Untitled

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 777, 9 June 1877, Page 2

q> . The question of the responsibility of the lessee of the Hamilton Jerry has been settled by the receipt by of a letter from the AttorneyGeneral direct, stating that the rent of the- ferry must be paid to the Waifcato County Council. It however should be, remembered that the case of the Hamilton Ferry is a peculiar one, and might well be made an exception to the ordinary regulation of management provided by the County .Act. That Act would fairly apply to a ferry about to be established, or to one that had been established by a Provincial Government and had become vested by the abolition of Prbvinci 7 lisrn m the- Colonial Government. But the. Hamilton Ferry was never a Provincial Institution. It was established by, erected, worked, and kept m repair by the Hamilton West Township Highway Board, and under peculiar circumstances. The Hamilton East Board refused to hare anything to do with its establishment or work, ing, fearing that it would not be a remunerative speculation, and threw the whole cost and responsibility upon the Hamilton West Board, and this is why the West Hamilton Township Board has exercised the privilege hitherto of drawing the whole of the revenue derivable from it. It does seem therefore somewhat hard that not only the tolls but the very punt plant, a portion of which was put up at the expense of the Hamilton West Town Board, while as yet it was uncertain whether the ferry would be a financial success, should be handed over to the Council on the East aide of the river, Or even thafc they should have been handed over to the Waipa Council had that body elected to work the Act m its entirety. So far, the constitution of the Hamilton Ferry is a peculiar one, and weifould'fain see the Hamilton East and Hamilton West Township Boards taking joint action together for the purpose of getting the Ferry handed over to their joint control. East Hamilton has sufferedsufiiciently already for its. want of enterprise m not" joining the West Township m the first inatitu-

tion of the ff»r*y, and it would be as unfair a« it will, iadeed, bo impossible to. perpetuate any longer t>e monopoly enjoyed by the West 3toi\r4. "]Tlie cost of maintaining "fine, 'approaches would be a heavy one-tj)^ both Boards, stuL.it isyjb.ut reajc&able that, if this be bqi : ne By, r \>h'QJsiW bhej should receive tEe" rejenu'3 arising from the forr-,^ toils; ai( conipeusation. Gould no fibtssgement b> com* t« between the niein, berr of the twt) Toirn. Boards to bring about so desirable a solution of what -jr-ill. otherwise be a source of lociil irrifcatio* and is a direct injustice 1 The E*st Hamilton Board has ..all tp gain by sseh * course, and the Weak Township Bo»r4, ereu putting the matter on iti 'lowest grounds, may; remember the, old adage 'respecting the raid* of even half a loaf.. ■ .. . ~