THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1870.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 766, 15 December 1870, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1870.

The results of the County Council elections, as officially declared, are not likely to be 1 disturbed. The protests lodged in two districts by defeated candidates may possibly not be prosecuted any. further, and it is more than doubtful that any 8 hrs that nv-rht be taken- by the cninpla:hants wi: Id aHerthe present personnel of the Council. The County Council now consists of Messrs Laliman, Guinness, O'Connor, Barff, Robinson, Bbriar, Reid, Battun, and Scanlan. Of. this number jive have been In the Council before, out o.)ly three have been in the last. Council. The question who is to be the new Chairi man is now creating great interest, and speculations .of all kinds are rife as to the " coming man." *Fhe various' minors, however, agree as to the choice being likely to rest between one of the\Hokitika and one of the Greyniouth members. A quartette has been formed at Hokitika consisting of Messrs Bonar, Button, Jßeid, and Robinson, the votes of which will i>e given to one of the four. Mr Bonar, it is said, does riot aspire to the Chair, and Mr Button is reported to be the nominee of of the quartette. On the other hand, we are informed that another party of f».mr has been formed, consisting of Messrs ; Guinness, O'Connor, Barff, and Scanlan, the representative of which is Mr Guinness— always supposing that Mr B.trff, an oid. member, has sunk his own claims 'to the coveted seat. Mr Lahriian appears to hold the balance of power, whether Mr Barff or Mr Guinness be the rival of Mr Button. The choice seems thus narrowed to three— Messrs Button, Barffj and Guinness; all new and antried men, so far as the Chairchanship ia concerned. Measuring two of threeMessrs Button and Barff— by [their proceedings in the Council, Mr Barff is imuch to be preferred. Mr Button has not evinced. any special fitness for a political career. He never devoted milch time or attention to his duties when a .' councillor, ■arid Iris speeches were nothing if not funny or abusive. Mr Barff, on the contrary, is one of the most industrious members the Council ever had. Both in that body and in the General Assembly his want of brilliant ability or legislative talent is a good deal compensated by his indefatigable observance of his duties. He is well. up i in all matters relating to the Gj>ld Fields, and Has on all Occasions manifested the greatest interest concerning them, and ' often been the means of effecting great improvements! But — and we say ib

without offence-^-Mr Barff we do not con- ! sider a suitable County Ciiairman. He has had no official experience, and we do not think possesses administrative ability. Nor do we think he is likely to carry favor with any possible majority in the Council, and we may therefore put him out of the running. Mr Guinness, who is an avowed candidate for the chair, has, it is said, secured the votes of Mr O'Connor and Mr Scanlan, and probably, should Mr Barff see no chance for himself, he would give his adhesion to a Greyniouth man. Mr Grninnes's qualifications for the office have of course yet to be tested. He is in educated gentleman, and has had officjal experience. There is nothing in the .fulfilment of the Chairman's duties tlia f demands much more, except it be natural tact, and loyalty to the Council. Mr Lahman, although not a declared suitor for the chair, would no doubt accept it if conferred upon him, but the latter contingency doe 3 not, we regret to say, appear probable— not that he does nut possess the desired qualifications, but because of the parties to which we haye referred that have been formed. Mr Lahman 's past experience in the Council, his financial ability and impartiality ought not to have been so quietly ignored as they seem to have been by the intriguants. Practically we may take the issue to be Button nr Guinness— Hokitika or Greymouth. The two candidates are tolerably equally balanced in capacity, there is not much to choose between them personally. But this equality affords the opportunity of introducing another question for consideratioiir—should not Greymouth have its turn in the public affairs of the County ? Hitherto everything in the shape of political power has been given to Hokitika, or at least to the southern portion of the County, and it seems reasonable that a change in the rinsfin<( should take place. The: Grey District fully equals the rest of the County in importance, and probably now supplies nearly half the revenues. It -has a fair claim to change places with Hokitika in the management of the affairs of the [County, and' we tru3t this view pf the case will be recognised when the election of Chairman occurs.

r Whilst thus urging the recognition of this districtiin, the matter of the Chairman, we do so under the firm belief that the whole of our present system of government will bo supplanted by a better form of administration ere long. The possible — nay probable— legislative and financial separation of the two Islands very much reduces tho importance and gravity of the recent elections of Councillors and the coming election of Chairman. But, of course, until this change takes place, our present institutions must be worked out, and, whether for a short or longer tertn, we should like to see a Greymouth man in the County Chair.