THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1358, 5 December 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDA Y, DECEMBER 5, 1872.

Paroa, ho far as present information goes, has been the first district in Westland to select a member of tho next County Council. It was generally recognised as a preserve for Mr Peter Dungan, but Mr Dungan, visually great in generalities, omitted a small but important item of detail. He neglected to renew his qualification by possessing himself of a miner's right in accordance with the Act, and, knowing this neglect, it would have been the proper course for him to have declined nomination, but he was nominated, and he, or,. Mr, Kennedy, for him, took advantage of the opportuuity to refer to an omission in tho registering of minors' rights which would have deserved notice at any other time, but which bore as much relation to Mr Dungan's position as candidate as chalk usually does to cheese. Thn3 technically disqualified, a substitute for Mr Dungan was found in Mr Cooper, and some friends of that gentleman proposed him, although he did not specially desire to be nominated for that district while a candidate in another;' Local affections prevailed. Mr James Hamilton was nominated, and, on Mr Cooper retiring, was without further ceremony elected. Politically, Mr Hamilton is unknown, bnt his name is prominently associated with Paroit and with the practical wisdom, industry, and what it is. Ho eminently represents the commercial interest, which is pre Burned to be predominant on the Qccasion of this election, and iv the Council he would undoubtedly be a respectable and respected representative. His position, however, is at present equivocal. He holds the seat, it is said, simply as a dumb substitute for Mr Dungan, until the: latter grows old enough, as the holder of ! a miner's right, to stand for election. The position is complimentary to Mr Dungan in a high degree, and its acceptance is in equal degree generous on the part of Mr ; Hamilton, but it is not particularly flattering to the intelligence or spirit of the district, aud if Mr Hamilton, now that ho has become a public; man, desires to. act according to his j practice, openly and honorably, he will take . his seat at the open--1 ing of the Council. Should he fail to ] find the Council a congenial sphere, as many others fail, from no fault of their own, he can then honorably vacate his seat,' and it will be open to the electors of the district to elect his successor, whether it be Mr Dungan or any other equally good maa whom the circumstances may create. That . Mr Dungan's chances are superior to those of most men is generally admitted, and his re-election iv proper course would, we believe, give wide satisfaction ; but having himself solely to blame for the present miscarriage of his return, we hope he will not blame us for mingling regrets for his absence from the Council with tho friendly conviction that it "served him right." His disappointment, and that of his friends, point the moral which 13 so regularly insisted upon in the month of March— that it is exceedingly proper to place one's name on the Electoral Roll.