Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1872.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 219, 11 April 1872, Page 4

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1872.

'• MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The project to establish a Road Board on the Tuapeka Goldfield does not receive much favour. Indeed, in some quarters it has met with undisguised and uncompromising hostility. The chief objec-. tion taken to the project is that it is on too grand a seale — embraces too large an extent of country. The boundaries proposed include a very extensive territory.comprisingmany different districts, widely separated from each other, having few interests in common, and but sparsely settled. The proposed Road Board, were it constituted, could not make roads in the several localities within its limits simultaneously. Consequently, many settlers would be paying rates for a long period without receiving any benefit therefrom. Besides, it is urged that the aggregate number of settlers in the whole of the several districts is not sufficiently large to warrant them in incurring the responsibilities the institution of a Road Board would of necessity entail. Another objection is that there is no provision made in the Road Board Ordinance for rating property held under the leasing regulations. This is put forward principally by those who have purchased their holdings, and who fear that were a Road Board established they would be liable for the whole expense of maintaining it. This latter difficulty is easily surmountable ; but as it does not affect the general question it i& unnecessary to dwell upon it. The great benefits that would accrue were a Road Board formed are fully recognised and admitted by the opponents of the project ; but they also maintain that in the present immature state of the district these benefits would cost more than they are worth. The matter has bee,n before those interested for some time now, and has been very fairly ventilated. The /erdict of the majority is that it is undesirable at present to establish the proposed Road Board. We may therefore conclude that the promoters of the scheme will, in its present form, abandon it. Whether it would be possible to form a Road Board on a smaller scale may be worth consideration.

The agitation regarding the establishment of a Road Board has, however, not been without good results. It has awakened settlers to the necessity of " mending their ways," and that speedily. The state of the by-roads in this district during bad weather is sufficiently notorious to render more than ailusion unnecessary. In several quarters active steps have been taken, and money raised, for this purpose ; so that without the establishment of a Road Board, • some of our district roads will cease to be a reproach to us and a terror to travellers.

[Since the above was written, we learn that an application has been made by sorneboclv to the General Road Boaacl to establish the proposed Board. The application was declined, on the ground that some new Ordinance will shortly come into operation.]

Paradoxical although the statement may appear, it is nevertheless true, that the coming session of the Provincial Council will be more, yet less, important than any of its predecessors. More important in that the Council will, at last, have to face a long anticipated time — a time

when it will have to decide whether it will protract the agonies of the inevitable dissolution of provincial institutions, by attempting to 'stem the current of events ; or will render their demise easy by assisting the General Government to gradually merge these institutions into the shire or county system. Less important because, in its own particular ' sphere, there is really little left for it to do. Shorn of its control of the more important public works, education, and immigration, and deprived of a great portion of its former revenue, the Provincial Council exists now merely " the shadow of a mighty name." • In fact, the Council, at the present time, is a h}'brid — a cross between a powerless legislative body and an inefficient Road Board. It has fulfilled the objects for which it was created, so the wisest thing it can do now is to die gracefully.* The only important business, in its own special province, likely to occupy the attention of the Council will be the Estimates. The revenue will probably suffice to pay the salaries of Provincial officers, and perhaps the subsidies to charitable institutions. For the construction of public works no funds are available. We hope that this session the mockery of voting moneys, which the provincial chest does not nor is likely to contain, will be dispensed with — if only on economical grounds. We have heard rumours to the effect that several country members intend to bring the Executive to account. • They will be called upon to answer an indictment, in which the JVToa Flat job, and a long list of unexpended votes for country districts, and many other sins of omission and commission will form counts. On the Moa Flat transaction an angry and lengthy discussion may be anticipated, also interesting disclosures. Regarding unexpended votes, country members will require cogent reasons why the wishes of the Council, relative to the construction of public works on the principle of land payments, have not been carried into effect. Bringing the Executive to book will be followed by a concerted attempt to oust the present members, and to elevate others to the fast decaying honour of Provincial Ministers. The utility of this step we cannot see. At the present juncture, a Provincial Executive has not much power for good or evil, so it matters not who its members may be. Unaccustomedto its clipped wings, the Council may try a flight into the regions of legislation. The land question may again receive attention and create discussion. As it is probable, however, that the General Assembly will shortly take this subject from provincial control, and create a land law which will apply to the whole colony, the legislation of the Council will not be of much avail. The most dignified course the Council can pursue is to confine itself to rnerelv administrative matters.

Relative to the system the colony is in future to be governed under, the Council can, however, do much useful work. The will of the people, repeatedly expressed, is that provincialism shall be abolished, and in its stead, substituted a more efficient form of self-government. \. glorious opportunity is therefore afforded to thk. — it is to be hoped — the last Provincial Council which will ever be elected in Otago. Let its members bring their influence to bear to inaugurate the shire system. The movement only wants commencing to receive the approval and support of the other provinces. If the Council does this, the gratitude of the electors of Otago with smooth its dying moments, and past misdeeds will be forgotten ; and when provincialism has ceased to exist, it will be remembered only with feelings of respect and admiration.

This week we present our subscribers with the " Tuapeka Times " in an enlarged form— fourteen columns of closely printed reading matter beingadded to the previous quantity. This step will, of, course, necessitate considerable outlay and heavy additional weekly expense on the part of the proprietor, which has been undertaken in the, hope that, by adding to the size of the " Times " its circulation will be correspondingly augmented. The increased space at our command will enable us to glye a more comprehensive resitme of passing events of interest than hitherto, and also to treat matters of a local Dature more folly. As our readers will readily perceive, the success of this venture depends mainly upon the public. If it meets with public approval, as we trust it will, we hope that that approval will make itself practically manifest by commensurate public support. While on this subject, we desire to

impress on our subscribers the necessity of promptly responding to the periodical calls of our collector. To maintain a newspaper, a large sum in wages has to be paid weekly, which the proprietor has to provide. Great inconvenience is often experienced through the dilatortness of those indebted in paying their accounts. Besides, calling for accounts more than once entails a direct serious loss. The expenses of travelling deduct a considerable percentage from the amount of accounts, and if those expenses have to be incurred two or three times, the percentage to be deducted is doubled or trebled.