VINCENT COUNTY ELECTIONS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 865, 15 November 1878, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY ELECTIONS.

—o— Of the nine seals at the County Council Board, only three were contested, being those for the Ridings of Dunatan, Kawarau ami Matakamii, and the Roll for these took place on Wednesday last the 13th instant with the following results. Dunstan Riding, i B. Naylor 90 J. D. Foraud 65 Majority for Naylor, 35. Matakanui. W. Greenbank 49 J. C. Chappie ... ... 44 J. Rivera 1 Majority for Greenbank, 5. Kawauau Riding. Vincent I’yke 7G James Cowan 74 Majority for T’yke, 2. The Council will consequently bo composed ot the following gentlemen. - -Dimstan Riding, Mr B. Naylor ; Mannherikia, Mr f. Pitches; Earnscleugh, Mr M. J. M’Ginnis; Matakanui, Mr Greenbank; Kawarau, Mr V. Pyke ; Nevis, Mr W, Masters ; Clutha, Mr A. .Tolly ; Lmdis, Mr C Colelough ; Hawea, Mr A. Fraser. Asa whole the C mncil miy be looked upon as a representative one, each interest, the pastoral, commercial, agricultural and mining interests being represented. The fact of but three, out of nine seats, being contested, displays an amount of apathy and lukewarmness of feeling that speaks anything but favorably of the County systern of Government, and it is to lie hoped the electors of those Ridings, who have acted apparently in haste in the re-election of their representatives may not have occasion before the term of office (three years) expires, to repent at their leisure. With the exception of the members for the newly formed Ridings of Dunstan and Hawea, aP, however, are old an d tried, and found to be true men, and therefore the electors did not select as it were with their eyes shut, there is consequently but little cause to fear but that they will act in the future with the same desire for the good of the County generally as they have done in the past, and that they will prove themselves worthy the confidence reposed in them. The Drat action of the Council will be the election of their Chairman, and ns the former occupant of that office (Mr V. Pyke) retains his seat for his ohl constituency, the Kawarau, we have little doubt but that he will again be elected to fill the post of honor—under his rule the County system was instituted and put upon its trial, and the result is everything even the most sanguine could have anticipated. Vincent County, throughout the whole of the Colony, is looked upon as being the model County, and Vincent Pyke, the model Chairman, we therefore in naming him as the future Chairman feel, we express but the wishes ot nineteen twentieths of the entire electorate. We are aware there are some few who will say nay to us in our praises of Mr Pyke ;it is quite right that there should be soma adverse votes, so as to maintain an equitable balance, provided they are unbiassed ; in the past a good deal of the opposition has not been of that character. In the interest of the public we say let the hatchet be buried, and that in future the aim of all be the conferring of general rather than local benefits.