The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1883. THE LATE COUNTY MEETINGS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1320, 6 March 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1883. THE LATE COUNTY MEETINGS.

The preliminary, meetings of the two Counties passed off satisfactorily on Saturday last. Mr G. Beetham took the helm again in County East until such time as affairs were so arranged that another Councillor could £lll the. position without inconvenience. This arrangement is about the best that could: have been made- in the interests of the County. Probably when the session commences and Mr G. Beetham is called away to his parliamentary duties he will resign_his position as chairman in favor of Mr W. H. Beetham. Mr D. McGregor, whose claim to fill the chair is generally recognised, has, we understand, refused to have his name put up, so that when a chango is made Mr W, H, Beetham will probably be unanimously elected. This Council did a good deal of preliminary work at its first meeting, and that party element which was so appa rent at the County Wost gathering was altogether: absent. The unopposed return ef Mr Booth as chairman of County West was no more than we anticipated. But, though he deservedly resumes his old position, we fear he will have more" trouble in the flesh" with his new Council than he had with his old one. Already notice has been given of a somewhat hostile motion, viz,, that the County Offices be removed to Greytown, We believe that the convenience of tho majority of the Councillors will be better served by assembling at Greytown rather than at Carterton, but against this a weakness in administering the County business would arise from the Chairman residing in one township, and the Clerk and Engineer in another. This division of the staff militated against the operations of tho old County, and we frequently protested against it. Carterton, however, year after year resolutely stood out against uniting the Clerk and Engineer in one office, because that one office must necessarily have been at Masterton. Now, however, we may expect Carterton to go tho other way about, and insist upon the staff of Chairman, Fngineer, and Secretary being located in one town, because that town must necessarily be Carterton. Probably the Lower Valley members may choose to distribute their favors by assigning the Chairmanship to Carterton and the offices to Greytown, but we would prefer to see this particular j issue decided pro bono publico, irrespective of the personal considerations whioh surround it.