THE EVENING MAIL. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 248, 7 February 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1877.

W««rd»iiw«hin!i!«. loi'l'v <l''"P "t- uil<. f ; v,hn ->" t; ""'\" theuffht mivv j..i-t.ilm:y M>;U- wi.kih- niiMo-s tIVHv.-s.imi> think."

Now that the time is draw in,' near at hand when the- uowty-eh>eted Court ty CtmncUlor» must, settle down to their labors it U of interest to speculate what kind of remuneration they expect to receive, and fchtj- expense tliu new system is likely to be to the country. Some of the Counties have acted with, commendable discretion, and, so far, have not t"«v mitted themselves to any taviw expenditure— Waitaki Cuufcy. for instruct : whit'; others* no sooner met in conclave, and actually before they had: the slightest conception of their function-* or duties, corn-meneedto-have a o-di at the purse which they presumed was at then- command, arm bunched out into a lavish rs,nendituro. The ConucUlors of Vincent County have

appointed its patron saint their Chairman. and secured his invaluable services at the email 9iun of JKfeOO per ;ummu, white the Cterkiato draw r.2o<> » year out of tiro Cotinty* revenue. This stun swtu« exceptionally high for the duties rectal from the Chairman, especially when it is remembered that !'t the first meeting of the Council an Kxecutive Committee was appointed to. transact its ordinary bust. B«*i, and the Chairman snated that in his opinion it would not he necessary to Ball th« Council together more than three or tmv time* annually, possibly his arduous fefeoss in designing the County S«-»l may hav* had some considerable weight in the «|»i'Btipn of remuneration. Of enrtr*!', the Gffth clause wf the Counties Act provides that ** the Council may-out of the funds of the County, from time to time make such annual or other allowance to the Chairman, «* lom< as he shall continue Chairman, by way of salary, as they think lit," but we ipn:stion if the ditties which that oUieial wilt he called «p©» to <li«:harg© witl by anything like a qu/Ul fno- qitt» for so high a solatium. The Act m «t> extremely intricate and voJwmtaoo» that it may be safely stated that by

far the greater number of the members of the various Councils throughout the .Co tony are unable to grasp its meaning, and will be, for some time at least, groping in the dark ; and, needful as it may be to have in the Chairman of the proceedings one possessed of Legislative experience, care should be taken at the outset expenditure should not be incurred Itkety to place the body in a false position. The duties of the Clerk to the Council will be both arduous and responsible, and certainty the sum voted by the Vincent County Council for that official appears particularly meagre in comparison with that allotted to its Chairman. Our own County has* been fortunate in securing aa its ChaHuan the services of a gentleman who is en site!t a position as to make tiie question of remuneration a secondary consideration, and also one whose experience in the Tppcr House, and past experience in legislating for the country will be invaluable in presiding over its deliberations. To - morrow the Waitaki County Council assemble for the despatch of bu*itu :M, when, no doubt, the appointment of that important officar, the Clerk, wilt be discussed, if not fixed, and the Council wilt otherwise formally enter upon it* duties.