GOLDEN JUBILEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3801, 18 January 1927, Page 17

GOLDEN JUBILEE.

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

CELEBRATIONS AT LAWRENCE.

Wednesday was a memorable day in the history of the Taupeka County Council inasmuch as it marked the completion of 50 years’ service in the interests of the ratepayers. During that long term the council has done a remarkable amount of work in the way of developing the district, and as years go on it will, no doubt, accomplish a great deal more. In order to mark the occasion in a fitting manner -a dinner was held at Lawrence on Wednesday night. There was a very large attendance, and amongst those present were a number of distinguished guests. The chair was occupied by Mr A. C. Leary (Chairman of the .County Council). CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. Tn a few introductory remarks the chairman expressed pleasure at seeing so many people present. He took it as a compliment to the council that the invitations had been accepted so freely. • He wished to express regret at the fact that the grand old man of the council—Mr F. Oudaille—was unable to be present. Mr Oudaille, who was 100 years old last August, joined the council when it came into existence, and held the position of chairman for five years,- The Chairman intimated that Miss Mary Downie Stewart, Sir George Fenwick, Mr J. H. Waigth, Mr A. S. Herbert, Mr G. S. Edie, Mr W. Quin, Mr M’Lean, Mr H. Craig, and Mr E. Ottrey were unable to be present. TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL. The toast of the Tuapeka County Council was proposed by the Hon. G. J. Anderson, who referred to the fact that he arrived in Lawrence in 1862, a few months after Mr Knight. The county system arose out of the abolition of the provinces, which was a favourite idea of Sir George Grey. Sir Goorge bitterly opposed the abolition of the provinces and the formation of the county councils. In moving the adoption of the Bill for the formation of councils Sir Julius Vogel made a very fine speech. There was a fine row over the question of boundaries. After outlining the proposals contained in the Bill Mr Anderson said that at the first meeting of the Tuapeka County Council the banks were asked to quote a rate of interest bn an overdraft of £5OOO, and the best offer they could get was 8 per cent. There was a provision in the Bill for raising special loans, but that was thrown out by the Legislative Council. Sir George Grey next proposed to separate the islands, and there were still hints of a similar movement to-day. He could remember the time when the South Island carried the ‘North Island on its back. After the Bill was passed trouble arose in connection with the formation of county councils and the selection of county headquarters, but there was no trouble in Lawrence, and he understood that there had been no serious trouble, since. If the original suggestion that watersheds should form the boundaries had been adopted the Tuapeka County would "have lost a very valuable rating area. Tuapeka was one of the first county councils and it was one of the largest and most progressive in New Zealand.

In responding to the toast, the Ch-irman said the first meeting of the council was hold on January 4. 1877, and the second on January 17 of the same year. It was at' the second meeting that Mr J. J. Woods was appointed clerk—(Applause.) The first engineer was’ Mr Johnson and he understood that he was a first-class engineer in every respect. On November 8, 1877, Mr Fraser, who was present that night, was elected to the council. In 1878 the total rates collected amounted to £1930, in 1901 they were £2193, and in 1926 they had risen to £13,356. The increase could be accounted for in several ways. The increased cost of administration had been very marked. For instance, the wages bill increased by 62 per cent., between 1915 and 1925 and the salaries of the administrative officers had increased by 72 per cent, in the same period. The increase was due in a large measure to the demand for better roads. In 1880 the gold revenue amounted to £4877, so that the gold winners in those days were responsible for finding practically four-fifths of the council’s revenue. In 1900 the gold revenue had decreased to £2104, and to-day it was only £176. They were very much indebted to the early councillors and their successors for the conservative way in which they carried on the business of the council. The present council was in the happy position of having a loan indebtedness of only £5235 and by 1940 that would be wiped out completely. iThe total cost of administration was 7.42 per cent, of the revenue, which was very favourable when compared with the position of other county councils. He was sure that there were very few counties where the percentage was so low. There were 1000 miles of road in the county-, 300 miles of which were metalled, 300 were formed, and 400 were unformed. The conditions had changed very much in recent years, and the every-increasing use of motor cars had led to a demand for better _ roads., The problem was how to maintain good roads, and that was one that had not yet been solved. The Main Highways Board had done splendid work, and he was quite satisfied that if it had not been for the assistance given by that body the main highways would not he in the condition they were in to-day. He thought the time would come when the whole cost of roading would have to come from some other source than the ratepayers. At one time the traffic was all local, but now it was proctically all foreign, and for what little local traffic there was the farmers were paying their share of the monev to the councils through the Main Highways Board. He was sure the motorists were quite prepared to be taxed for the maintenance of the. main highways' provided they were getting value for their money. He would like to pay a tribute to the members of the present council. ■ They were a very fine body of men, and he had always found that they were out to do their level best for the ratepayers. Mr J. K. Simpson, who also responded to the toast.. stated that he had served on local bodies in the district for more

