The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 235, 30 March 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1866.

Is the Town Board defunct ? This is a question which should be answered. As far as we can learn it is in this position — the majority of the members have resigned, and the remainder are not sufficient to form a quorum. The question then arises, why have not the writs for fresh members been issued ? This, we cannot answer, but certain it is that the time has long passed when those writs should have been put in execntion. It is a reproach to the citizens that they have not moved in the matter. The Town Board <*rippled as it may be for the want of funds, is a useful and desirable institution—it is the embryo Council of the city, and should be cherished, although its usefulness may be limited. It is certain that it has been successful in making the town the most traversable of any in New Zealand, and accomplished other works which are of permanent value. But all that has been done will soon cease to be of material value unless the Board resumes its function and carries on (limited aB they may be) its operations. The wooden pathways are a credit to the designers and a great benefit to the public. Still, unless kept in repair they will cease to be ornamental, and dangerous, instead of useful. The old adage that " a stitch in time saves nine " is especially applicable in this case. A few nails and a few loads of gravel at once applied would make them good for the whole of the winter ; this simple matter neglected and a portion of the town will again become impassable. It is, doubtless, an omission on the part of the Government that writs for the new members required have not been issued. The Ordinance distinctly provides lor the election of fresh members in the event of any one or more of the body resigning within a given time, and that no representative institution can be destroyed except hy a special act of the Greneral Assembly. It may by Provincial legislation be amended, changed, and almost extinguished, but still something remains — a cominision may be substituted ; but the Board continues in existence until a bill to this end has not only been passed by the Provincial Council, sanctioned by his Honor the Superintendent, but the Commissioners properly gazetted. It is well that such is the case. It would be a bad principle to allow any political institution to die out on account of the omission of the G-overnment to comply with the provision of the Act under which it was canstituted. In this instance a great error has been made. All the vacant seats in the Town Board should have been filled up long since. The citizens of Invercargill are at this critical position of affairs especially called upon to take an interest in the immediate recusitation of the Town Board. With the exception of the Provincial Council, it is the only local representative body in the Province ; and, if the " signs of the times" can be read aright, the time is not far distant when it will become the chief power in the district. It is an institution which should be respected and encouraged: however much it may be cramped in its operations and incapable of doing all required, it is valuable a3 a recognised municipal institution, — a seed from which shall spring the tree of local self-government. Should the effort to obtain Separation fail —it is probable it will — an attempt will be made to bring the position of the colony to their old standard ; that is, to abolish the "New Provinces Act" and unite the separated Provinces to the parent tree. Should this be accomplished Town Boards will in all probability become richly endowed municipalities with large powers and political standing. It is, therefore, to be hoped that his Honor the Superintendent will cause the vacancies to be filled -up at the earliest possible date — that the ablest men amongst us will not shrink from entering upon the duties of the Town Board — it may appear to be no honor now to be connected with that body, but the time will come when it will be considered among the highest which can be conferred on a public man in Southland,