THE COUNTRY MUNICIPALITIES ORDINANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 740, 3 February 1866, Page 16

THE COUNTRY MUNICIPALITIES ORDINANCE.

I Prom the Waikouaiti Herald, Jan. 24 186S )

The people of Waikouaiti should lose no time in taking advantage of the New Country Municipalities Ordinance. By its provisions they can secure the constitution of the township into a municipality ; or if the people of Hawksbury are agreeable, the two towns can unite and form themselves into one municipality. Immediately on doing so they are entitled to a sum of from L3OO to LSOO, at the discretion of the Provincial Government ; and besides, to two pounds for every pound they raise by rates for the first two years after the municipality is formed, and to one pound for every pound during the next three years. Supposing, and this we cannot doubt, tbafc the inhabitants are public spirited enough to agree to share the official labors for some time, so that the expenses for salaries be merely nominal, there can be no question that vast improvements may be affected in the town by the Municipal System. No doubt we shall be told there is an objection to rates ; but a little consideration will show that such an objection is most impolitic. We presume it will not "be denied that the expenditure of money on improvements increases the va'ue of property. It may indeed be shown that the increase in value is far larger than the absolute amount expended. But supposing it to be exactly the same ; supposing for every pound expended, property is precisely increased in value one pound, the inhabitants will gain for the money they subscribe, the first subsidy ot from L3OO to LSOO, the two pounds for one during the first two years, and the one pound for one of the next three years. Then surely something may be put down to comfort and convenience. The expenditure of a little money would make Waikouaiti as comfortable and convenient as it is a pretty place. Its attractions to visitors would be multiplied many fold. Perhaps it is not well to look too far ahead, but yet it is right to point out that Waikouaiti, as a corporate town, would possess a power and a usefulness it wants now. It would become an entity, and be able to do many things it is unable now to effect. For instance, it might be constituted a trust for the erection of a jetty, the co3t to be paid off by dues, or the means might, indeed, undoubtedly would, "be afforded to it of removing the obstructions to the entrance of the river, and of making a landing stage or jetty on its banks. Again, it would be in ■& position to negotiate with other towns. If there is to be a railway or tramway system in the south of tne Provincp, there is an equal claim to one in the north. Palmerston, Oamaru. Ilampden, and Waiiouaiti, would make very powerful united representations. The building stone of Oamaru, Jthe marble of the Horse Range, the coal of Shag Point, and the supply of the settlers and miners of the Shag Valley, offer the certainty of a remunerative rail"way or tramway traffic — a greater one indeed by far than the MolyDeux holds out. The traffic upon the North Road has "become something enormous. Now the people of Waikouaiti may sit supinely if they like, complaining of hard times, and ■whistling for better winds ; or if they are disposed to put their shoulders to the wheel they can command the good fortune which is slow to come of itself. "We reiterate what we have often said — Waikouaiti has abundant advantages of position and resources. At length a way is open to the people of taking the management of local affairs into their own hands, and if they avail themselves of it, we dare to predict a vast improvement in business and in the value of property. We write, knowing what Municipal Government has done for towns in Victoria, that started upon their careers before they were nearly so much developed as Waikouaiti is. From a very little beginning, great results have sprung. There are many places in Victoria that approach to the dignity of fullblown towns, which commenced a few years since their course of self-govern-ment, when they were little paltry villages.

One feature of the local ordinance ought not to be lost sight of. The Superintendent is empowered to liberally endow municipalities with land outside the municipal boundaries. The sooner Waikouaiti is constituted a municipality, the sooner will it be able to secure some of the valuable suburban lands as reserves, to become in course of time a source of great wealth. The machinery for obtaining' a municipality is simple, and the Superintendent is left no discretion if it be complied with. Upon the petition of fifty bonajide householders, residing within the township, as described by the plans deposited in the Government Survey Office, a municipality has to be granted. In case the two townships agree to petition jointly, only the same number of signatures is required. We commend the subject to the immediate and earnest attention of the residents. Mr Vogel, who carried the Ordinance through in the face of immense obstacles

thrown in his way, first elaborated his design at Waikouaiti, and avowedly saw in it the means of advancing the town he represented equally with other country towns.