than 30 years. He was elected to the Tuapeka County Council in 1896 and to the Hospital Board in 1897. He was chairman of the County Council in 1900. He had also served for many years on the Borough Council, and as Mayor of the town. He had always tried to do his best. The responsibilities and importance of the council -as a local body had greatly increased durxi last 30 years. In 1897 the total rateable value of the property within the boundaries of the county was £2,363,190. This-represented an increase of no less a sum than £1,541,424. In 1896 the total rates levied were £2564 at three-farthings in the pound. Now the rate was doubled to £14,766. Lhus the councillors had nearly six times as much money as their predecessors in 1896 to spend, wise or otherwise. He felt quite confident that the local bodies of the district and the ratepayers they represented would during the next 50 years deal as wisely and prudently with financial and other matters as they had done during the past 50 years. We are proud of our record in the past. So far as the County Council was concerned, most of the goodwill and co-operation had been due to the business ability of then- respected and esteemed county clerk, Mr J. J. Woods. The ratepaj'ers, residents, and local bodies of the district owed him much, and one ould not say too much in praise of the zeal energy industry, and knowledge that he had put into his work, or of the urbanity and courtesy he had shown to all and sundry during the half-century which had elapsed since he began his official career. THE BRITISH EMPIRE. dle t j a i t °L“ Ihe British Empire” w as proposed by Mr J. B. M’Kinlay, who expressed pleasure at the presence of such a distinguished guest as Sir James Allen. The serih«i r Sa ' d JameS Could he best described as one of our great Empire builders, and one could not help being proud of belonging to the Empire when w e hid such a man to represent us.

ADDRESS BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. Sir James Allen said it was a joy to him to return to New Zealand, and particularly to ms old electorate. He was specially pleased to return to Lawrence, but there were regrets because many of his old friends had passed away and their places had been taken by younger men. He had been deeply interested to view the monument to the fallen soldiers who had laid down their lives tor the well-being of the Empire. The deeds of those who had gone before were an inspiration to people to dare and do and build up the Empire. At the Imperial Conference m x 923 the problems were much the =ame as they were in 1926. In 1923 the Canadian delegate (Mr Mackenzie Kin*d was a very strong Imperialist. He was not so sure about General Smutts, who was a charming gentleman. The Imperial constitution was not written, but it was a thing that developed from time to time as events a»°se Ln 1923 Mr Mackenzie King knew that the safely of Canada depended on adherence to the British Empire. Mr Amery was wise enough to create a Dominion -'luc® w u ,c h dealt solely with the dominions, and there was also a Colonial Office. Since then there had been a remarkable growth of Imperial feeling. New Zealand was far away, and did not realise the difficulties in regard to conferences, but the time was coming when something would have to be done in the way of holding round-table conferences, which should be held very frequently. New Zealand must be represented in London to enable these conferences to be held. Ihe discussions by the High Commissioncrs at Mr Amery’s office had been very valuable, and they had enabled them to realise the difficulties confronting the Empire. The High Commissioners had met regularly and had discussed Imperial problems, and it was his-privilege to prepare a list of the subjects to be discussed at the jecent Imperial Conference. If nothing else had been done than had been done in regard to General Hertzog, the Conference would have been a great success. General Hertzog had gone back to bouth Africa thoroughly imbued with the idea of adhering to the EmEmpire and with the Imperial spirit. Mr Mackenzie King had gone back to Canada with a strengthened resolve to stick to the Empire, and the president of the Irish Free State had also been impressed by the Conference. The difficulties facing the Empire were very largely misunderstandings among ourselves and with foreign nations with whom we were in relationship. The first misunderstandings might be dissipated by solidity within the Empire and constant round-the-table conference between representatives of the Mother Country and the dominions. • A High Commissioner had to place aside party politics for the benefit of the dominion ?®. a . vvhole. _lf he differed from his Prime Minister, his immediate resignation was most advisable. The bonds of Empire were to-day stronger than they were three months ago. During his term of office as High Commissioner he had been acquainted , representatives of foreign countries. At the League of Nations Assembly New Zealand voted as a separate entity; and although the Dominion differed in minor" questions, she voted with Great Britain on important matters. The foreign countries knew of the influence possessed in the world by the Empire. The Empire delegation to the Assembly worked quietly and the influence grew year 'by yea/ Much. of the good done was due to the high ideals of such men as Lord Balfour and Lord Robert Cecil, whose work had been carried on by Sir Austen Chamberlain.

