Ctre ©n% Mcgnipjj* FIIIDAY,"JUNE 15, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3718, 15 June 1883, Page 2

Ctre ©n% Mcgnipjj* FIIIDAY,"JUNE 15, 1883.

The Petane election appears to bo causing a good deal of excitement, more so than any former contest for a seat in the County Council of Hawke's Bay. Personal feeling is also playing a somewhat prominent part iv the proceedings, as though some people were under tho impression that one of the candidates had a prescriptive right to be unopposed for any position to which he might aspire. Of course those who hold this view regard Mr Cunningham's candidature in tbo light of an impertinence. He is a new-comer ! Aud fancy a new-comer opposing an old settlor for a seat in tho Council. Without in any way wishing to disparage Mr Tanner, wo must say that we heartily endorse the opinions contained in"Petano Settler's" letter, that is published in another column. It has been too much the general belief that Petane begins and ends at"Mr Alliens' hotel. Petane is a very large district, but it happens to be north of Napier. Its situation is its crime. It might havo been basking in prosperity, its rich lands attracting settlement; there might have been there a flourishing agricultural district supplying the wants of Napier; thero might have been there a handsome suburb of this borough, with well-built villas .surrounded by beautiful gardens. But who knows anything about Petane ? It may almost be said that it was a terra incognita beforo tho bridge was built, a work for which tho province was mainly indebted to a newcomer. The " old hands " did not sco the utility of spending money in opening up the lands to the north ; and the wretched roads running through the Petane riding, apparently, attest to the continuance of that feeling to the present day. AVo look upon Mr Cunningham's candidature as a very health)' sign. He has come from a part of the colony where tho settlers do not believe in going to sleep, but where an active and intelligent interest in public affairs promotes the public good. Fresh lifo is wanted to bo instilled into our local Government institutions. Do our readers remember when, some few years back, a gentleman fjom the South came amongst us, and described the province as a neglected paradise ? " Geat Heavens " . ho exclaimed, "if your country was only known there would be a rush hero from the South; tho place would then go-ahead." Very shortly afterwards more than, half-a-million. of money from the South was invested here, and the placo began to wake up and to movo. It does not pay to dispise new comers. Mr Cunningham, although a new comer among us, is a gentleman who has held for years important positions in local affairs in the South Island. Ho was for several years the chairman of the Ashley Road Board, and a member of tho County Council ever since 1876. Ho was also President of tho Farmer's Club, and has taken a great interest in all questions of local government. It wilt thus bo seen that he was no 1 nonentity in his old district, and he is not the man to bide his light under a bushel wherever he may be. AVo regard Mr Cunningham as a most proper man to como forward at a local election. In his nomination for Petane the most has been made of a slight mistake tho county clerk made in proparing tho rolls, The valuation list aB

received from the Property-tax Department contains the name of J. A. Cunningham, and in the preparation of the electoral roll the clerk believed that " J. A." stood for John Alexander, and inserted those names accordingly. Mr Cunningham's first name is James. "AVo understand that Mr Tanner, or his friends, have announced that in the event of Mr Cunningham being at the head of the poll—which is not by any means improbable—the question of validity of election will be raised on petition. This would bo straw splitting with a vengnnce. Mr Cunningham is a holder of a large freehold estate in the district, and will contribute in equal proportion to county and Road Board rates. Wo do not think it reasonable that ho should be disqualified because of the paltry mistake between James and John. There cannot be a doubt of his identity, and if he is returned any action that may be taken upon such a miserable quibble would surely meet with the reprobation it deserves. Mr Tanner has always been considered an upright and honorable, gentleman, and we thoroughly believo that, if the electors by their votes select Mr Cuinnngham, he -would not lend his assistance to a course which must damage his position as a public man.