The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 282, 11 November 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11.

To-morrow the election of members to represent the various ridings in the County Council will take place. Tologa Bay and Waiapu Ridings have already returned their members unopposed. Mr. M. J. Gannon, late member for Waimata, a tried and good Councillor, and Mr. J. Trimmer, an untried yet a promising practical man. Waikohu Riding is sending three candidates to the poll. Two are almost strangers in the district, the third the late chairman of the Council, Mr. Chambers. Te Arai Riding sends three to the poll. Waimata four, and Gisborne Riding six. It would be invidious to make comparisons between the various candidates, but, as the responsibilities of the new Council will be onerous, it is only right the ratepayers should make selection of the most able and competent men to represent their interests. It is too often the case that electors allow private friendship, or likes and dislikes, to influence their votes, to the detriment of the public good. Many a man may be known as a “ good fellow”in private but be quite unfitted for public life. We do not wish to infer there are any such

among the present candidates seeking election. There are, however, men experienced and men inexperienced, and when we find tried men again ready to serve the ratepayers at the sacrifice of private means and loss of time, it is but just such should be again returned. The faithful services of a good servant are always worthy of reward. In the Waikohu Riding we see Mr. Chambers, the late Chairman, opposed. In saying that Mr. Chambers has earnestly served the ratepayers is saying too little. His enthusiastic advocacy of the rights of the district, and efforts to further its progress have been most marked, and cannot be overlooked by the ratepayers. Among the candidates for Gisborne Riding,- we find the names of two tried and able men, Mr. Ferris and Mr. Hurrey. The former gentleman has during the long term of service in the Council shown a perfect impartiality and sound judgment in dealing with all questions brought before it. In matters of fiscal finance, Mr. Ferris always brought facts and figures to bear in a most able manner, and men of good arithmetical capacity are invaluable in a body intrusted with the expenditure of large revenue and execution of such large public works as contemplated by the incoming Council. Mr. Hurrey, the other tried candidate, although absent from the last Council, was for many years a member, and was noted for his practical good sense, and ability in dealing with all questions under consideration. In his late address Mr. Hurrey is the only one of the candidates who has shown an intimate knowledge of the affairs of the county and a clear business - like comprehension of the public requirements. He also pertinently points to several matters that might by mismanagement become public abuses. The complexity of figures introduced by Mr. Hurrey, evidences that he has lost none of his painstaking interest in public affairs, and argues well for what he is prepared to do if again re-seated at the Council. In Waimata Riding we cannot well urge any particular argument in favour of any one of the four candidates, when all are equally tried and good men, all having held seats in Borough Councils and Road Boards. Mr. Tutchen is the only candidate who has previously sat in the County Council, where he was always zealous to serve the interests of ratepayers, and was always a strong opponent to useless expenditure of rates. There was no “ log rolling ” permitted by .him. Te Arai has, among the contestants, one ex-Councillor, Mr. Sunderland, who rendered good service during his term of office. There does not appear to be a very great amount of interest taken in the election, outside of the candidates, and their immediate supporters, and but comparatively few votes will be polled in either of the ridings, many of the ratepayers having neglected to pay up the rates due by them. To-morrow the result of the ballot will declare upon whom the choice of ratepayers has fallen, and who are the men to represent the interests of the district for the next three years.