THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2634, 18 June 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1877.

We are credibly informed that it is contemplated by the Government to hand over the Goldfields department of this district to the control of the Thames County Council, and that the prerogative heretofore known as the " delegated powers," and formerly exercised by the Superintendent of the Province, but since the abolition of provinces by a Minister of the Crown, will be conferred u?on the County Chairman. It was-stated last week that a part of the AttorneyGeneral's business here was to make arrangements for the removal of the Besident Magistrate's department from Shortland to Graliamstown, and the consolidation of that and the Warden's department. It appears that a greater significance now attaches to this question, and the " consolidation " means handing over the control of an important department to the governing body of the County, which represents neither a majority of interests, wealth or population. When we first heard of this proposal,we were inclined to treat it as a good joke, but we .have been convinced that it is no joke, and that a member of the Government has seriously entertained and discussed a proposal to ignore the Borough and Harbor Board and other local bodies, and hand over the goldfields department to the County Council, giving that body power to employ or dismiss officials (excepting the Warden) and generally to exercise governmental powers over the . goldfields administration. We do not know what the Borough ratepayers will think of this business, but we regard it simply as another attempt to intimidate them into surrendering their rights and merging into the County, on such terms as the latter may suggest. The County is threatened with dismemberment at Ohinemuri; the highway districts of Parawai and Kauaeranga are decidedly against merging into the County, and probably legislation in the next session of Parliament will deprive the.Counties of the power of taxing highway districts. In spite of these things the Government arc doing all in their power to force the Thames Borough into joining the County; and, moreover, there are those in the Borough Council who favor the idea', and are virtually betraying the burgesses whom they profess to represent by the way they treat every question arising between the County and Borough. There is no earthly reason why the County and Borough should be in antagonism, but recent events have shown that they must be to som,e extent, and the Borough has been too passive, allowing the County to take the lead in everything. The important change now contemplated will be consummated if no step be taken to prevent it. If the Borough Councillors are so apathetic as to take no action in the matter, we imagine that there are some few amongst the burgesses who have sufficient spirit left to protest against these repeated attempts to sit upon the Borough and eievate the County at its expense. We have no objection to the County Chairman having conferred upon him powers formerly exercised by the Superintendent ; but we do most strenuously object to these repeated concessions of Ministers to one local body, to the disparagement of another aud .older body.