DISINTEGRATION OF THE COUNTY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2800, 21 August 1903, Page 2

DISINTEGRATION OF THE COUNTY.

Mr E. E. Lelievre returned to Aknroa yesterday. He had what we think was a record trip from Wellington of 15 hours. He left that port at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, reached Lyttelton at nine yesterday morning, just caught the Cygnet and had his horse and sulky waiting for him at Pigeon Bay, reaching here before 12 o'clock noon yesterday. He left Messrs Buchanan, Newton, Harris and Quealy in Wellington, whilst Mr J. D. Bruce has gone to Wanganui to see his brother. Messrs Bruce, Newton and Lelievre went before the Local Bills Committee on Tuesday and gave their evidence in support of leaving the County as at present. Owing, however, to the unfortunate fact that there was no steamer from Lyttelton to Wellington on Monday night, the Little River deputation —Messrs Buchanan, Harris and not reach Wellington till Wednesday morning, and as the Local Bills Committee only sit on Tuesdays, they were informed that their side of the story could not be heard till Tuesday next. It was then arranged that Mr Bruce, who intended to visit his brother at Wanganui, should return and be present on Tuesday week when the Little River deputation placed their side of the question before the Local Bills Committee. However, our member, Mr Rhodes, seeing that this course meant that a number of his constituents would be detained in Wellington for a week, explained the whole matter to the House and asked that the Local Bills Committee should be allowed to sit on Wednesday to hear the petition of the Little River deputation. Taking into consideration the fact of the usual steamer not running on Tuesday night, the House kindly granted the request. Accordingly the Local Bills Committee sat on Wednesday. Mr H. D. Buchanan laid the Little River side of the question very cleverly and lucidly before the Committee, and Mr Sidney Harris also addressed them. Messrs Bruce and Lelievre were present on behalf of the County Council and gave some rebutting evidence. Both parties having now put their views on the question before the Local Bills Committee, it will be for that body to bring the matter before the House of Representatives, which, no doubt, they will do at an early opportunity.