The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1876.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 438, 20 December 1876, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1876.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

Assuming that the “ Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876” isinforce—and we are not at all certain upon the point—it is notified that the Nominations of Councillors for the several Ridings are to be made in accordance with the forms provided by that Act. Before proceeding to state what these form are. we would draw attention to the following. The third clause says “ This Act shall come into “force, in respect to all elective “ offices to which it may be applied “ by any Act of the General Assembly, “ or on the written request of at least “two-thirds of the members of the “ local body of any district.” The ambiguity of the italicised portion of the fore-going is sufficiently obvious ; therefore, it remains to be seen to which particular Act of the General Assembly it may be applied. But, flowing that the Act is in force, clause five provides that “ Every election to any elective office in respect 11 of which this Act is in force, shall be “conducted in'the manner provided “by.this Act, and not otherwise;” •and clause six says : “ There shall be “ a Returning Officer for every dis- “ trict, who shall be appointed by the “ local btily." Now, it does not require a Philadelphian lawyer to prove that the Returning Officers for the coming elections have not been appointed by the local body, but it certainly does require an explanation as to the real meaning of most of the Acts pertaining to new system of local governmet, and notably to the “ Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876'” But to proceed with the Nomination. The old form of viva voce proposing and seconding candidates is abolished ; and, in its stead, a Nomination paper is provided for the signature of two electors of the district, “ and by the “ candidate in token of his assent to “ such nomination.” This paper is to be sent to the Returning Officer before noon on the day of such nomination. At noon on that day filenames of all the candidates are to be posted outside the place appointed for the nomination. If the number of candidates does not exceed the number of Councillors to be elected, the usual course is adopted by the Returning Officer declaring the result of the election, there and then. If the Candidates are in excess of the required number, the Returning Officer proceeds as heretofore, by announcing the day of election, should which take place in any Riding, we shall take earl}’ opportunity to lay the form of procedure before our readers. As to qualification, clauses 51 and 52 of the Counties Act provide that “For the purposes of the first elec- “ tions to be held under this Act, * * “ the following persons shall be deemed “ to be County Electors within each “Riding:—Every person who is en- “ titled for the time being to vote at “ a Road Board Election in any Road “district in the Riding,” and “every “ person not so entitled, who is for “ the time being entitled to vote at an “ election of a Member of the House “of Representatives, upon a qualifi- “ cation in any outlying district in the “ Riding.” Clause 61 of that Act also determines that “every elector, except as “ hereinafter provided, shall be quali- “ fled to be a councillor.” The disqualifications are: —(1) “ A. bankrupt “ or insolvent who has not obtained “ his final order of discharge.” (2.) ‘ Any person attained of treason, or

“ convicted of felony, perjury, or of “any infamous crime.” (3.) “Any “ person of unsound mind.” The other disqualifications relate to the subsequent acts of councillors. The penalty is £5O for every offence. Any elector can become a candidate for election, as councillor in any one or more Ridings, (the whole in the county if he likes) besides the particular one in which he is entitled to vote; but he must elect, (clause 65) at the first meeting of the council, for which Riding be will serve.

The Local Elections Act guards the privileges of the electors with great care ; aud lays down the law against bribery and corruption at elections with much force. Confining our quotatious to nominations, it says, in Clause 42, that any- person procuring bis nomination, knowing himself to be incapable ; or signing any nomination paper, nominating a person who is, and Whom the person so signing knows to be incapable ; or signing any nomination paper, knowing himself not to be qualified to vote at the election of the candidate so nominated, shall be liable to a penalty uot exceeding £2O/ Before our next issue the nominations of three Ridings will have taken place ; the short time allowed for the consideration of this question is a regrettable circumstance, but we desire to see elections take place, if possible, in all of them, so that, bv creating an interest in the result of each contest, the electors, and future councillors may become more familiar with the laws they aspire to administer.

Ws regret having to record in our obituary notice, the death of our much respected fellow townsman, Mr J. E. Butt of the Shamrock Hotel. Deceased had been ailing only a day or two, having been taken suddenly iil on Saturday last, when medical aid was called in. On Monday the symptoms grew worse, and, notwithstanding the unremitting care and attention of his family and friends, terminated fatally early yesterday morning. Mr Butt was a popular man in his business ; he was universally liked for his worth, andjgenial good qualities, and will be much missed at the corner, by his many friends, who were ever greeted by him with a Smile ofwelcome. Deceased was a member of the Loyal Gisborne Lodge of Odd Fellows, and leaves a childless wife, to mourn his loss alone.

