THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 45, 21 February 1917, Page 12

THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

LOOKING - AFTER COUNTY INTERESTS.

Outside Masterton Borough quite a Jarge area is controlled '.-by the Masterton County. Council, ■ originally a body controlling a huge area from the Wairarapa, Lake to the Manawatu River.... Apparently, the first local authority was the Warden Road Board, which controlled- the highways in the. district. "Unfortunately, the early records of this body are missing, but it is clear that it was formed, some time in 1862. The first available records are of a meeting held;in 1866, at which there were present Messrs. J. \ValentineSmith, J. 8., llobert Ha\e, Holmes Crayne (chairman), Thomas W. Tantersley, George W. Woodroofe, and Henry Bannister (treasurer). The only decision of importance recorded is one to raise by way of rates the sum of £100. for the year 1886. The. general rate of the Masterton County to-day, covering a much smaller " area, is in the vicinity of £11,000. Apparently this body had some trouble in collecting even its small rate, for at a later meeting it was decided, to threaten prosecution unless the amounts outstanding (totalling £25). were paid forthwith. The Wairarapa Mercury reports the. proceedings of tho' board, held in the Masterton Schoolroom on Ist June, 1867, at which the attendance' was "large and respectable." It was then decided that the rate should be Id per acre on all rural land and suburban" land, and Is per acre "on'all town-acres. ■.

About 1879' the'■'Wairaiapa ; East County was formed, the first chairman being the late. Mr.. George Beetham. It was succeeded by,the Wairarapa North County some years after, and later still, in 1901_, by the Masterton County Council, which carries on now. The original Wairarapa East County was divided into road districts, namely, Pahiatua, Eketahuna, Mauriceville, Akitio, Alfredton, Castlepoiut, Wharema, Upper Taueru, ,and 'Masterton. So great was the progress" of the district that the majority of these areas eventually formed themselves into separate counties. AH of, the numerous bodies which have been in existence from time to time have done their share in making the districts more habitable, although, in some of the back country, a further improvement in the roads would be exceedingly, welcome.