“I cannot conclude without saying something about the enormous value to the world of the influence of the British Empire in dealings with ■ foreign peoples of rts own dominions and territories” said Sir James. “I think it will be admitted throughout the world that no nation or organisation can deal with native or tropical questions with the same experience justice as we do in Great Britain, and though you may find, as we find to-day,’ Great Britain subject, apparently, to criticism by Chinese, believe me, if I know anything about it, we have only to live quietly through that criticism and never lose our heads. Thanks to Heaven, Great Britain has not lost her head with China in all these differences, and has not used force and rifles to do something to enable a cry to be raised in. China Which would create a very much more hostile view towards Great Britain, not only by those sections supporting China, but the world generally.” There was’ no - possibility of coming to a conclusion on the Chinese

question. Sir James asked what was the power in China to-day of Mr Wellington Koo, who was friendly towards Britain. The Peking Government controlled Northern China, and Canton and Hangkow were controlled by any Government or army. Until China’s internal difficulties were settled Great Britain could do nothing more than exercise profound patience, and should not take any action that might, and would, be wrongly interpreted by those who wished to do Great Britain Harm. In time China would settle difficulty, and the endurance of the scoffing and injustice heaped on Britain would be rewarded.

‘The League of Nations has recognised that cliques have formed among some of the , nations, and that these are dangerous, ’ Bjr James stated. “We recognise that politics and policies change. If Great Britain and the Empire are to exercise any greater force and influence at the League of Nations Assembly and elsewhere, we must get down to bedrock—instil into the minds of the individual people Representing the Empire the ideals of right, justice, and determination to do the right thing, and let the world know we are not out for laudation of ourselves, t , servo our °' vn country- and those who belong to other countries. I beg you to remember that, however big these international and Imperial problems are,. you have to get down to the men and women of your own country with the ideals, of justice and truth before you can get>the world purified as we would wish it to be.” NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT. ±he toast of the New Zealand Parliament was proposed by Mr John Edie, who expressed the opinion that the New Zealand Parliament would compare with any Parliament in the Empire. In Sir James Allen they nad a local product, who had represented the Dominion with honour not only m New Zealand,’ but also as High Commissioner. He was sure that during the war the New Zealand soldiers .were second to none and that they represented ihe backbone of the country. ' The Hon. Mr Anderson said that if Parliament was a reflex of the people and if it was a reflex of those present it must be a. jolly ™ c d Parliament. The tuapeka district aad sent some exceedable men to Parliament, and some of them would leave their names on the scroll of fame, including Sir James Allen, who was a great credit to the Dominion. Messrs Horn, Dickson. and Waite, M.U. s, also responded to the toast.

