The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 179, 27 December 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1876.

The County elections, to bo bold tins cay, will have more signiiicauco than a "Teat many are inclined to attach to them, but, at the same time, wc would wish most urgently to impress on the public tiic groat importance that they possess. The people of tlic county will this day confide their local interests for a period of two years to nine gentlemen, on whoso good judgment, sound sense, jicrfoct impartiality, and uprightness so much will depend. Their action will bo purely local, and will therefore ho all the more felt, and t.oo great care in their selection cannot bo taken. Fortunately, the candidates are unexceptionable, and. there will bo no difficulty in making a judicious choice. For this district there are no less than eight offering themselves, five of whom must be defeated, but not disgraced. On the voting list, the name of Mr W.*3>«lo appears first. He has been an old resident, and will doubtlessly poll well. Mr Houeyfield is next, and ho has many friends who would like to sec him one of the local administrators. Mr Andrew Hmiter is similarly 'circumstanced, rnd will receive largo support in Ivakaramea. Mr F. 11. Morgan has had considerable ex-, perieuee in Hoad Board matters, ami ynay therefore he deemed to have served some kind of public apprenticeship. Mr Peacock is in the same category, and both he and Mr H. Williamson would be fitting representatives. Mr 8. Tnplin is a good citizen, and lias proved himself an honest and zealous public servant, so, , should the choice fall on him, he may be fully expected to do bis duty faithfully. Last, though not least on the list, is Mr G. F. Sherwood. This gentleman has, for' a • series of years, served the public most assiduously. He was a member of the Provincial Council,, and fought fur his district manfully. Ha has twice been elected .Chairman of the Town Board, where be lias distinguished himself alike by bis energy and ability, and there is little doubt but that lie will bo one of the favored this day. Ha has sacrificed, on more than one occasion, liis private interests to those of the public, and a seat in the Council is but small recognition. For ilawera there are five candidates, all well-known and respected residents, but with one exception, they have not been prominent as public men. That exception.is Mr T. Middlemas, who has for sumo time been Chairman .of the Education Board, and ■was lately elected to that office. For Wav-rley Biding the choice is more limited, only four candid;.!tes presenting / ibciusidvrs —Messrs Bridge, Konahp

Kells. and 'V i 1 son, The ret uni of the Shut and last is considered certain, and il is supposed xliat the .struggle will-be between the otlior two. Whoever may b • returned it is certain that the riding will be well' and Teß;)ei;tably represented, but, wo hope, be they who they may,, that the best men may win. Thu election will be by ballot, we understand, though how that wilt bo consonant with cumulative voting, seems somewhat puzzling, hut it is a problem that the Returning Oliieors will no doubt solve. It is only now for the electors to choose wisely ami well 're pres mtatives to fill the positions to which so much importance is attached. [Since the above was in type, . vto have received notification of Mr Tapliu’s withdrawal, and the candidates are therefore narrowed down to seven lor Otohi. Probably at some future day he may again offer himself.].