Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1283, 26 February 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1883.

So far as local government is concerned the political party at present ruling the country is making its policy thoroughly felt. The scheme propounded by the Hon. Major Atkinson last year, which afterwards in a more or less modified form passed into law; for the purpose of assisting financially local governing bodies in carrying on public works, is now being practically tested. So far as our information guides us a fair distribution of the portion of the public revenue set aside under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, is being made. Scarcely have any of the numerous applicants who have applied to the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer been sent empty away. In many instances, to provide for an equitable distribution, the sums asked for have been necessarily curtailed. In the case of the Cook County Council, the sum applied for was £27,895. This sum was reduced, the Government being willing to grant no more than £10,700. In making out the original estimate, the County Council contemplated a scheme of road construction upon a scale that, if it could be fairly carried out, would certainly relieve the Council from the slightest imputation of dealing with ; the very important question of roadi making in a narrow-minded or resi stricted manner. The members of the j Council seeing how largely the general i rates of the County would be relieved, j and available for expenditure along the Coast towards Tolago Bay, in the i Waimata, and other outlying districts I if a substantial grant should be re- ' ceived from the Government, decided ; upon a system that would lead up to establishing permanent lines of roads j throughout the most thickly populated Rortions of the district. The main nee of road from the town boundary, through Makaraka, Waerenga-a-hika, Ormoud, and extending further on, via Kaiteratahi, on the Ormondi Opotiki road; and the line of road from Makaraka to the Waipaoa Bridge thence along the Patutahi Valley, demanded first attention. Had tfie whole of the sum applied for been granted, a comprehensive plan of making and maintaining the main arterial roads in the district could have been undertaken. As it is, however, the Council guided by its financial circumstances can do aught else but “ cut its coat according to its cloth.” This it has endeavored to do by proposing to allocate the prospective loan ot £10,700 in the following manner : — From ths Town Boundary to the Waipaoa Bridge £3,214 ' From the Bridge to the Quarry (part of the Wairoa-Gisborne Road) 3,432 ' Pipiwhakao Road 1,300 In the Ormond District— From the Ormond Quarry to Te Muhunga 1,711 From Te Muhunga to Kaiteratahi 557 I From Kaiteratahi to Scott’s (Ruangarehu) 102 Total £10,316 The foregoing sum the Government are willing to grant to this district if at a general poll of the ratepayers to be taken shortly the proposal to accept the grant is carried. If the proposal be carried and we can see no reason why the ratepayers to a man should not record their votes in favor of the loan, the County Council then proceed to levy a special rate. The special rate so levied must be sufficient to pay off in ten years, by ten equal yearly payments, one-fourth of the sum so granted. In other words the sum of say, iu round numbers, £lO,OOO granted by the Government, the total amount the ratepayers are required to refund is one-fourth of that sum, namely £2,500 ; and that the re-pay-ment of that amount will extend over a period of ten years, a payment to be made each year of £250 the amount of the special rate to be levied. It will thus be perceived that by taxing ourselves to the moderate extent named, a grant in aid of over £7,500 is derived for the construction of the County roads. The amount the Government are willing to give for the Karawa Bridge—£3Bs—is not included in the foregoing sum, because it is dealt with under a different section of the Act, and comes under the heading of loans for district roads. It will be for the ratepayers in the Arai Highway Dis-

trict to declare by ballot whether or not they will accept the money, The re-payment of the £385 if provided for by the Act in such a manner that a special rate must be levied in the particular district requiring the work to be done ; the rate to “ be sufficient to pay fifteen equal yearly instalments each of which shall be equal to nine pounds per centum on the whole of amount ’ granted.

It will be self evident that the prosperity and general advancement of this district depends largely upon its being opened up and thorough access to the various centres of po?ulation by means of good roads, 'ropertv becomes correspondingly enhanced tn value by the increased facilities that are afforded of getting to it. Remembering that it has been always the fate of this fair district to have its representative in Parliament in opposition to the party in office, and that such also was the case last session, we cannot but feel grateful for the treatment the Government have shewn, and the Christianlike spirit in which they have evinced the good for evil principle ; for it’s no use shutting our eyes to the fact that the principle largely actuating the allocation of public money is governed in a large degree by the political support acquired in exchange. The Government have done their part, and the sequel is in the hands of the ratepayers. We should be glad to see the Chairman of the County Council take an energetic interest in the matter, and address the ratepayers throughout the district upon the subject, in order that they may clearly understand what they are about, and perceive the advantages that will accrue by unanimous vote in favour of the proposed grant on the public works suggested.