PALMERSTON NORTH REQUISITION MANIA.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 82, 1 August 1877, Page 2

PALMERSTON NORTH REQUISITION MANIA.

-:■■';■■ '"'•/■ ■■•''■ "" v -'^''THB;-Bprroß. -;^:^l. '. . . ! Siß,^Perhiit me thrqugh the mi ilium i of ;-yblir'ty^uable ; paper to relieve my overburdened mind, by referring as briefly as "possible to the above subject. In your issue, of the ;25th,ult., I. notice afceply from Mr &.M; S Snelson, to those genuemeh whb'signed;a requisition ask- . /ihg him to allow ;:his; name to be placed in nominationf.aS;. first Mayor of this Borough. Having signed the said re quisition, If eel- myself entitled to ask Mr Snelson why.it was not published in conjunction with; the reply, it Being the Usual course, 'S only in common respect ' to the requisitionists. In the same issue I notice a requisition: to Mr John Waldegrave to eome^ forward and contest* the position, .containing the usual set phraseology, such as "long residence," "anxiety !f or the welfare of the town," -"thorough 'knowledge of. the requirements of the place." All these qualifications are 'certainly requisite in. any person assuming this position ; but these "alone are notsufficient. Mr Waldegrave has very graciously- replied to the requisitionists, declining to come forward, and has very wisely avoided' being placed- at - the bottom of the poll; ? In your issue Of the 28th ult., the Requsition Mania reaches the highest degree of absurdity ; the requisition asking Mr J. N. Owen to allow himself to be nominated as first Mayor/of Palmerston, has evidently, been penned by the same hand as that to Mr Waldegrave, — " long residence,'' and "ahxietyfor the welfare of the district," being again the only : qualifications necessary ' to- ensure success. It is amusing to find the persons pledging themselves to give their whole -support to Mr TValdegrave, very cooly/s^ Mr Owen, to- place -hihiself in nomination;

The same result has followed this requisition as the previous -one, in the for 'a very gracious reply, -Mr Owen candidly alluding to his short residence, and leaving the position-in the hands of those longer established in the place. Last, but not least, is a requisition to fifteen gentlemen, to allow themselves to be nominated at the forthcoming election— whether as Mayors, Councillors, or Aldermen, I am not in a position • to -say, as the requisitiomsts are not . very clear on the subject ; and not to be wondered at, when in looking over the Burgess Roll I find that only six out of all the number are ratepayers. Taking this for -granted, the gentlemen referred to must feel themselves highly flattered that out of a numerous Burgess Roll only six ratepayers desire their nomination. Again, supposing this requisition to be only the desire , of a few, no time has been allowed previous to nomination i either for caudidates-'to 'offer themselves or exnress their views on the Borough question', or return- their sincere thanks/ &c- The drawbacks that , may arise from the gentlemen referred to' not coming forward would be of a serious nature. Can we find their like again? * Certainly not, -in this Borough.-: Here we have represented to an amazing defree the hotel element, also, the storeeeping element, and every other element: Surely it will' be a council of publicans and sinners. We maj^^kfordward with gladsome heartsM^o^Wlr. bright r future, ,to Our Mayor and Aldermen, Guildhall and Gaol; also, our Lunatic Asylum and Bankruptcy Court. All these things (luxuries may. I say) will be within our reach. Let Foxia mourn in sackcloth " and sand, for this unruly member of his family for having thrown off the County yoke, and donned the garments of a Municipal Corporation.. ' .Palmerston will how be made beauti-, ful, its footpaths shall be asphalte, and its roads of the finest metal ; its square shall be made lovely with flowers and evergreens ; lamps, will , be erected to gnide the nightly wanderer to his home, and. six ' policemen shall patrol; our streets. Vast will be the benefits arising' from this great institution. i An inquiring mind may ask how t is all this to be achieved? I can only say as I hear, wait awhile. So I think, and wait we will. . At a future date, with your per- ' mission, Mr Editor, I will enlarge on this subject,' but I hope these few unexpected remarks will meet with the approval of genuine ratepayers, and encourage them to record their votes in iny favor, as I am one of the chosen fifteen. Apologising for trespassing on your > -valued space — I am, etc.; - „