire, and then one for Waimate. If the matter were left till next meeting, we should be in a better position to deal with it. I fancy Waimate would be entitled to two members as against Hawera one, supposing the town of Hawera to be a separate municipality. If Waimate should remain a portion of this County, it will always find myself willing to do it. justice. I consider that in this Waimate Road Board question, the action taken by certain persons was for party motives. So far as I can see, the action taken by this Council has been endorsed by the new Road Board. I understand that the plans for roads made by our Engineer have been accepted and worked upon by the new Board. The Board gave a very short time for tenders, and the Star says a longer notice was not necessary because the matter was known to most intending tenderers for the same road works under the County Council. Although this Council tried to do that work quickly, and although accused of not knowing what we were doing, still it seems our plan has been adopted, and that shows we were on. the right couse. Mr Horner : I would suggest that a notice of motion be given for bringing this Riding question on at next meeting. Mr Bridge ; It is necessary to have anotice of motion. The question will be resolved at one meeting, and will come up for confirmation at the following meeting. Mr Brewer : It would be more judicious to wait. Mr Partridge : I think so. We shall have plenty of time after the session before the elections in December. Mr Bridge : I merely brought the matter under the notice of the Council to-day. I have not power to do more to-day, if I were so inclined. Notice can be given before next meeting. Chairmafi : I have gone into the matter, and shall be prepared to come to an understanding with members, and give notice of motion. The l,o is a petition going on now to make Hawera a borough ; and taking that town out of the rating district of the County, you will find the Hawera Riding would not be entitled to more than one member. The subject dropped.