Untitled

Lake County Press, Issue 54, 14 June 1872, Page 2

The " Counties Ordinance," introduced last session of Council, for the establishment of "Counties, and for the constitution and regulation of County Councils," is a measure of considerable importance, especially to districts outside Goldfields. We cannot well see how the Goldfields can take advantage of its provisions from the difficulty that exists in assessing mining property — leaving out the objections which would •be raised against doing so by miners themselves. This class possess an undoubted right to have roads and tracks , made in the various mining districts | without any special taxation whatever, i The amount they contribute to the ; revenue in the way of gold duty, fees, ' licenses, &c, added to the large sums that must arise from their consumption of dutiable articles, should alone be sufficient to entitle them to a fair pro portion of the public expenditure. The best thing we could advise for this district would be to have the provisions of the " Municipal Act" extended to Arrowtown ; when we are sure out-districts would be as well looked after as the town itself. It would be for the mutual interests of residents in the district to do so. There is nothing to prevent any member of Parliament from bringing in a Bill to extend the. functions of the Otago Municipalities and make them suitable to mining communities. All depends on the people themselves, and we earnestly hope they .will rouse from their lethargy and take steps in the course indicated.