THE FORTHCOMING BOROUGH ELECTIONS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1229, 20 December 1882, Page 2

THE FORTHCOMING BOROUGH ELECTIONS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—ln making the following remarks, re our “ City Fathers ” I sincerely trust that my motives may not be attributed to any feeling of jealousy at not having been elected as the permanent Returning Officer for the Borough. Had I been aware that the gentleman who now holds that office was a candidate, I should never have thought of applying for it, knowing well, that living ih the country as I do, I should have no show against such an old and well tried servant of the Borough. But, sir, I would draw your attention to the peculiar state of affairs re the approaching elections. On the 29th of the month two gentlemen will be appointed to fill two vacancies in the Council, but how is it to be decided which will succeed to the longer and which to the shorter of these vacancies. There is not, to the best of my belief and knowledge, any provision made in any Act for two extraordinary vacancies occurring together, and evidently because, except in the case of a war, an earthquake, or some other similar catastrophe, the thing would be impossible. As a matter of fact, to two did not occur together. Mr Berry created a vacancy himself on the Ist day of this month, and Mr E. K. Brown resigned on or after the meeting of the Council on Tuesday, the sth. Clause 46 of the “ Regulation of Local Elections Aet, 1879,” distinctly lays down that the clerk of any local body on any extraordinary vacancy occurring shall forthwith give notice of the same to the Returning Officer, and further that the election to nil such vacancy shall take place “not less than twenty nor more than twenty-five clear days ” after the occurrence of such vacancy. Has this been done ? The Council had previously postponed the acceptance of Mr Berry’s resignation until the meeting on the sth, with the laudable intention of saving the Borough fund the expenditure of some four guineas by accepting his (Mr Berrry’s) and that of the Councillor who might be elected as Mayor, at the same time, but unfortunately fortheir foresight (which used in more material matters might be very advantageous) Mr Berry filed his schedule on the Ist December, and thereby ceased to be a member of the Council. Directly after this, the Town Clerk, as was his duty, forwarded tome (as substitute for Mr Peter Bourke) a notice, a copy of which I append, and on receipt of which I immediately gave instructions to each of the papers to insert advertisements, notifying the day of election to fill the vacancy. Later in the day, however, some of the “elect,” whether with a view to economy or doubtful of their own powers, I will not presume to say, gave me peremptory orders to withdraw such advertisements, on the grounds that there was no Returning Officer, I having only been appointed for the Mayoralty election. As no member of the Council has ever seen the authority give to me by Mr Bourke to act in his absence, I thought such orders were, to say the least, slightly arbitrary. However, I complied with them, under protest, though I believe I should have been fully justified in refusing to do so, and in carrying out the election.—l am, etc., Pelham E. Richardson. (Copy of Town Clerk’s letter). No. 1108-82 c. Dec. 2nd, 1882. Sir, —In accordance with Clause, No. 46, of the “ Regulations of Local Elections Act, 1876,” I have the honor to inform you that

J®. ®xtraordhiary vacancy has fluttered in Council by th© bankruptcy of Mr C. D. P.erry, And have to request you to take th« the necessary steps to have such vacancy filled.—l am, etc,, J. Bourke, Town Clerk. *. E. Richardson, Esq., Returning P r Q tem.