WAIPAWA COUNTY ELECTIONS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3222, 27 October 1881, Page 2

WAIPAWA COUNTY ELECTIONS.

MR DILLON'S MEETING.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) A public meeting was held this evening at 7 o'clock, in reply to a requisition, v, signed by a number of ratepayers request- j ing Mr Dillon, tbe present member of > the County Council, to meet them and explain his views and intentions respecting roads, etc., in the district. Mr J. K. Newton was voted to the chair. He read the requisition, and after making a few appropriate remarks introduced Mr Dillon, who was received with hearty applause. Mr Dillon, in the course of a few introductory remarks, thought there was a great distinction between a member of a County Council and a member of a Provincial Government in former days. For bis own part he considered himself to be merely an overseer carrying out the views of his supporters. He had always considered it his duty to work for tbe best advantage of the district, and always strove his best to get a fair share of money spent in the district that he had the honour to represent, and was of opinion that those paying the largest rates should have.the, largest portion of the money spent in their neighbourhood. Since the money is raised by the district rating of the people, it behoves them to gee that it is advantageously expended. (Applause).—Mx_Dillou than submitted a plan of the pro- - posed new road to Tamumu, stating that he considered it the principal object of the meeting to get the opinion of the ratepayers regarding it. It would be a great benefit to a most important district, a more direct route than the existing one, and it was estimated it could be made available for traffic for" a very small expenditure, about £300 ,* but the - question where was tbe money to come V" from, unless a special rate was levied. Heavy floods had damaged the bridges, and it had taken all tbe available funds " to put them in repair. Something like ' £3000 had been expended in repairs to bridges, and the Forty-mile-Bush and Wainui road had drained away a considerable amount, which he considered most unjust. He thought the General Government should keep the Forty-mile Bush road in order, as it was to all intents and purposes ia Government road. The Waipawa Council had as much right to keep the railway in repair as either of the two roads mentioned. The Forty-mile Bush road was of comparatively little value to the Waipawa County; it was a connecting link between the railway terminus at at Makotoku and other parts of the colony, and should be maintained conjointly by the combined Counties in Hawke's Bay, and not saddled on the Waipawa County alone, if the General Government would not maintain it. (Applause.) District roads of immediate benefit to tbe community should be the first charge on the ratepayers (Hear), and the rates should not be expended on roads that simply acted as feeders to the railway. Mr Dillon then invited any of the ratepayers present to ask any questions, or make any sugestion on the business before the meeting. Mr White and Captain Howard made some enquires, and were satisfactorily answered by Mr Dillon, when a vote of confidence was proposed by Mr Lawrence, I seconded by Mr Newbould, and carried | unanimously, when the meeting dismissed. , I ■■.. - ""^v