COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION FOR THE PAROA DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 890, 3 June 1871, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION FOR THE PAROA DISTRICT.

The election of a member of the County Council for the Paroa District, in room of Mr J. O'Connor, resigned, took place at the Road Board Office, Paroa, at noon* yesterday, before Mr H. Kenrick, Returning Officer. The Returning Officer, having read the usual notices, and stated the qualifications of members and electors, called upon gentlemen present to nominate candidates. Mr C. H. Crampton proposed Mr Peter Eungan as a tit and proper person to represent the Paroa District in the County Council. He said the candidate was an old resident in the district, and the whole of the miners placed great confidence in him. He knew all the failings and virtues of the miners, having worked as one of their number for years, and being well aware of the wants and requirements of the Paroa District. Mr Syltanus Davibs seconded the nomination, Mr Hugh Barnhill proposed, and Mr Gardiner Davidson seconded, the nomination of Mr William Leach. No other candidate being proposed, a show of hands was taker with the following result : — Dnngan, 6 ; Leach, o. Messrsßarnhill and Davidson demanded a poll on behalf of Mr Leach. The Returning Officer stated that the poll would take place on Friday next, the 9th instant, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the following places : — Paroa, Marsden, Clifton, Greenstone, and Maori Gully. An Elector asked if German Gully conld not be made a polling place, as there were over 200 miners there. The Returning Officer said it was impossible for him to make any alteration in the polling places as gazetted. If desired, it might be done before the next election for the County Council. Mr P. Dungan said from the honorable position in which he found himself that day, it was incumbent upon him to make a few remarks, but as a stranger to a public platform, he regretted that he could not do justice to the occasion. He offered himself as a candidate for a seat in the Council as a representative of a Gold Fields constituency, and he would alhide to a few of the subjects upon which questions would naturally arise. The mining interest was the only permanent one in the County, and he pointed out a few of the changes which ought to be brought about in order to consolidate it, and add to its prosperity. The question of cutting tracks through the country, the settlement of the people on the lands, water supply for the Gold Fields, and Education would receive his earnest consideration and support, so far as his humble abilities would allow him. He would have an opportunity of explaining his views more fully while visiting the mining districts, and he thanked those present for the kind manner in which he had been received. Mr W. Leach said he found himself in a position he never anticipated, but it was in accordance with a requisition from the electors that he had come forward. He had been a miner since his boyhood, and was fully cognisant of the wants of a mining community. Since coming to Westland it had been hia study to follow up the political position of the County ever since it "was withdrawn from the Province of Canterbury. He had always taken a lively interest in the affairs of the County, but whether to his credit or not was n^t for him to say. He came forward on this occasion at tho request of a

number of his friends, and he would address them more fully uptra all the public questions of the day on the following evening. On the motion of Mr Dungan, seconded by Mr Leach, a vote of thanks was passed to the Returning Officer for the impartial and dignified manner in which he had conducted the proceedings.