EX-COUNCILLORS. I to °/ “Ex-councillors” was proposed by Mr John Bennetts, who referred to the enormous amount of work done by councillors for nothing. There had been some fine men amongst the ex-coun-cillors, and they had done excellent work whose efforts would >e remembered for a long time The speaker paid a tribute to the work of Mr Woods, who had made duty his ideal, and who had carried out his duties superbly. The same I’emarks applied to the ex-councillors. Mr R. A. Rodger said he was venpleased to re-visit Lawrence and to do honour to Mr Woods. It was pleasing to note that such fine service to the ratepayers was fittingly recognised. The old councillors did yeoman service in establishing lines of communication throughout the country. The people to-day were reaping the rewards of their labours. At one time a visit to Lawrence for a meeting of the council occupied nearly a week. It had always been a pleasure to him to attend the meetings, of the council. It should be a duty jnd a pleasure to anyone to render service to the other fellow. He would strongly recommend anyone who could do so to put in service as a member of a loc.al bodv. Men like Crs Bennetts and Simpson deserved great credit for the way they had e rried on for so many years.

Mr Alex. Fraser said he arrived, in New Zealand in 1861, and was at Gabriel’s Gully a month after the rush. At that time Tuapeka was a wilderness, and but for the discovery of gold it would probably have remained a pastoral country. Lawrence was hen regarded as the capital of the goldfields country, and it was probably still the capital. Mr P. MTnerney said he had never been guilty of a long speech, and he was not -»oing to be guilty thqt night. He believed that the cost of the maintenance of hosiptals should be borne by the Government and not by the ratepayers. The ratepayers were keeping hospitals going all over the country, but the Government had means of collecting money that no local body had. The ex-councillors had done great work for the country. He would like to pay a tribute to Mr Edie for his work as engineer, especially in connection with the construction of bridges. The speaker also referred in appreciative terms to the work done by Mr Woods. KINDRED LOCAL BODIES.

The toast of “Kindred Local Bodies” was proposed by Mr D. M'Lennan, who said he admired the charitable spirit of Mr Woods.

Mr W. E. S. Knight expressed his great pleasure in attending the celebrations and in honouring Mr Woods. The speaker said he arrived in the district in 1862, and in 1906 he was appointed to the County Council, becoming chairman very soon afterwards. Since 1911 he had been a member of the Hospital Board, of which he had now been chairman for 10 years. It was his experience as a member of the Tuapeka County Council that gave him confidence to stand for the Hospital Board. The Hospital Board had been, against a borrowing policy so far, but he. was afraid that a change must be made in the near. future. There were essential services which must be paid for, and the board found itself running into debt owing to increasing salaries, equipment, etc. There was a desire to see the Dunedin Hospital the leading hospital in the Dominion. but that meant heavy expenditure. There were no fewer than 13 institutions under the board’s control, and the costs were mounting up. There must be a borrowing policy, but what did that mean? It meant that interest and sinking fund would have to be paid. The expenditure was mounting up, and there was no doubt that the rates would have to be increased in the near future.

Mr J. L. Rooney (Mayor of Roxburgh) said he would like to compliment the Tuapeka County Council on the present condition of the roads. He had heard people say that the Tuapeka County roads compared favourably with other roads in the Dominion. . The present state of affairs was very different from what prevailed in the past. Mr Bennetts had been a member of the County Council for over 30 years

and had never missed a meeting excu»t through illness and that was not ofteiv The speaker referred to the great possibili ties of the Roxburgh power station and th*extension of the railway to Roxburgh, th'i latter being largely due to the efforts rf Mr John Bennetts. The Roxburgh Borough jubilee would be celebrated nett August, and he hoped to see their notable visitors present at that gathering. Mr James Ritchie said the Tuapeka County Council had made great, strides in the last 50 years, and he hoped it would make greater strides in the next 50 years. The road between Lawrence and Roxburgh was a credit to the county and he ..thought it would be an object lesson to other counties. The speaker referred to the question of T.B. cases. Until a few years ago only the North Canterbury and Otago Boards had made a ririous effort to deal with the problem. In the last few years eight boards had combined to erect a sanatorium at Waipiata at a cost of £BO,OOO, whereas on the other hand two institutions were established by the Government in the North Island. This was a national matter, and he hoped the Government would remember that. He mentioned that 90 per cent, of the patients at Waipiata had been discharged with the disease arrested.

