THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1870.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 756, 22 November 1870, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1870.

The sjenviral election for members of the County Council takes place on Thursday, the Bth December, the nominations being of course some days earlier, although the precise day has not been officially announced. The Act prescribes that the usuil notices of the elections shall be given by public advertisement at least fourteen clear days prior to the day of election, and that the nomination of candidates must take place not le3s nor more than seven days subsequent to such notice. The official notification will most prob ibly appear in our Thursday-, issue, and the nomination day will doubtless be tlu following Thursday — the polling, in c ises of con'est, taking place on that day week. Wo may remind our readei'3 that the voting on this occasion will be in accordance with the provisions of the Ballot Act passed last session of the Assembly, a description of which we may publish before the polling day. We su-e given to understand that although repeated and urgent representations have been made to the County Chairman with respect to the appointment of polling places, that functionary has, with his i usual dilatoriness, failed, up to the present time, to make the necessary arrangements. Seeing that the elections are so near at hand it is unpardonable neglect on the part of the County Chairman not to have fixed the polling places, aud thus enabled the Returning Officers to make the requisite arrangemenls fur conducting the polling. It i% the more blameable on account of the new method of voting which requires certain accommodations and facilities for voters that were not needed under the old system. The Road Board elections for members in place of those who retire by rotation might be tukeu ou the same day as those for the County Conncil, and thus save the miners and County residents generally the time and trouble of attending twice at the polling places. As far a3 we are able to learn there will be closb contests i» c ich district, and probabilities appear to point to the possibility of there beinjj very few of the old me'aibeu of the County Council reflected. For the Grey mouth District ther«j are now four candidates already announced, viz , Messrs Lahman, Guiuuess, Payne, and Kilgour, and tlio name of a fifth— Mr W. S. Smith, is likely to be added to the list. For tho Paroa District Messrs Carreras and O'Connor will contest the seat. At the Waimea four candidates are mentioned— Messrs Clarke, Barff, Owen, and Hanifdrti and wo heatthat Hokitika will have to choose it 3 two members from amongst Messrs Brown, Evans, White, and floos. Ross will also have two, if not three, candidates, but beyond the rumor that Messrs Button and Aylmer are probable nominations, we have no further information. At Kanieri Mr Learmonth will oppose Mr Robinson, and at Okarito Mr

Ralfe, formerly of Greymouth, is the only name announced, but it is probable other local aspirants for the seat will come forward. We would hint that it is about time that the electors of Greymouth were enabled to learn the views and opinions of the numerou3 candidates now before them, in order that they may be able to discriminate amongst such an embarras eh richesse. This would apply more j^articularly to those gentlemen who have not j r et made their debut on the political stage. In other portions of (ho County the candidates are enlightening the constituencies, and we notice that Mr Carreras addresses the Paroa electors this evening. The approaching elections are not devoid of importance, although it is quite possible that the new Council will have before very long to decide what sort of death it would choose — for to our minds the County of Westland under its present constitution and institutions is doomed. It is certain that the people of this district will not re3t content 'until the boun-dary-line is altered, and should the South Grey District be added to Nelson the rest of the County will have to seek admission to Canterbury or Otago. Further, there is the inevitable and insurmountable fact that financially tho County cannot exist much longer. Its revenues have been ao far curtailed that it has become impossible to carry on the administration efficiently. A revenue of about L 40,000 cannot well meet an expenditure of nearly double that sum, and it appears to U3 that whether .. palatable or not the General Government will have to apply the remedy just completed in the case of Southland -viz., the amalgamation of the County with neighboring Provinces. In the view of such a possibility, it is desirable that the new Council should be composed of men wh:> will be capable of dealing with the situation, as no doubt the views of the Council itself would considerably influence the action of the Government. But setting aside this prospect for the future, there are many other matters which vender it desirable that the electors should send to the Council the most able and practical men they can select ; and that they may have something to guide them, it would be well to have the means of learning the views and opinions of the several candidates.