"THE WAYS THAT ARE DARK, AND THE TRICKS THAT ARE VAIN."'

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1400, 23 June 1881, Page 3

"THE WAYS THAT ARE DARK, AND THE TRICKS THAT ARE VAIN."'

TO THE EDTTOTC. Sir, — If anything was required to strengthen Sir Geoige Grey's arguments )c Local Government, I think the lcpoit of the Wai pa County Council meeting m your issue of the 18th instant -would supply the want. The Counties Act was instituted, amongst other things, for the purpose of making roads through poor and unsettled districts. I will pass over the haggling about a few j>ounds towards the completion of necessary w orks at the Ngaruawahia-Waipa ferry. The Councillors evidently were not in a position to judge of the requuements of an out of the way place like Ngaruawalna ; possibly their ideas do not tiavel many miles beyond the Council Chambers. Mr Corboy, probably from his experience of how the public hinds arc administered at Ohaupo, tabled a motion, having for its object the localisation of revenue, all the Council fundh being as a rule expended out of his own district. The spirit oi the Council will bo best understood by a glance at the names of the Councillors who opposed the motion. Mr Hadfiekl, who has nothing to lose and anything to gain, has in this, as in all other instances, voted with the powers that be. Shades of King Potatau ! only imagine the revenue derivable from the sale of the Newcastle Lands going to improve roads in the immediate neighborhood of alien Councillors. Immediately after the defeat of Mr Corboy's motion, we find Cr. Cunningham proposing that a sum of £100 be promi&ed to one of the favored districts. There is also another injustice to the Newcastle riding, viz., while Pukekura with a smaller population has two representatives, we have only one. No doubt the framers of the Counties Act never anticipated its being worked in the off-handed manner peouliar to the Waipa County Council. It is to be hoped that at the next annual meeting ratepayers will pay a little attention to their own interests and support the alteration of the Local Self-C4overnnient Act. — I am, etc., Justitia. Ngaruawalna, June 21st.