MINING INTERESTS. The toast of “Mining Interests” was proposed by Mr Horn, who said he regarded the toast as one of the most important in the Lawrence district. The Gabriel s Gully district was the first pavable district opened in the South Island, and but-for that discovery the development of this area would have been delayed for 100 years. There was plenty of gold to be won, but the cost of getting it was too heavy. The day would come, however, when all the old mining areas would be worked up again. He was proud to say that he was a pioneer in the industry. °

Mr W. R. Smyth expressed the opinion that the mining industry had been responsible for sending the district ahead. The pioneers were men of grit and ability, and the work they had done had transferred central Otago from a wilderness to a paradise. The decline of the minin o, industry was to be regretted, but that was largely a legacy of the war. The industry could not pass on the extra cost of production. There ,vere still tremendous possibilities in the vicinity of Lawrence. At Blue Spur and Wetherstones there were great fields awaiting development, and it was the duty of the Govern-(--nt to see that it was reserved for mining purposes. He was very aopeful that there would be a revival of the industry which would benefit Lawrence and the whole of New Zealand. The toast of the “Public IVorks Department” was proposed by Mr I. D. Revie, who referred to the assistance given to the local bodies by the Public Works Department. The Tuapeka County Council a ?,. rec «i ved e A ery assistance from the 1 übhc Works Department, and this was largely due to the work of Mr Marks, who understood the needs of the local bodies. Mr Marks complimented the council on its progressive spirit in its effort to adopt up-to-date methods in regard to road improvement. The progress made had been remarkable, and in introducing the latest machinery the council and its engineer were to be congratulated. The relations between the Public Works Department had been very happy, and in no case had they been happier, than with the Tuapeka County Council OTHER TOASTS.

The other toasts honoured were “The Ladies” (proposed by Mr J. Cameron, and responded to by Mr Murney), “The Press” (proposed by Mr T. Pilling and responded to by Mr J. Norrie), and the Chairman” (proposed by Mr Anderson). During the evening several musical items were given, and the selections met with a very favourable reception. COUNCILLORS AND EX-COUN-CILLORS. The following is a list of the councillors and ex-councillors:—Horace Bastings, Jas. Bennet, James C. Brown, Jas., Buchanan, Jas. B. Borton, Jas. K. Brown, John Bennetts, Henry C. Clayton, Robert Cotton, George Cockburn, Robert G. Cotton, Wm. Cameron, John Edie, Alex. Fraser, Wm. Honnor, Samuel Henry, George Howat, J. Fi Herbert, John Herbert, John Inglis, John F. Kitching, F. W. Knight, W. E. S. Knight, John E. Keenan, Wm. Livingston, A. C. Leary, David H. Mervyn. Wm. D. Morrison, John Michael. John M'Farlane, Alex. M‘Nab, P. MTnerney, D. M'Lennan, R. Macdonald, E. Murney, Francis Oudaille. E. Ottrey, Wm. Osborne, G. F. B. Poynter, Jas. Ritchie, John Rose, Robert A. Rodger, lan D. Revie, Jas. Rodger, Jas. Sim, Wm. Sheath, Jas. B. Sim, Geo. H. Stewart, J. K. Simpson, R. M. Smith, Edward Tubman, Geo. S. Walker, and Robt. Wood. The members of the present council are Councillors A. C. Leary (chairman), John Bennetts, R. G. Cotton, Wm. Cameron, D. M'Lennan, R. Macdonald, E. Murney, I. D. Rerie and J. K. Simpson. .