PORTOBELLO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1585, 8 April 1882, Page 12

PORTOBELLO.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRBSrOEDBNT.) April 3rd. Some speculation has been indulged in here as to whether the County Council are going to adopt the whole of the Counties Act or not. Judging from tho remarks made at the meeting of the Council, reported in last week's Witness, it would appear that some of the councillors think that it is time it should be adopted. There has been a growing feeling for some time back in this district that it ia time something was done in the matter, aB it quite evident from the conduct of the Road Boards in the past, in expending the County moneys on the district roads, that they (the road boards) should be wiped out. To merge the road boards in the county will be a somewhat difficult matter to do, as I do not think any person will take the trouble to get up a petition to the Council and get it signed by the requisite number of ratepayers-^one-third in a road district is needed, possessing in the aggregate not less than one-half of the rateable property,— and even if there is no counter petition the Council may at its own option refuse to merge the district. One thing is clear, if the Government grants no money for tho County roadsland the road boards refuse to keep it in order, something will have to ba done by the County Council or the road will be rendered useless. I may be prejudiced in the matter, but I think the road boards would ba the best and least expensive, although I/have no doubt such places as Anderson's Bay and Portobello will soon be for taking the benefit of the ' Town District Act.'