Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1890.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 471, 14 May 1890, Page 2

Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1890.

* This above all—to thine own Belf bo true, And it must follow as the night tho day Thou ean&t not then bo false to any man.’ ft lIA K KSI’KAKK.

The Government, have acted in a very arbitrary and inconsiderate manner towards Ohinemuri County Council, and tlirotieh their action the C mncil are unable to meet their engagements, and are left in such a crippled financial position, that they are practically debarred from proceeding with various public works urgently need ills; to hccariiedout. For the information of those of our readers who may not. bo conversant \v : th the past history of the Conntv, we may briefly refer to what hash'd up to the presentslate of affairs. Ohiiiomuri obtained its autonomy in September, 1885, the question of adjustment of assets ami liabilities .-.s between it and Thames County (of which it previously formed a Riding), being ultimately decided by arbitration. '"'he arbitrator, Mr d. I'V Fitzgerald, Government Anlitor, by bis award adjudged that Ohinemmi Conntv should pay Thames County £2OOO (being about one third of the ex stint: liabilities of the Thames County at the time of separation ). The aivar I was a most unexpected one, so far at least as Ohinemuri County Council were concerned, they believing that in equity they were entitled to payment, if any sum wpre awarded either side. However the award when announced was accepted with ns goo I grace as was possible under the circumstances by Ohinemmi County Council, who have honourably paid the Full amount of the award to the Thames long since. In order to provide for su»*h an unexpected demand, however, Ohinemmi County Council had the matter laid before Government. and ashed that some assistance mi. ht he afforded them in order to meet their liability. Government In My n cognising the hardship of the case, ami how utterly impossible it was lor the Council to provide such a Inrye sum ot money at short, notice, and at. the same time carry out necessary Conntv works, agreed to lend tho Council LIOOO, and this amount Ohinemmi paid over to Thames ns the first instalment of the £2OOO, the balance being subsequent!) paid by “mailer instalments out of ordinary County revenue. Ic appears that the Government for some considerable time past, have been deducting various sums from the goldfields revenue, rates, subsidies, ete., accruing to Ohinemuri County. In the extent of over LfiO), and in *his monitor have been repaving the loan nf T,IOOO ah-cady referred to. The Council could not. understand bow if, was on’v small driblets were remitted bv Government, when they ea*ctil-ited they were entitled to large sums, and several communications passed on the subject, but tlm replies sent, were not deemed satisfactory. At length the Council demanded a full statement of accounts, and this having at length ctuiie to hand tiie real position of affairs was made apparent, and came as a complete surprise to the Council ; who in all good faith had arranged for an overdraft at the Bank in order to enable them to carry out necessary works, on the understanding that the goldfield and other County revenue should he a first charge for iio repayment. Thev have also let various contracts, incurred other liabilities, and invited tenders for various new works ; knowing that a considerable sum must he due them by Government from goldfield and other revenue. To stop money in this fashion, without, first communicating with the Council on the matter and demanding that the amount due he now repaid, was a most unwarrantable thing to do. To detain local revenue in the manner referred to, without even intimating Council such would be done, and t.herely allow an important, local body to go on incurring fresh liabilities, believing they had the wbere-with-all to pay, is most, 'discourteous ami unbnsiness-h’ke treatment, and such as would not be for one moment tolerated in ordinary business transactions. If Government decided to recall, this LIOOO by any particular date, they should sorely have given the Council reasonable notice of their intentions, and thus have afforded them an opportunity of providing the amount as best they could, and so prevented them being placed in such a fa : se position as the Council now find themselves in, through no fault of their own. We certainly consider the Council have been treated very unfairly an ! discourteously in this matter. We -hope the member for Ohinemuri will demand a full explanation from Government as to why Ohinemuri County Council, lias been tints served. We also hope that, Government will see the great injustice done mid promptly make amends by placing the monies kept hack to the credit of the Conn 41 and so erahle them to fulfil their engagements. Oliine-

•11 on County Council shire first constituted h 'ye ha I special <tififi"nlt, es to contend with. Tln ir •’ipt i>< is a most.expensive one <0 govern \ the • xtent of m tin rmuls to lie Kept, open is exceptionally great with co 1timious herfiy t.' attic thereon, to say nothing of the multitudinous requ r< incuts of a eoldfi"ld. Being unexpectedly hampered too from the first with a mill stone of debt in the matter of the award, limy deserve special consideration at the hau ls of Government. Ohinemuri lias little to thank the present Government for in the wav of any assistance for the development of its mineral resources, hut that, the local governing body should he practically debarred from proceeding with most, necessary works, and the advancement, of a most, important district inter'Ferre I with in the inconsiderate manner stated, cannot be quietly submitted to.