BOROUGH V. COUNTY.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3554, 18 May 1880, Page 2

BOROUGH V. COUNTY.

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.)

- Sir, —Your correspondent Mr Alex. Hume uses very strong language in referring to County finance, and is sternly contrtfdioted'by many miles of good roads (orer which I have rid den in a buggy), where heretofore it was impossible to travel oj horseback except during the dryest weather end at g:*eat risk. Again, he finds fa'u't with the number of persons partially employed by the County, but I have not heard of anyone of the County employees waiting six months for wages overdue, or any County cheque unpaid. In fact, a very uneasy feeling has lately occurred to myself, and possibly other burgesses, as to the financial position of the Borough Council, which will crop up

in spite of the efforts to smother it; that is, the Borough being unable to pay its way, must needs bo merged into the County. The Borough was formed years before the necessity for it had arisen and the best thing we burgesses can do is to look this difficulty in the face at once, acid make the necessary application to the County Council. Of course this will meet with strong resistance 'from interested persons, bul finding they caunct get paid will soon sbes- them that their various billets are untenable. 'Anyone wishing to hare a crack at the County should before commencing just take a quiet walk through Shortland." In summer he will find filthy ,■ drains, and in winter streets impassable through mud. After his walk he will not be so much inclined to throw , stones at the County Council.—The only thing I fear is that when we would join the County, they baring paid their debts, will not receive us until we do likewise. This will mean a heavy special rate of possibly, three shillings in the pound on the. rateable value, and will make us bless the promoters of the Borough Com? pany—the prospectus of which glowed rosy-tinted with - promises of great bonefi's. These have resulted in tumbledown houses, empty streets, and general disappointment to those who believed them. Very different is the condition of affairs in the Thames County, which ha^ 1" so far. been a success, thanks to its , energetic Chairman, Council and officers. More power to them; if the Railway had been commenced within the .County, trains would now be running to Faeroa, to the great delight of—Yours truly, Sam Welleb. .