Manamatu Herald. FRIDAY,DECEMBER 17 1880. THE HIGHWAYS BOARD ELECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 31, 17 December 1880, Page 2

Manama tu Herald . FR IDAY,DECE MBER 17 1880. THE HIGHWAYS BOARD ELECTION.

.; >Vjery little interest' appears to he taken in the appropchiug elQctipps to the Foxton Highways Board. ' Mr Gower seems likely to he returned for Ward «N4. 8, a» wtf hfcve noi healrd of any opponent heing hrought forward. It is also stated Mr>Tl}yiuie will he proposed for No. 4, and Mir Cohh for No. 2, whilst Mr Saunders has offered himself to the Moutoa ratepayers for No. 5. So far nothing has heen said rb to ft ean<U4ftte for No. 1, which is

an important Ward comprising the I land up the Avenue, heyond tho rLocal Board houudary. We have not hoard any name mentioned, |fi connection with that ward.. Several ratepayers have asked its whether it is necessary to pay up all rates due hefore heing entitled to propose, or second, or vote at fche forthcoming election. Regarding •>this matter, we have 'looked carefully through the Act, aud are conviuced that the payment of all rates due is indispensable. Section 19 says:— " Iv every Highway District all persons rated under this Act. in respect of any rateable properties situated within any ward shall he qualified to vote for the election of a Warden for the ward in which such rateable property may he situate : Provided always that no .person who has not paid all rates' due from him nniler this Act shall he qualified to vote under tho provisions of this section." It : is evident the rates due a,re under the Highways Act, and therefore whether the Foxton Board, is a, new one or not does not affect the matter. All rates due under the Highways Act must be paid before the vote can be registered. The same remark applies 1 to persons proposing or seconding candidates. Sub-section 2of section 20 says : — " Every candidate for, the office'of Warden shall be proposed, hy one qualified voter, and* 1 seconded by another." A qualified voter we have already shown to be a man wild' lias paid all rates dtfe from him under the Highways Act ; therefore only such persons can either propose or second candidates. Section 19, which we have quoted, will also answer another question we were asked — whether a ratepayer can vote for a ward in which he has no property. The section says any per-: sou may. vote for the election of a Warden for the ward in which the property for whicli he is rated is .situated. ' . : The note Air Robinson has placed at the foot of the advertisement is therefore, it will be seen, quite according to law. The ratepayers : are reminded that the election takes place on Monday next, punctually at noon, at the Foxton Courthouse.