PALMERSTON AND SHAG VALLEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1583, 25 March 1882, Page 13

PALMERSTON AND SHAG VALLEY.

(FROM OUR OWN COIUtESPOKDENT ) March 21st.

Since my last communication, tho wea'hor has boen very warm and sultry, and ncarcely a drop of rain has fallen. In consequence, tho threshing machines have havo been making rapid progress, and the greater part of the farmers have their grain secured in their barns.

Like all othor thriving communities we are never in want of some important event or grievanco upon which to air our elocutionary powers. Tho all-important tupic under discussion at tho present timo is the double-rate question, and tho proposed toparation from the Waikouaiti County. The double tax has touched tho ratepayers upon a very vulnerable point — their pockets— in consequence of which a j,roat ado haß boen made about tho matter, and stops are being energetically taken to prevent a repetition of tho two taxes by separating tho I'almeratoii, JJunback, and Waihemo ridingn fiom tho Waikouaiti County. A public meeting of the latepayors in these three ridings waa hold in tho Town Hall on Thursday, to tako into consideration the advisability of separating from tho yresont county or otherwise us mi^ht bo deemed necetsary. There was a fair attendance, but not so laige as might havo been expected, cousideiing that the question ia ono winch materially alfects the wclfaie of tho district. MrToJd, who was voted to tlm choir, commenced tho pioeeediriics of (.he meeting by blafciny the pui'iio.^ Jar wnich. it had buou coaveiicJ, ft.i d callul upon Mr Clilinorc, tho chaii'iuan or fchc Road Board, to propose tbo ycwluti<jii, Mr

Gilmore said that there were thfee w&ys ol dealing with the question. The first was to sit calmly with their hands in their pockets, and pay the two rates ; the socond was to merge into the county ; and the third, to «oparate from the present county, and form the northern ridings into a hew comity. The value of the rateablo property in the Palmerßton Hiding stood to Hawksbury in the ratio of 10 to i2j to Blueskin, 10 to 8 ; and to the North-East Valley, 18 to 2. Hfe thetl submitted the following resolution : — " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the northern portion of the Waikouaiti County, known as the Palineraton, Waihemo, and Dunback Ridings should be constituted a new county, and that a petition to that effect be prepared in accordance with the Countie3 Act, and forwarded to his Excellency the Governor." Mr M'Laren seconded the motion. Several others present then gave their opinions on tho subject, all being in favour of tho separation. Mr M'Kenzie, in answer to a question as to whether or not there were any obstaclos in tho way of gaining their ends, replied that if they went properly about the matter there was very little possibility of their being defeated. The VVaikouniti County contained more that 40,000 acres, and the new County would have to embrace at 200,000 acres. A petition would have to be got up, signed by three-fifths or more of the ratepayers —Mr D. Ross then proposed the following resolution, which was carried unanimously :— " That for the furtherance of the above object a committee be ftppointed, with power to add to its number, and that such committee be empowered to prepare the petition and carry out all details in connection therewith. Mr Robertson asked how the details were to be carried out without funds. He proposed that when the petition was going round every person should be asked to subscribe a httlo. The Chairman said it would come to the same thing if the Road Board supplied the funds, but Mr M'Kenzie said that this could not be done, as the Government auditor would not pass it. A facetious membor of tho company hereupon suggosted that a bill bo drawn and discounted on the new county. It was decided to leave the 'matter in the hands of the new Committee, who mot immediately after the closo of the proceedings. A meeting for the purpose of arranging all matters connected with tho getting up of our annual racoa was held on' Wednesday last. The funds should be rather better this year than last, as there is a balance of £47 lls 9d to start with. The sth of May is the day appointed for the race meeting. Piscatorial matters are rather dull here at present. Tho fish aro either getting scarce, or else they are getting .very wary in nibbling, for our local anglers are meeting with but little success. Hares ate plontiful, and duoks are as numerous as usual, but partridges seem to be getting far scarcer.