THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 277, 28 August 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1872.

11l luck has attended the Thames Municipality Committee ever since they started the, mov.emeu the object they have in view is intrinsically so good that they must ultimately attain their object. At the present time, as the Superintendent dissents from the petition on the ground of the boundaries being too extensive. We believe it would be utterly useless to attempt to get a special Bill passed through tlie House. Under the system of delegation of the Governor’s powers on the Goldfields to the Superintendents no such bill, even if passed by tlie House, would be likely to receive the Governor’s assent if his delegate were decid-

it/'.lt is very probable j; that we shall save’ mother Superintendent before long who may assent to the ■* petit on. The Superintendent says distinctly that he irar favour of a corporation here, but'does not think it should -Include Tararu or Parawai. The majority of the Committee consider that it is essential those places should be included in view of deep water harbours being made, which would prove very valuable water harbour, the Thames might eventually become a” formidable, rival to Auckland as regards the shipping. There' are no insurmountable engineering difficulties, we believe, in the way. It is, as usual—merely a question of money and time. If this place progresses; as there is every reason to believe it will be the case,, a harbour, at Tararu, Kopu, or both, will be an absolute necessity. -We think the time has arrived when the public should be again consulted in the matter,:, seeing that the action of the Superintendent has brought the progress of the Committee to a deadlock until the next session of the Council. As to going to Wellington again this session we think it will be simply wasting time. There can be no doubt a difference does exist as to the boundaries of the proposed corporation, although, wo believe, much of the opposition which arose in the first instance to the original Munici pality petition has died oiit, the majority of the people being convinced that the advantages to be derived from incorporation greatly outweigh its disadvantages. We have repeatedly pointed out how powerless the local Highway Boards are to attend properly to sanitary matters and to keeping the streets in repair. The small income derivable from rates is utterly inadequate to the requirements of the place, and they cannot hold endowments. The union of. the several townships at the Thames under one Municipal head, with an income derived from revenues locally raised and from endowments, is an event which cannot be much longer delayed. As to details, differences of opinion may exist, but we do not think they are so formidable as not to be reconciled after due consideration. If it slibuld be considered that by the majority of the inhabitants that the General Act of 1867 is too cumbersome and not so well suited to the peculiar nature of the tenure on which much of the land here is held, as a special Bill drawn for the purpose, great care should .be taken that it is a skilfully drawn document, and that the best legal advise obtainable should be taken upon it. A good deal was said at the meeting on Monday last about a short bill, but we should like to see what sort of tiling the short” Bill is likely to be before pronouncing an opinion upon it. If Mr Dean’s Bill be referred to it certainly is not short in the ordinary acceptation of the term, and although it has been pronounced by Mr Beveridge to be all right in a f

legal sense, we believe the Kauaeranga Board have some objections to join the other Board under its provisions. In this matter, above all things, there should, if possible, be unity of action. Nearly all agree that a Municipality of some kind should be established at the Thames, and that is so far satisfactory. We believe tlie majority of tlie European population would be in favor of including such overlying portions of of tlie district as would give the great advantage of deep water harbors, and here —on the question of boundaries they are opposed by the Superintendent, who has, as the law stands, the power practically to veto the matter. His Honor- however, would not object to a Municipality extending from the Hape creek to the Shellback, and says he will consult the Provincial Council when next in session. It may be that he will not then be Superintendent, but if not lie will most likely be a member of the Government, and would probability still oppose a Municipality which embraced a larger area than that he had laid down. As to getting a special Bill passed this session in the teeth of such formidable opposition we think is utterly hopeless. [Since writing the above, the Hon. Secretary of the Committee has favored us with a sight of the following telegram received yesterday, from Mr G. O’Neill, M.G.A. n “Wellington, 27th Aug., 4.15 p.in. Sir, —I have seen the Attorney-General, He thinks it would be better to wait the decision of the Provincial Council, or to alter boundaries to meet the views of • tlie Superintendent. There might be difficulty in passing a special bill. v Whatever you settle upon lot me know, arid I will render all assistance in my power. ' Chas. O’Neill.” F. C. Dean, Esq., Graharastown. A meeting of the Committee will be held, we understand, to-morrow, when some definite course of action will, we presume* be decided upon.l