Entries for the events to be run at the Waerenga-a-hika Jockey Club meeting, are to be made to-night. The members of the Loyal Gisborne Lodge are requested to meet in the Lodge Room to-morrow at 2 p.m. prior to the funeral of the late Brother Butt. Tologa Riding.—No announcement has been received from the Returning Officer of this riding, fixing the nomination.

Tologa Bay Races. —The Committee have decided to postpone the day of the races from Thursday the 28th to Friday the 29 th Decern ber.

The Cricket Match postponed from last Saturday, on account of the weather, will be played to-morrow in the Wae-renga-a-hika paddocks.

Public Buildings.—We are glad to learn that the contract for the erection of the public offices in Gisborne, has fallen to the tender of Messrs Berry and Morgan. The price is £2661 2s 9d.

Me Luttrell, we are pleased to record, is getting the better of his nasty full from the horse he wa s training on Monday morning last. His medical attendant pronounces him out of danger. The Licensing Court would have sat yesterday, but there was not a quorum of Commissioners present. This is the second adjournment, and ho business can be done now until Tuesday, the 9th Jan. next.

Return Tickets. —The New Zealand Steam Shipping Company announce with extreme liberality that return tickets, at single fares, will be issued between Poverty Bay, and Napier, during the Christmas holidays, whatever that may mean.

Gisborne School. —Mr Maberly announces that the annual examination of scholars will take place on Thursday next, and the distribution of prizes on the following day, to be followed by a dance in the evening. Mr R. Kelly returned to Gisborne by the Southern Cross on Monday last after an absence of five weeks. He says he got through to Auckland with his horses in 19 days, and without losing a hoof. The animals also found a good market. The Cottage of Content Hotel, Victoria and Hobson Streets, Auckland, affords unrivalled accommodation; and is a really well-appointed, first-class hotel. Suites of rooms for families, &c., &c.— W. B. Langbridgb.—[Advt.]

Messrs Ferms and Pitt will sell on Saturday next at the Albion Hotel yards at 12 o’clock, in conjunction with Mr M. Hall, horses, land &c., and at 2 o’clock the right to erect a booth; and collect gate money at the Cricket match on the Ist and 2nd January next.

Sir Astley Cooper the renowned British surgeon once said that no man should be aware from his sensations that he has a stomach. Alas! how many thousands are painfully and continually reminded of the existence of that organ. Dyspepsia renders the lives of these unfortunates perfectly miserable. Every manifestation of the disease vanishes, however, when Udolpho Wolfe’s Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps is used to trengthen the stomach aud associate organs.

Art Union.—Mr Colebrook’s idea of a Leviathan Art Union is a good one. He proposes to divide his town property into two lots, each of which will be a prize for some lucky winner or other, for the investment of a couple of pounds sterling. A very pretty little, well-built, 4 roomed house, commanding a splendid view seawards, and abutting on to Childers Road, with acres of laud, will form the first prize, the second consisting of 2 acres adjoining. The whole of it is fenced in, and as desirable a residence as any in the township.

Cricket Ball—The committee appointed to make arrangements for the reception of the Napier team on the Ist January next, are looking after their business iu a manner indicating a desire that everything shall be successful ; and, if the weather be propitious, a pleasant day or two’s enjoyment may be expected. Traps have been engaged to convey the visitors to and from the field, which has been fixed on in Mr Breingan’s paddocks at Waerenga-a-hika. Refreshment and other booths will be erected on the ground and no pains will be spared iu catering for the public requirements as well. A ball will be held on the evening of the 2nd. day’s play, the price’—l7s 6d, to include everything that mortal ean require within reason —has been fixed at a reasonable rate, and we doubt not that the usual gathering of beauty will assemble in the Masonic Hall to do honor to the occasion. We believe nearly 2lX> invitations have already been issued.

To the Poverty Bay Settlers. — A Gentleman, for many years in iny employ, is now in England selecting, no my account, goods specially adapted for this province. To make room for consignments shortly expected, I shall, for the present, offer my large stock (to which linvite your attention) at unusually low prices, with extra allowance for cash. My BOOK STOCK comprises Standard Worksiu Theology, History, the SeiencesTravel, Fiction, and Poetry ; elegantly, bound Gift and Table-books; many thousand volumes adapted for children and young persons, libraries, and prizes ; Educational Books (used in the schools under the Board of Education.; Technical and Toy Books, Maps, &c. In Stationery I keep full stocks of every description required for the desk, counting-house, and private use. To teachers under the Board I act as agent—receiving and forwarding their salaries monthly. I shall be happy to supply Lists of Works in any Department of Literature. All orders which I may be favored will receive my prompt and careful attention. — Edward Waytß,' 100 Queen-street. — September 30, 1876.—Anvr. 1041