SEPARATE COUNTY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 31, 28 July 1880, Page 4

SEPARATE COUNTY.

A meeting was held at Owen's Hotel on Saturday, "to discuss the advisableness or otherwise of forming a separate county; and also, in the event of such separation taking place, •whether it would not be better that the county council should perform all the necessary road works within its •boundaries."

'Mr. J. Livingston, J.P., was voted to the chair, and read the adveitisejnent convening the meeting.

After some preliminary discussion, during which Mr. W. M. Thomson •expressed an opinion that some definite resolutions should have been prepared by the promoters of the movement to lay before the meeting, Mr. Moore Hunter proposed — " That it is advisable to form a sepa-

rate county, and that the boundaries be the same as those recently pro- ■ claimed for the Hawera Registration • District." la speaking to the resolution, Mr. Hunter said they had more than the requisite area of ground reqnifeA hy kh& Act to $t» m a. sepamie county. Two hundred thousand acres was the area stipulated for in the ■Counties Act, and he believed they would have over three hundred thousand within the boundaries poposed. One hundred ratepayers were necessary, and they had far more than that. All that was required was, that thieefifths of a majority of the ratepayers should be in favor of the propo-.ee! alteration, and he had no doubt there would be very little difficulty, so fa 1.as that was concerned. If they decided upon having a separate county, it would tend to simplify matter., and the road board would not then have to go through the fa- cc of making appropriations every year, and submitting them for the approval of the county counci 1 . All the wo kof a county could be done by one clerk, aud they would then be able to employ a competent engineer to look after their roads, and would have proper specifications for oil work to be done. If the county had not sufficient work to employ an engineer the whole of his time, he could be paid in propoition to the amount oi' wovk clone ; but he (the speaker) thought there would be quite enough wo< k to employ an engineer the whole of his time. * He believed the wovk would be much more efficiently and economically done than it was at present, if the change was made, and it was on that account that he had moved in the matter.

Mr. M. D. King asked whether it would not be • advisable to include Opunake in the proposed county ? If that was not done, they would have no port. Messrs. G. McLean aud M. Hunter were of opiuion that it would not be advisable at the present time, a> they vrould then probably have two coun-

ties to fight against, instead of one.

Mr. King considered that the present would be the best opportunity they would have of doing so. It might be very easy now, wheieas it would be some trouble to do it byand by. Mr. G. McLean seconded the resolution. He quite conenned with all that had fallen from Mr. Hunter

Mr. P. J. Gane differed with the proposer and seconder of the resolution. He knew from experience that there was a great waste of money in the county councils, and thought the work would be much belter done bysmaller bodies like the road, boards. He could not see any reason iv a man living at Noi-manby or Waitotaia having to go to Patea to get a road made past his own door. If they took hi all the bush settlements in the proposed county, the men living at Strutford, or on the Plains, would, he presumed, have to come to H.'.wera ; tuid he could see no reason for it. Thei-e would be conflicting interests, because the men who will buy land on the Plains will buy roads with it, but it will be different with those who go back into the bus.h. Still he thought anything would be preferable to the present system.

Mr. W. M. Thomson proposed as an amendment — "That the question of a separate county be deferred until the Waimate Plains are occupied ; and that all the force of public opinion be brought to bear on the advisability of occupying the Plains, with the object of obtaining Local Government." He did not think there was the least chance of their getting a separate county, if they discussed the matter for a week. Nothing could be done until next session, and then they would have increased political influence, through the extra population on the Plains. Patea would have a say in the matter, also : they were not likely to have it all their owu way. The meeting was not, lie considered, a representative one, and it would hardly be fair for the promoters of the movement to forward any resolutions as representing public opinion throughout the district. Mr. Parrington seconded the amendment, because he believed it was premature to go in. for separation. If they went in for it, the settlement of the Waimate Plains would sink into insignificance. If they asked for separation, the Government would only say, <k These Hawera people are a clamorous people : if we give them one thing, thoy want another: the best way is to take no notice of them." Mr. Hunter, in replying to what had been said, could not see that they had been at all clamorous. If Mr. Parrington had read the Act careiullvi he would see that it was the

intention of Parliament, at the time of the passing of the Act, to give the people such powers as they were asking. It had been said that the new county would be too large, but if the road boards were fined down too much, he thought it would not answer so well.

Mr. Gideon Inkster asked, if people found themselves too heavily uurthened with taxation, were they to wait for an indefinite period ? Mr. Isaac Bayly did not see that the movement would interfere with the occupation of the Waimate Plains. It had been felt that they had too much Government, and the consequence was that the provinces were done away with. He did not believe the road boards would do the work so well as the counties, and he instanced his own experience in New Plymouth, where some of the road boards had only an area of 1400 acres. If they made the districts too small, it would \>e worse than what they were now laboring under. Mr. Gane entirely demurred to the opinions expressed by tbe movw of the amendment. They were assembled together for the purpose of obtaining local government, and they had nothing whatever to do with politics. They were not to wait until such time as the whole colony was tutored before they could get a separate county, or some other alteration made. The road boards had a meeting recently in Hawke's Buj', and they found that 30 per cent, of the money was expended by the county council in clerical and such like work. His own experience in Mie Patea County Council was that they expended as little as they possibly could on the roads, and as much as they could on other things. He did not attach the same importance to the engineering question as Mr. Hunter aid ; the less they had to do, in his opinion, with these scientific gentlemen the better. If a separate county was formed, what would they do with the Patea hospital ? It had been built at the expense of the whole couuty, and yet it was insured in the name of the Carlyle Town Board ; he objected to it at the time, but was powerless to prevent it. A good many objected to the two rates ; but if the council levied a sixpenny rate for the main road, and the road boards another sixpenny rate for the cross roads, there would be no difference between that and the county council levying a shilling rate. If the resolution was passed, he did not think it would be fair to the Waverley end, where there was a strong feeling against the Patea County Council, and in favor of the voecd boards.

