THE The Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 134, 14 March 1872, Page 2

THE The Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. THURSDAY , MARCH 14, 1872.

This afternoon tin? final meeting of flic Thames Municipal Committee, preparatory to sending in the petition to the Governor, ’will be held ; and sueh being the ease, will excuse us from again alluding to the subject, which lias already been pretty well discussed, as it will be the last opportunity we shall have of calling attention to the state of matter before it is taken out of the committee’s hands. For some reason or other the inhabitants have not united with tbe committee to that extent which might have been expected, and unless the committee feel tolerably confident that the number of signatures attached to the petition will outweigh those on the other side, it will he well for them to take into consideration the epicstion of which is the best course to pursue. To seek to force a Municipality on people who arc not prepared for it is of course out of the question ; and the Government would never accede to it. We are so convinced of the benefit which would he derived from the establishment of a Municipality at the Thames that wo should be sorry to sec any uunecessaiy delay ; but if by waiting a while until a larger number of the 'inhabitants are in favour of the movement, and their good sense will ultimately lead them that way, would be preferable to forwarding a petition which is not unlikely to he defeated, we certainly think’it would be better to err on this side than he too hasty in forwarding the memorial to the Governor. From all we have been able to ascertain on the subject it appears to us that the opponents do not oppose Municipal Institutions in themselves, hut they say * that the tenure on which the townships sought to he incorporated is held is. peculiar, and that the present act under which the borough would be created is cumbrous, lias too large borrowing poweis, and is more adapted for towns like Otago, where the land is for the most part freehold. They do not look upon the fact appai ently that under the present divided Road Board system they are liable to quite as much taxation with the chance of getting much less for it, and that the division of authority prevents any comprehensive scheme of di ainor road-making, and enables the Provincial authorities to absorb all the revenue, and to deal out with niggardly bands small donations hampered with all soi Is of restrictions. The objections, however, arc not without weight, and if all would only agree to come under an amended Act, framed with a view to the especial requirements of the place, it would he decidedly better, in our I opinion, to have this done before pre- j ci punting the matter to a final con- : elusion. The grand object of such a j Bill should he to secure to the Thames a fair share of the revenue derived from it. The publicans’ licenses and the auctioneers’ licenses, and other local taxes, ought to be wholly, or in part, at the disposal of the Corporation, to he expended in the district, which would add largely to the funds for local improvements. In a sanatory point of view, it is absolutely necessary that the drainage should he attended to, and under the present system this can never he done. The way in which the Boards have to haggle with the Government authorities to get a few hundreds spent here, in a district which contributes many thousands, is altogether wrong, and is a system that cannot last long, For this we

say* the remedy *'in the first case is by establishing a Municipality as soon ns possible : but if a large portion of tlto inhabitants would prefer to wait „Ulit;l an Act can be passed Which they deem more suitable, we cannot but think it will lye well to give them the opportunity. It is something to have had tin: principle pretty well acknowledged that a Municipality is in itself an advantage, and that it is only as to details that a difference of opinion exists. If the conimittc can see its way this afternoon to obtaining a sufficient number of signatures to carry the day, well and good, by all means let them proceed; but if this should not be the case, and we are afraid they are likely to be outnumbered, we would advise them to pause, and not insure defeat in so good a cause. That the Thames will eventually be unanimous in seeking to come under the Municipal head, we entertain no doubt whatever, but we have good reason to think that at present the Thames is something like a house divided against itself, as to the desirability of immediate action in the matter. We hope to hear the subject fully discussed in all its bearings. Of one. tiling we entertain no doubt, that the present committee deserve the thanks of the inhabitants for having brought the matter to its present state of forwardness. It is for the people themselves to say how for they will unite with them in bringing to a successful issue the great want of the district, the establishment of a Municipality.