The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1884. THE UNPOPULAR COUNTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1809, 9 October 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1884. THE UNPOPULAR COUNTY.

Wairarapa East County is decidedly an "unpopular County." No name now is hard enough to fling at it, and did we believe that the abuse which is showered at it were fairly deserved, we should be among its assailants. As far as we can judge, however, it is not getting tair play. It is true that it lias, during its career, made some mistakes. There is probably no local body which expends ten thousand pounds a year on roads and bridges which does not make an occasional blunder, but to put these mistakes under a magnifying glass, and to brush on one side as unworthy of consideration ell the good that has been accomplished, is not equitable, and yet this is precisely the measure that has been meted out to the County for some time past and which is still freely extended towards it. Now that the Council is moribund, and in view of the new election which takes place next month, wo consider it our duty to declare, however unpalatable the statement may be, that the County has been administered by men of high character, marked ability, and unquestionable integrity, and that these qualifications have been displayed in a marked degree by its chairman, It is very probable that Mr McGregor will not seek re-election, and we very much doubt whether, if he placed his services again at the disposal of the home riding, they would be accepted; but while recognising this fact clearly, it does not lessen in any way the past services which he has rendered to the County, and more especially to that section of it which lies in the FortyMile Bush. The opening up of the bush settlements has been the "magnus opus" of County enterprise. With the exception, perhaps, of Mr 0. Pharazyn, formerly Chairman of County West, Mr McGregor has done more towards opening up this great district than any other individual, and his work extends over alonsar period than that which Mr Pharazyn counted. So lougassufficientfunds were obtainable from the Government tonieet the exigencies of the County settlers were well satisfied with Mr McGregor and no other candidate could contend against him at a county election, but the moment the pockets of the settlers were touched by a rate a feeling of enmity towards County institutions was generated which has subsequently been carefully fanned and fostered. It may perhaps be said on the other hand the County authorities Lave not been very conciliatory, They did not make it their business to take settlers into their confidence and explain to them the peculiar necessities of their position which forced them to take steps which wore objectionable to their constituents. They knew that they wore misunderstood, but they were Bome-

what indifferent in bringing about a good understanding. They knew that it some personal sacrifice they were discharging responsibilities which they had undertaken, however unacceptable their conrS9 of action might be to the ratepayers. Public opinion is now against them, but in the teeth of it, we hold that the past services of those who are iiow most maligned is a bright honorable record of good, honest and unselfish work. ■ ■

Mr George Henry Kemper has been appointed poundkeeper pro tem for the Borough of Maaterton.