THE Grey river Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1386, 9 January 1873, Page 2

THE Grey river Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1873.

Mr Robinson, member for the Kanieri District of Westland, was yesterday elected Chairman of the County Council. Mr Robinson's election may not be a source of unalloyed delight to the public, but it cannot cause surprise, nor need it be the subject ot regret. It is no surprise either to the expectations or to the sensibilities of the public, for a general impression had been formed that such would be the result, and those who have had opportunities of judging of Mr Robinson's character as a public man have admitted his capacity, while those who are less acquainted with him know nothing to his disadvantage. This, at least, applies so far as his conduct as a Councillor is concerned. In his seat in the Council, his demeanor, his expressions, and his show of sense have been what may be termed exemplary ; his fault, if it is a fault, being that he has exhibited more of the" fortiter in re than ths suavitcr in r.iodo. Of course the mere ability to speak sensibly in the County Council, without offending the proprieties, does not imply that a man is competent to administer the affairs of such a large estate and population as those which Westlaud possesses, and Mt Robinson has yet to prove that he merits the confidence which, in regard to that, has been expressed by his election by the votes of a large majority of his fellow-Council-lors amid the cheers of his fellow-citizens. In this district especially the spirit which the election has evoked is less one of open approval than of hopeful expectation. To the majority, if not to all, Mr Robinson is a stranger save by hearsay, and they simply accept the election as a satisfactory one because, in point of unanimity, it compares so well with electionß preceding, and because, for once, they do not object to the blissfulness of ignorance. If this expectancy and hope take any specific form, apart from the general desire that the new Chairman I may creditably carry out the functions of his office, it is that he should at the earliest convenient opportunity acquaint himself with the Greymouth district and its inhabitants. He will, no doubt, have ! to do much indoor and clerical work ! during his probationary period — the session of the Council — but it would be satisfactory if, even during that period, and in one of the intervals of debate, he could make a sort of reconnaissance survey of the district and its requirements. He would thus both inform himself as to the actual necessities of the district, and establish between himself and the inhabitants an acquaintance which, oh their part, they cannot but wish should prove friendly and lasting. Naturally the inhabitants of this district would not have objected to have seen elected one of their own representatives, and one of them, Mr Smith, was % not only proposed, but carried an equal number of votes with an elder member, Mr Bonar. Accepting this compliment, if it may be so called, they however accept the final and fortunately speedily achieved result in the spirit in which all people accept even minute mercies, and the most merciful part of the whole proceeding is the fortunate fact that the man elected has been, in his past action in the Council, as in the circumstances surrounding his present election, independent of the influences of nationality, creed, or party.