BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. “The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KING JOHN, ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1873.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 47, 12 February 1873, Page 2

BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. “ The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KING JOHN, ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1873.

E a S ai «- Urge upon the settlers of the Bay ot Plenty the nccossitv of registering their claims to vote. We look upon this as the solemn duty of every man, and the neglect of which at the present time as simply We believe that scarcely hali. the quanhea persons limeystus have taken the trouble to register their claims \\ e also believe that to their neglect is due a large measure of misgo\vrnmeut. iNow, bad government, when it ovists i< one of those things which colonists car’ to a great extent alter, if thor will but exercise their right to vote. W hat a very srnall proportion of the population of the Bay have any voice in public matters ! A. *arg° number of people will not take the

' small a mount of trouble that is required to give them' the great privilege of voting, and yet they arc ready enough to grumble if things do not go on exactly as they wish. We would most strongly urge upon our readers to bo “up and doing,” to quality themselves to help to improve matters. Every settler, no matter of what degree, is interested in the welfare of his adopted land, and especially the particular district to which he belongs. Let them then have a voice in the choice of the men in whose hands that welfare lies. The dale of the election of representatives for Tauranga and Opotiki in the Provincial Council is not far distant. Each man pays heavily towards the expenses of the Provincial G-overnmont, and is aifected for good or evil by it Those who have not . registered their names should do so at once. The period appointed by the Act for so doing is during the mouths of January, February, and March, and the latest date is March Mist. The qualifications are —freehold, leasehold, or household, and the Registration OTicer is Mr Hamlin, the Resident Magistrate at Maketu. y