THE COUNTY ESTIMATES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 75, 20 May 1879, Page 2

THE COUNTY ESTIMATES.

No doubt the settlers of Moutoafelt thvobs of heattfelt gratitude to Dr. Rockstrow, when they read in the report of the Counci meeting, that he had actually submitted to a shilling rato in order to be able to spend £51) upon the Moutoa road. Wo ourselves had begun to hope that eventually thin political infant might get beyond the " sop" period, and become a fifth-rate representative of tho Riding which by mistake drove him in whilst clinging on behind to Mr. Loudon's " brake." But alas for the muta bility of human hopes 1 No sooner does the light of day shine upon Councillor Rockstrow's "estimates," than selfishness of the very worst type is seen. Moutoa shall have £50, ai?d Dr Rookstrow shall also have £50 ! Why did he not for once speak out honestly his meaning, and say, " I voted for tho shilling rate because I wanted £o0 spent near my own house on a grand bridge over the Avenue drain, and because 1 want to make my friend Mr Ji T. Stewart some slight return for all his kindness) and spend £30 in making a road beyond his house?" Why should the Moutoa road be trotted out as a "stalking norao" for his treachery to his constituents, when he thus proposes to spend almost double the amour j for himself and his friend? "These be thy gods, O Israel." Let our readers glance at the Estimates their representative has furnished to the Council of new works he proposes : — £120— Culvert and filling, Main street, Foxton £5Q — Foxton-Sandon road formation £50 — subsidy to Moutoa Road £50 — bridge Avenue Road £30 — Stewart's cornor to brick fields, formation

What do the Moufcoa Settlers think of their champion now f What do the ratepayers of Awahou think of a man who votes for doubling the rate for the evident purpose of obtaiiipg money to spend at his own door, and at that of an intimate friend ? We understand Mr Loudon,Dr Rookstrow's colleague, was not in any way oonsulted regarding these estimates. He has simply followed his own selfish Toent, and on the principle that " Possession is nine points of the law," evidently thinks that to get his little schemes upon the estimates will be a long s«-cp towards their accomplishment. We understand Mr Loudon intends to oppese several of the estimates his colleague has inserted. Iv this the ratepayers will undoubtedly support him. It is a most disgraceful piece of jobbery, that any man claiming to represent a Riding should first vote for an increase of taxation by 100 per cent, and then coolly propose to spend a large part of it for his own immediate benefit, and that of a fiiend. There is a very good law which disqualifies men from holding positions in governing bodies if they are financially interested. Sometimes, however, an unscrupulous plotter gets into positions of public trust, and works upon public funds to gratify his own innate greed When such is the case, it is no wonder that strange estimates are made.