The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 116, 20 May 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1876.

’The prospects of the Town Board, ns ■.shown by the balance-sheet brought up .on ‘Wednesday last, are certainly all That could be desired, and the fact that ltdie 'leases already sold are now realising ;;£28,1 a >ycur, is a most satisfactory state •of affairs. There are also other reserves ;that will fall into the hands of the Board, and some that have not been .disposed of, say the Cemetery reserve ifor example. These will still further ■iiwejl the Board’s exchequer; iu addition .to which, rates will be annually levied from all lessees on their respective {holdings, and what was barren land when ithe last assessment was made,'producing iio income, will next year yield nearly, if not quite,"'as' much as the laud in occupation on the last valuation being made. Besides this, if the Government carry out their promises iu respect to local self-government, a far more liberal •.subsidy than at present allowed will be granted under the now regime, when the Provinces are swept away. It lias been stated variously,' that in the new Local Self Government Bill, a subsidy of pound for pound on rates collected will be the figure, whilst some think that it .will .be even larger than that. Be that ; as : it may, for a small place like, Carlyle, its local governing body will have a large income to dispose of, and it rests •with its members to do so in such a ■manner as to do the greatest amount of gpod to the ratepayers generally, and ■not to favour parts of the township to suit the special interests of people in, or .outside of, the Board, To do this will .be. no very easy task, ami will require mil the judgment that members can, -bring to bear. Wo have made, these : remarks in consequence of the present Town Board, as an entity, being partially .dofvuict;, the meeting on Wednesday Being the last to be held by that body, pending its -ro-constmction. Messrs Sherwood (the present chairman), Taplin, and Rhodes retire by rotation, and on the sth of June next, an election 4o supply their places will take place.

Mr Rhodes has, we hoar, intimated his | intention of not'again coming forward, but it most probable that that the other two will. Messrs Bale, Aitchson, and Adams are also spoken of as likely candidates, which will make the contest a lively one. We would warn ratepayers to exercise more than usual caution on this occasion, and on no account to pledge themselves to supporting candidates until it is definitely known who are actually coming forward. The reconstructed Board will have a comparatively large estate to administer, and it is above all things necessary that men capable of doing so judiciously should he selected for the purpose. Not only practical, but shrewd -mew, are required—men in whom the fullest faith can he reposed, and who are likely to bring the greatest amount of common sense to bear on the duties they will have to perform. It is said that canvassing has begun already, though it wants a fortnight of the* time. This is fair enough on the part of the candidates, but, nevertheless, it would bo very foolish on the part of the ratepayers to make any promises to restrict their future choice —to take the first that offers, in lien of waiting for the pick of the basket. There is no doubt that, on the whole, the Town Board during its existence has deserved well of the ratepayers, and its affairs arc in a most creditable condition. If the reconstructed one docs as well during the forthcoming financial year, there will he uo cause for grumbling. But in order that this shall be, it is absolutely imperative that capable members he returned, and, as the ratepayers have the power of chosing them, it will ho their own fault, and they will have to pay the penalty of any mistake that may be made in this respect.