The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1884.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1140, 16 February 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1884.

PETITIONS BE COUNTIES AC P. Some little while ago a petition was circulated throughout the Geraldine County, addressed to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, requesting that the operations of the Act might be suspended within the said County. A counter-petition is now being signed by the ratepayers, of which the following is a copy : " To the Honorable the Minister for Public Works, Wellington, " Sm, —We the undersigned ratepayers and electors in the County of Geral dine are aware that a petition has been sent around the County for signatures to suspend the 'Counties Act.' Several of us have signed it, not understanding the effect of such suspension. We now see clearly that to suspend the Act will be a great mistake, as we feel sure that the Road Boards cannot possibly maintain the large bridges on the main lines of road without neglecting the district roads, and feel sure that the variorg Road Boards cannot unlertake the matter of irrigation, which is very much needed in the County, in which matter the Council have already taken certain preliminary steps which will be a great benefit to us directly or indirectly, And further, we feel confident that onr Charitable Institutions will be more efficiently managed by the County Council than by the Road Boards. In conclusion we mny state that as the County Council does not in any way interfere with the vaiious Road Boards in their various and important duties, we consider it wise to allow tbe ' Counties Act ' to remain in operation as it is at present. — We remain, lion, sir, your obedient servants/'

Wo are glad to find that steps have been taken in this direction, for we believe, as we have all u'.ong upheld, that the abolition of the County Coun cil would be an unfortunate thing indeed for the district as a whole. lb may suit some parts of the district. The Geraldi ie Read Board has any amount of money, and can maintain its bridges and roads no matter what occurs. It

ma}' unit some parts of lhe Levels l(oad

Board also, for geographically they are not within the natural boundaries of the County. In our opinion a mistake was made in the beginning by including the Mount Cook and Levels ridings in the Geraldine County, nnd it is j this very mistake that has led to all the j mischief. From the first to the last representatives ot these two ridings have been obstructionists in the Council. Their policy has been to oppose every progressive step that has been mooted, and it is this which has rendered the Council a useless body. With few exceptions most of the ratepayers in the Levels district never U6e the roads and bridges in the other ridings of the County because the chief town of the County is limaru, and it happens to be situated in the centre of that riding, an! thft market town of the people. Mount Cook is separated by ringes of hills that map out a natural boundary between itself and the district at this side, and has never been hapoy whilst a part of the Geraldine County, This riding has playpd the most selfish and meanest part of any. Its people cannot stir rvithout coming through either of the other ridings, and thus use their roads ; but sooner than contribute anything towards maintaining them, they have formed a county of their awn. [f these people were treated as they deserve, a toll-gate would be put on the road that leads from the back country to the Rangitata bridge and a charge made for every animal driven in that direction. If this were done they would be compelled to contribute as they ought to have done willingly towards the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges by which alone thev are enabled to leave the wilderness in which they live. Seeing that these two ridings we have named have since the beginning destroyed the Council's capacity for doing good, and seeing that one of these has severed from the County while the other is trying hard to tollow suit, we think, as wd have on a previous occasion suggested the best thing that could be done for the good of this disis that the three road districts of Temuka, Geraldine, and Mount Peel should put their heads together and form a nice compact County of their own. Such a County would have well defined natural boundaries ; its inhabitants would be cemented together by a community of interests hitherto unknown in the Geraldine County. With such a County, having its head quarters in the central town of Geraldine, we feel confident it would be of great benefit to the district. The objection to it comes from Mount Feel. That riding has a very large area of land, but very few ratepavers, and as its representation on the Council would be on the population basis, it could not return its fair share of members to the Council. There is no doubt but this is a very tangible reason, but the question is, whether it would not be worth their while to join so as to keep the Rangitata bridge in repair i'his is the sort of County we should like to see established—a County composed of the three Road Boards—but failing that we should be inclined to retain the County as it is at present. Those who think otherwise would do well to read Mr C. G. Tripp's letter, which appears in another column, and at the same time remember who Mr Tripp is. Mr Tripp is the largest landownei in South Canterbury ; lie was Chairman of the County Council for several years, and only resigned a few months ago. He has also been a member of the Mount Peel Road Board, and is, therefore, well informed as regards local bodies. Unuer these circumstances we think bis words ought to have great weight with the ratepayers. He has no interest to serve ; he can have no object ic view except the good of the district. And then the way in which the petition to abolish the Council has got up ought not to be forgotten. It was at first mooted by Mr Moody in the Geraldine County Council, but finding f-w of toe Councillors agreeing with him, he brought the matter un in the Levels Road Board, and suggested that that body should bear the cost of getting up the petition. The Levels Road Board refused to do this, for, in fact? two of the members were absolutely opposed to abolishing the Council. Tims foiled, Mr Moody got some private individuals to agree to bear a share of the cost of getting up the petition. No public meeting whs lieUl to?xp!ain the object in view to the profile ; he who'e thing was a most huh-and-coinei sort of affair, and the petition was surreptitiously smuggled through. Under these circumstances we are not surprised that a counterpetition has been got up, mad though ,'

we have no reason for saying so, we feel pretty welt sure that Mr Tripp deserves the credio of starting it. The arguments we would adduce in favor of signing the counter petition are very forcibly put forth in Mr Tripp's letter, which appears elsewhere ; and as we thiak that sufficient fir the present, we shall now conclude with the hope that people will give their signatures towards retaining the Couuties Act in force.