The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1877.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 78, 18 July 1877, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1877.

The G-overnor Jhas been pleased to accede to the wish* of the people m this place by proclaiming Palmerston to be a Borough. It is. now withdrawn from County control, and awaiting the regime of Mayor and Aldermen, who arc- to be elected early next month. In 'another column ' we reprint from the Government I "Gazette " a portion of the Governor's proclamation and the, regulations for initiating the new order of things. • The inhabitants of this place 1 have now an important duty, to perform. They have to decide what 10 or 1? of their fellow townsmen are best fitted to hold the governing power. This is about the most responsible duty that can fall to the lot of ■ any community, and upon the judicious discharge of it depend great results. The fact of this town being small does not gender the proper exercise of .municipal functions of small importance to the inhabitants. This,the burgesses will readily acknowledge when -they consider how com- ' prehensive the duties of the Borough Council are. A passing mention of some of the- most important will not be out . of place. The Council has power to levy general and special rates,'to establish tolls, issue licenses, construct and repair streets, alter old and lay out new streets, attend to all matters of local drainage, deal with public nuisances, erect, where necessary, waterworks and gasworks, light the streets, erect and maintain hospitals and asylums, and supervise slaughter houses and pounds. These constitute large powers to vest m a small knot of our fellowtownsmen, and when brought out m detail and supplemented by many 1 duties that we have not mentioned, ttreir importance cannot be over--1 estimated.. It is well that before entering upon this election we should know what powers we are about to confer, and, above all, upon whom we are about to confer them. Let us, if possible, give our municipal life a good beginning, and return a stamp of men as mayor and aldermen whom we will be proud to retain m office. It too often happens m. making up the complement of deliberativebodies that one or two ,or three men of. energy and decision a>e selected, and the rest are- composed of persons who are quite willing to be led, who have not much mind of their own, and not much energy to back up what little they Have. Such persons- would be better .occupied m rocking the cradle at -home than m taking the place of better -men m a municipal or any other council. The Corporations Act requires that ten members compose the councilr It is i not to the interest! of this .eommu.nity that m a council of ten an intelligent two or three should be to a feeble seven or eight what the wind is to the weathercock. Ten thinking", reasoning men are required — " men of principle and force of character, who will neither truckle to a prejudice, nor be afraid of their own convictions. True it is that' m a ' small place it is sometimes difficult to find a sufficient- number of men ■ who, as well as being fit for the office of borough councillor, are willing to take it. It is not always the most competent, who are most eager to put themselves forward. Diffidence, or an absorption m private pursuits, often stands between able men and the public utilisation of their ability. We trust that on this occasion they will be inspired with sufficient public spirit to make them ignore all minor considerations that would prevent ! them from coming forward m the in-. ' terests of their fellow townsmen. We know of several esteemed residents whose candidature ~is looked for, and m whom the people will wisely repose their confidence. But the necessity for electing ten councillors should bring more of our good

men into the field, and if they do not respond to the necessity, the burgesses will have to elect just such as, do respond, withoufcbeihg able to exercise much choice as to fitness. To those, therefore, we appeal, whose good sense and experience have been, proved before to-day, to come forward and take their places m this time of need. The legal qualifications that .constitute eligibility for the office of councillor • are very trifling. They are the holding of rateable property of the value of £25 a year, the freedom from such social incapacity " as bankruptcy, criminality, lunacy, and the freedom fro.m any emolumental connection under the Council itself. Any person over •21, who is a ratepayer, is entitled to be a burgess and vote at the election of councillors, mayor, and auditors. In the election of the two latter each burgess shall have but one vote. But m the election of councillors he; shall have one or more votes, according to the amount of rateable property that he holds. We trust that m this election our fellow townsmen will duly estimate the responsibility that devolves upon them, both m offering their services and recording, their votes.-