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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3008, 15 February 1881, Page 2

Whether it was owing to a feeling tbat little remains to be done; that tbe borrowed money has been nearly spent; that we have not and cannot get a harbor ;or whether it was due to the natural apathy of the residents _of Napier, certain it is that, with the exception of, perhaps, three or four individuals, no one took the slightest interest in the Harbor Board elections yesterday. And we venture to think the two or three who did lay themselves out to do some canvassing were actuated more by personal feelings than by public spirit. The fact is, to use a vulgar expression, the harbor is "played out": it is now impossible to work up any enthusiasm on' the subject ; -sven the Kidnapper scheme, which, like a nursery Bogy, is trotted out occasionally to frighten us, has lost all Every now and again something occurs, in connection with the bar, the wharves, or the channel, which raises public wrath, but in a day or two indignation subsides, and sleepy indifference again reigns supreme. Is it idleness or contentment that is the cause of the apathy ? the mental idleness that refuses to be strained in any direction contrary to the ordinary grooves of private business, or the placid contentment which is engendered by the thought that things might be worse than they *re ? And yet everyone who gives the subject the slightest consideration is perfectly satisfied of this—that the loan has been wasted on the harbor works ; that much of the money has been foolishly spent; that the management of the harbor is bad, and the administration of the Board could hardly be worse. Every second person to be met in the sheets will express tbe above opinion, but it is not one in twenty who will put himself to the slightest trouble to make matters better. Thus, out of the whole body of ratepayers in this town, only 137 thought it worth their while to go to the poll at the election for three borotfgh members of the Board, and for the three seats there were only four candidates, the votiog for whom was as follows: —

Lyndon, E 206 Smith, J. A 202 Gleadow, J.B 199 Ellis. G 167 The first three were declared duly elected.