RAGLAN COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2161, 15 May 1886, Page 4

RAGLAN COUNTY.

, , ,TO Tpß EDITOR. SiR,— A paragraph has been going the round of the papers tfiak the efforts which (ire being made fit bring the Counties Act into foroenre likely to bn successful, that * largo majority in the Rnglau riding are in favour of it, and that au active canvass is atyout tn be made in the Knramu-Harapepe riding, which it is hoped will havn a similar mult. The course which has been followed b.y< tb* promoters of this movement is not one that can be commended. They have beetr-nrged to lay their views before a public meeting of the settlers in the county, a step which could be easily taken, as the number ft not large. If the promoter*, who are very few in number, sincerely believe that theic.proppsal, is for the benefit of the district, it' is h«rd to understand their averijoato have it publicly examined, but the taddo 'selected i». that of private canvassing, which admits of representations being' made would not be hnzarded in a public meeting. This they have done too in the" face of a hearty and unanimous condemnation of private canvassing, agreed to lately at what has been called " The dreatjf'QlifcicJirMeeting." I- have Jearned from some of those who have been canvfised, and who have given their names as adherents, a few of the opinions held as to the good things to be got from the county. , They are rather extraordinary, but they j are believedfin by the conrerts with undoubtiug faith". Some o{ our people want a road made through the bush on tho Knrioi irionnUin, between Rnapuke and Raglan. Estimates of the work vary from one to five, thousand pounds, and the rates of the, stttlers concerned are not quite fifty. The work is .consequently beyond the resources of the road board, but here comes in tho attraction. " Give us the county, and .the county will give us the, roads" Split' up ijijto ' little road boards' the Government despises us, indeed does not know our whereabouts on the map. United in a compact county we would be formidable and could dictate our own tftiih*. Wo will withold our consent to the tun million loan unless the Government carry n railway through our midst and on to Kawhia, with road-side stations at •very centre of our population. Our trustees? like" all other trustees, arc sadly given to laying out the rates on certain favoured spots. Dub them "councillor*," and everybody will get everything they want— the most obscure nook will get its full quota. Some of our people get occasional job* on the road. Set up tha county, and they will be employed all the year round.- Speaking geuorally, the immense Government expenditure will ho raise the value of our several estates that we will bo able to sell at an enormous advance, and so be abl» to dear out of " the cursed hole." INow, these are very great attractions, and otight to have secured a much larger number of , signatures. ' But there are people who require a different style of treatment. They will not be drawn, they must be driven^ apd our, ardent canvassers have been equal to the occasion. In regard to the charitable institutions' contributions, we are solemnly warned that the four road boards will have' to bear the brunt of the whole county* liability, and though the statemeut i* contrary to 'Jaw, fact and common sense, it is persisted in by the canvassers, and novices have thus' been frightened into signing. No doubt the same dodges, with appropriate variations, will be tried with the Karamu people, and if their hearts are set 4 Qn some five, thousand pound work, thry hataonly.'to bring the Act, into .force, and the' thing is done. I say nothing for or against the bringing of the Act into force, but I nay this : Let its merits and suitability to our circumstances be stated in the light of day; in open public meeting of all concerned, and not by getting people into corners and cramming them with delusive promises, such as I have quoted.— l aui yours faithfully, Wll. JOHNSTOXE. Ruapuke.