COUNTY COUNCIL QUERY.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 272, 21 November 1877, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL QUERY.

(To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir, — I wish through your paper to ask Mr Sherwood why he is resigning the Chairmanship of the County Council, and I. hope he will condescend to reply. Is it because he has been abused, or is it that he cannot afford the time, or what is the reason ? lamat a loss to account for his action, as judging by the reports I see in the paper of the proceedings in the Council that his opponents are a long way in the minority, as I have observed whenever any action has been taken in the Council against him, but one, or at most two votes have been recorded against him, so he is most certainly uot in a minority in the Council, any more than be is outside. I see he has given notice that he will nominate Mr Bridge for Chairman. Well no doubt Mr Bridge is a very good man, but can he spare time. If he can all well and good—but I doubt it, and he lives too far away, and I should like to know if he is to get a larger salary than the present Chairman? Where the good of the change is to be I cannot see, and unless Mr Sherwood has some very strong private reasons for giving up, I should say he had better hold on, as by so doing he would best serve the interests of the ratepayers. I would remind him that he is now occupying a very high and honorable position, and one that oitght not to be lightly cast off. I am, &c., ARGm

Note. —“ Argus” seems to be unaware that the County Chairman holds office for but one year, unless re-elected, and that Mr Sherwood’s term of office expires on the 28th November, Of course he is eligible for re-election, but as Mr Sherwood has nominated Mr Bridge to the office we presume he does not intend to seek re-election. We learn from an exchange that the Tuapeka County Council,* acting under legal advice, does not intend to have a fresh election this year, as the following extract will show —“It was decided at the Tuapeka County Council meeting on 14th instant, on a legal opinion, that no fresh election of Chairman takes place until November, 1878. Horace Basting, M.H.R., therefore retains office until that period.” Some members of the Council fear that through Mr Bridge living so far away, the transaction of business would be interfered with, and are therefore favorably inclined to reelection of Mr Sherwood- There is little doubt, should any member nominate him, and he agrees to stand, that he would be likely to be returned. We do not know why Mr Sherwood has taken the action he has done in reference to the Chairmanship. He could best answer for himself, and we sec no reason why he should not for the edification of “ Argus” and others, reply through these columns.—Ed. Mail.