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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1126, 18 August 1882, Page 2

he Cook County Council did not meet last •eniiig, owing to the inclement weather, ad a meeting taken place the main question at would have cropped up for dismission nil-I have Iwe.i the rtt.-.biichllicllt of toil3"n in tire < vuuty. Somv time ago what.

by a stretch of the imagination, might be termed a poll of the ratepayers upon this question took place. At that time the theory of toll gates for this district had only just been evolved from the brain of Cr. Ferris. Captain Ferris, from the most prudential of financial reasons, deemed, and still adheres to the opinion, that toll-gates, and nothing but toll-gates, in the present impecunious state of our County coffers, will provide, even thougn in a partial degree, the necessary funds for road construction purposes in the County. We must have roads ; for without ready means of transit all hope of future progress for the district can no longer exist. Unfortunately, apart from the financial resources of the County being very low, the physical difficulties in the way of procuring metal for roads is still worse. The question raised is one of vital importance to the community, and deserving of the gravest attention. Whether a direct tax should be levied in the shape of a toll—and direct taxation is always obnoxious, or any additional rate be struck in order to overcome the difficulty staring us in the face, is the point at issue. The Council, however, will not sit until the 7th September next, when the final opinion of the Council will be given. In the meantime the ratepayers have ample time for cogitating on the subject.