The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1879.
"We are glad to see signs of the different townships and settlers in the Geraldine Comity drawing closer together, and this is what should be, if prosperity is wished for. Unity is sti’ength. For this unity we have sometimes written strongly in this journal, and for this wo will still write. Journalists have chances of finding out the feelings and wishes of the people which others have not, and often can see what is going on behind the scenes more plainly than others. Having a most hearty desire to see the advancement of the country districts, and the country townships, we hesitate not to expose every unfair attempt to detract from their interests. Therefore it wasthat we denounced in such strong terms the unwarrantable interference with the County ratepayets exercised by certain parties, and in certain quarters, which we are satisfied was clearly proved to have been stimulated otherwise than by pure and disinterested motives. At some of our articles a few took offence ; for this we cave not. Our determination is to say and do what is true and right, feeling quite assured that truth will prevail in the long run. pThe principle objection put forward lfy“ some parties against bringing the County Council Act into force was the fear that the promoters of the Milford Harbor would use their influence in the County Council to advance the object that lay near their doors, and as some said near their hearts. It, word 1 be difficult, perhaps, to convince such that their fears arc not grounded on any true basis. This feeling is, wo have reason to believe, not wide spread. What took place the other day must dispel the doubts of any timid souls on this score. We refer to the constituting of the Milford Harbor Board. That Board is composed of gentlemen who have all been well tried, and arc largely interested in one or other part of the county, and this fact should he a sufficient guarantee that the interests of the County Council will not be made subservient to the interest:! of the Milford Harbor scheme. The value of such a a -home for cementing the '..'hole
I) ■ derived fmm Ihe „iiu:. , a nl :he ■! ililil).'!’ S Cll iilC, 'll CitiiSO i’uro iS .it ii mi amouul of uu trtamtv hanging meric, ami will bo till S ; r J. Om-de’s rcj ort lias been hand; 1 1 to tiio Government. If it is a favorable report the work will sprwdilv be proceeded with. There is no doubt or uncertainty about that, ii it is an unfortunate report then there is an end of it. Meantime liio interests of the County should not suffer. Wo are only causing ourselves to bo laughed at by our uu seemly wrangling. What more ridiculous position could any community bo in than that which the settlors in tiro llaukapuka Hiding are in now that they, after a great flourish of trumpets and a cry that it must have a county for itself regardless of the interests of the Temuka or any other riding, Jind that it is short some (32,000 acres of the of land to form a new county. Iconic! a more selfish policy bo propounded by any community than that ? Often, we repeat, when the truth is told by this Journal, if i t is distasteful to some one, the veiy meanest action within the power of local bodies, as well as of individuals, is made use of from time to time to cramp the energies of Leader, but without success. Every unjust procedure brings its own punishment, and the end of the llaukapuka movement is a case in point. The position that the promoters of the Rankapnka County are in is not enviable, and we cannot but feel sorry for them, while others may rejoice. It is no doubt pitiable to see a small section of the Geraldine settlers in such an abject position. Mon who profess to have been so accustomed to • public business putting themselves in a position to be laughed at by the whole of South Canterbury by their be asting that they were to form a new county right off, and without taking the trouble to inform themselves whether or not they had an area sufficient to carry out such a project—they have not sufficient land by 02,000 acres of the 200,000 required by the Act. We say we are sorry for them, on account of the disgrace it brings upon the Geraldine set (levs ; but we must say also-ihat they are entirely without excuse. ITIio Levels Hiding has not sufficient area to form a county. Mount Peel acted apparently under better generalship than either, and wisely. As to the others, they were merely tools in the hands of a Timaru clique. The Chairman, of the County stated, at that memorable picked meeting in Timaru, that, lie had good reason to believe the Point people at least were not — opposed to bringing the Act into force. enquiry satisfied us that the Chairman was light, and if proof were wanting, it will be found in the action of the Levels Load Board in protesting against any alteration of the Road District. It is well the Point people have got their eyes open to the machinations of a few scheming politicians, backed by the self-interested action of the ‘Timaru Herald.’ That Journal had everything to gain and nothing to lose by a couple of counties holding their meetings in Timaru. Apparently it cared not what the Point people might suffer. We must repeat here what we stated in a former article, that it is not for the interests of the country districts to support Timaru. By doing so they would only be taking action to encompass their own ruin. "When we say this it is not from any ill feeling against the people of that town, but because we believe their interests are not identical. The country districts are chiefly composed of fanners, who, as a class, are not well informed on those matters. It is there fore the duty of journalists who reside amongst them, and whose interests are the same, to protect this class from being made dupes of. It is to be hoped the farmers will, take greater interest in those matters that will be of direct benefit to them, such as the establishment of farmers’ clubs, well-regulated fairs, agricultural shows, and not the least, seed shows, etc. From such exchange of views as would of necessity take place at these meetings great benefit would lie derived. Wo hope to sec the settlers in the Point district in particular make some move in this direcl’on. That riding is not wanting in public men with considerable ability. All it wants is unity against tho common enemy of their interests. If this is neglected, the district cannot go ahead. What wo would counsel is greater unity among all the ridings. Putting aside nil local jealousies, let the whole pull together, and then the Geraldine County will be able to hold its own against all outside foes.
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Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 121, 15 February 1879, Page 2
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1,189The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1879. Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 121, 15 February 1879, Page 2
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