NEW COUNTY CONFERENCE.

Patea Mail, 12 October 1881, Page 3

NEW COUNTY CONFERENCE.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Hawera, Tuesday. A conference of chairmen of the Hawera, Waimate, and Ngaire Road Boards, was held at Mr Bate’s office yesterday. Mr Yorke, Chairman of the Waimate Board, was voted to the chair, and stated that a recommendation had been sent to the Colonial Secretary’s department that the ridings of the new County should be identical with the Road Districts, and it was for the conference to determine what should be the representation of each riding. It was not easy to decide upon what basis the representation should be calculated, whether value or number of ratepayers ; ho thought that both should be considered. Messrs Morrison (Hawera), and Marchant (Ngaire), concurred, and official data of the Road districts were produced, showing— Rateable value. Ratepayers. Hawera £11.700 281 Waimate. 1 6,150 225 Ngaire 1,177 136 These figures exclude Hawera town, and exclude all properties and ratepayers paying less than a total of 3s in a rate of Is in the pound. Mr Yorke pointed out that the Waimate valuation was very low ; that a large area of land had been sold since the list was first compiled, which would add 50 or 60 more to the number of ratepayers ; and he considered £12,000 would be a moderate estimate of the present rateable value of his district. Mr Merchant agreed that the rateable value shown by the valuators was not a safe guide, and said that in his district improved properties had been valued at 15s per acre ; whereas the lowest upset price for unimproved land was 20s per acre. Mr Morrison thought that these differences could be adjusted in the future. He would move “ That Hawera have four members, Waimate three, and Ngaire two.” There was no seconder. Mr Yorke was of opinion that it would be a better plan not to have the full number of nine councillors allowed by the Act. There was a large block of bush land open for sale that day, and more to follow. These lands would require representation by and bye, and in order to simplify the matter in the future, he would move “ That there be three members each for Hawera and Waimate Ridings, and two members for Ngaire Riding.” Seconded by Mr Merchant, and carried nern. con. It was resolved to forward the above recommendation through Mr Parrington, the solicitor who has had charge of the petition. The conference ended at 6 p.m., after discussing all facts and arguments in a spirit which augurs well for the future harmony of the new Council, Negotiations for the Thames and Rotorua Railway are progressing satisfactorily.