Mr. King pointed out that the county council would have hotel licenses, dog licenses, and impounding fees, and they would have the power to borrow money, if necessary, all of which the road boards would not have. He entirely dissented from the views expressed by My. Thomson. The present was the right time to move in the matter, and he considered the meeting a fairly representative one. Normanby, Whakamara, Opunake, and Mungawhero were represented at that meeting; but apublic meeting was not at all requisite. All that was wanted was that three-fifths of the ratepayers should be in favor of the separation.

Mr. Southey would like to know what would come of all the fees spoken of if they abolished the county council and decided to have road boards ?

Mr. Inkster said they were asked to wait till the Waimate Plains were settled. The Plains were going to be settled for the last ten years, and if they were to wait till that took place, they might have to wait for ever.

Mr. FinlayKon said he considered the meeting a l'epresentafcive one in every respect ; he been deputed by a large number of the Normanby people to represent them,- and Captain Brett gave him leave of absence from the volunteer parade, so that he might be at the meeting. If it had not been for the parade, several people from Normanby would have been present. With regard to Mr. Gane's remarks, as to the settlers looking after their own roads, he considered that, if they had a competent engineer, the less he was interfered with the better.

Mr. McLenn thought there would be little difficulty in separating just now, as there were not much liabilities to be apportioned. Tf they waited a little longer, it might be much more difficult, as the Patea Couuty Council might go in for borrowing ; but it would be better not to push the matter too hurriedly, seeing that they could not bring it to a head till the next session of Parliament.

Mr. Southey wished to know whether the Mountain road would be taken over by the new county ? The Patea County Council had thrown the responsibility of the maintenance of it on the Government, and the consequence was, that it was utterly neglected.

Several persons suggested that Mr. Southey had better get into the new Couuty Council, and then he would be able to look after the Mountain road.

Mr. Breach, in answer to a question, said he believed the people of Opunake would like to join the new county.

Mr. Thomson replied. He considered the settlers on the Wairaate Plains would have the principal say in the matter. He did not think the settlement of the Plains was so remote as some people would make out. He thought anything they could do would

be of little avail until they got more population into the district. The amendment was lost, only three persons voting for it. Mr. Gane proposed a second amendment, — " That the meeting adjourn until Saturday, the 29th August." In the meantime, they would all have time to talk the matter over, and they might have a petition ready for signature, when the next meeting took place. Mr. Thomson seconded the amendment. He only hea. dof the meeting by accident. Mr. King could not uncle-staiul how any reasonable person could object to the resolution. "Whatever they did would not be final, because three-fifths of the ratepayers would have to consent to it. lie couside.ed it would be better that the settle, a mi the Plains should have everything settled before they came to reside there, nibtuad of having to bother with it. Mr. Huntei said the idea of the promoters was, that they houl<l have a public meeting, and he Juu therefore no objection to the j>c^lpiMiemMit. Mr. MuLean did not think any good could come from the delay. They would all see the petition iv tho paper.* , and they could decide whether they would sign it or not. The Chairman thought it bettei to adjourn for a month. They would then have an oppoituuity tf getting tho opinion*, of the people ; especially those from Opunake. They wee till anxious to have Opunake included in the new county.

Mr. Cheal thought that, if the applicable portions of the Act were published in the Mtar, it would have just as much effect as a public meeting.

Mr. Hunter, by leave of tho meeting, withdrew his ••evolution in favor of the amendment piopo->ed by Mr. Gane. Mr. King thought a month too long. He would like to see Lhe question settled before the new licensing year and the new rate-roll wii made up. He proposed that the meeting should adjou.n for one week.

Mr. Finlayson seconded the resolution. The sooner action was taken the better. Peoj.le ffot careless, if the mattei was put off too lunsj.

Mr. Thomson said even the promoters of the movement did not appear to know the Act very well, and he thought, foi that reason, they should support Mr. Gave's amendment.

Mr. Gane considered Jial it would be almost an insult to the outlyingdistricts to force the matter on at such short notice.

The amendment proposed by Mr. King was lost, and Mr. Gane's resolution was carried.

Mr. King proposed, and My. Hunter seconded, — " That, the following committee be appointed to prepare the business for next meeting; aye to form a quorum : — Messrs. J. Livingston, G. Inkster, F. Finluyson, F. IT. Brett, M. Hunter, E. J. Gane, G. McLean, H. Southey, J. 11. Lysapr'ai;; S. A. Broach, J. Winks, H. R. Pairington, M. D. Iling, J. Davidson, aud Captain Good." — Carried. A vote of thankb to the chairman concluded the business.