THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XI, Issue 3126, 26 September 1878, Page 3

THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council, re Eepresentation, was hold yesterday afternoon. Present: - Crs. Brodie (in the chair), Thorburn, Coutts, and Bagnall.— The Chairman said that tho present proceedings were new to him, inasmuch as the steps taken respecting additional representation had been upsot, and others commenced. He thought it would be as well for some Councillor to move that the petitions against the proposed change should be read.—This being done, Or. Bagnali gave the chairman an account of the proceedings re representation during his absence in Wellington. He said the Chairman was awaro that proceedings were commenced when he wont away to secure additional representation for the ridings of Kauaeranga and Hastings; but the resolution was not confirmed, and of course the proceedings fell to the ground; which was owing, ho thought, to the expression of opinion contained in the petitions just read, The proposed extension of tho Hastings riding, and the reduction of the Ohinemuri Hiding, both met with disapprobation. These opinions put together induced a majority of the Council at a special meeting called for the purpose of confirming the resolution, not to confirm the resolution previously passed, and proceedings had to be commenced afresh. Meetings of the ratepayers of the ridings of Parawai and Eauaeranga had been held. The ratepayers to the former decided to ask for additional representation,and for thispurposeadeputation waited upon the Council, And the ratepayers of the latter riding resolved not to alter their boundary by increasing the size of the riding. Taking these and other facts into consideration he thought the proposal to form a new riding would meet with the approbation of the Council as a whole.—Cr Bagnall referred to the size of the Ohinemuri Biding, and said that it was so large, and the representatives lived so far away from a large portion of the ratepayers, that it was impossible they could know all the wants of the district. He quoted figures to show that the Ohinemuii Biding would be more manageable when it was reduced. If the resolution which he was about to move was carried, there would bo about 200 ratepayers in tho Ohinemuri Hiding, 100 in the Hastings, and 90 in the new riding. Ho know that tho ratepayers of the Ohinemuri riding wero wrath at the proposed change, and he had carefully considered their claim that their riding should not bo altered, and had come to the conclusion that it was only fair it should be reduced, After a few more remarks he moved a resolution to the effect that the boundaries of the Ohinemuri riding be altered, and a new riding, to bo called the Totara Hiding, bo formed. (I he resolution will be found in our advertising columns).—Or. Thobbum seconded the resolution, and in doing so said that although it did not quite meet his views, yet he would support it. Cr. Thorburn then moved a resolution to the effect that tho number of members should be nine instead of seven as heretofore, and that the Kauaeranga Riding should receive another member, and the new Totara Hiding one, —Or. Conns seconded the resolution, and it was agreed to.—lt was resolved that a special meeting of tho Council should bo held on the 25th October, at 2.30 p,ni„ for the purpose of confirming the resolutions referred to.