THE COUNTY ELECTION.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 176, 16 December 1876, Page 2

THE COUNTY ELECTION.

A meeting of the. electors of the Otoia Hiding of the Patea County, convened by Mr Sherwood, took place at the Courthouse, pursuant to advertisement, on Wednesday evening last. The meeting was not very largely attended, but those who were present displayed considerable interest in the proceedings. Mr John Gibson was voted to the chair, and, after reading the advertisement, called upon the candidate to address the meeting. Mr Sherwood commenced by congratulating the settlers upon having a measure of local self-government placed within their reach. The settlers of the Patea District had been for years endeavoring, by various means, to procure some such power, and he heped and believed that the County system would be found to be a beneficent and workable one. No doubt, defects might exist which would have to be remedied, and this would be, unquestionably, accomplished from time to time. Ho then went into details of the Incorporated Acts, pointing out the powers and duties of the projected Council. Ho then drew particular attention to the rating, borrowing, elective, and permissive clauses of the various Acts, from which it was very evident that the candidate had carefully studied the Acts, and that he knew how to construe them rigidly. Mr Sherwood then explained his reasons for coming forward, and said he hoped the settlers would take a hearty interest in the elections they were now called upon to set in motion, of the system of local Government. Upon the settlers rested the responsibility of doing so, in an efficient manner. In this matter, the best interests of the settlors wore involved, and he trusted that they would keep that fact well in mind. The inauguration of the system would, for some time, absorb a considerable portion of the time of the Councillors, and they must be ijrepared to make some sacrifices for tiic general welfare, otherwise the system would not be efficiently administered, and in that case it would be a loss instead of a gain to the district.

Some questions were then put and answered, after which Mr Sherwood alluded to the Patea Harbour Board Act, as some misconceptions had arisen with regard to the powers and Constitution of the Board. He explained that the Act gave no taxing power, the endowments being in land, and of sufficient quantity to enable the Board, when formed, to go to work at once. He did not agree with the Constitution of the Board, and believed it might be altered next session ; but, be trusted, that if the settlers did not approve of the Constitution of the Board, yet that they would not overlook the groat importance of the Act to the whole County, and that they would join heartily in the work of carrying out its provisions. At the conclusion of the address Mr Milroy moved, and Mr Cowcrn seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr Sherwood which was carried unanimously ; and a vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close.