The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1883. THE HARBOR BOARD ELECTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1068, 8 February 1883, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1883. THE HARBOR BOARD ELECTION.

The principal excitement throughout the district at present is the election of members of the Harbor Board. We have been deprived of participating m the bustle of an election in tins locality by Mr K. F. Gray having been returned unopposed. Mount Peel has also returned Mr John Talbot without opposition, and it must be admitted that two better men could not have been selected by those two districts. Mr K F. Gray is a member of the old Board, He is thoroughly up in its business, and has always proved himself a very capable member. Mr John Talbot is new blood, but he has such a wide knowledge of local government bodies that he may certainly be looked upon as a very experienced member. If those who are; to be elected next Monday turn out to be equal to the two gentlemen already named, we may safely hope to see speedy progress made in the construction of the harbor works, and the business of the Board conducted in a much more capable maimer than it has hitherto been. Mr Elworthy has also been returned unopposed. If we mistake uoji

ho was a member of the Board prior to his departure for England, and may be reckoned a good man, There are three contesting the Levels district, viz., Mosers Moody, Stumbles, and Acton. Only two of the three candidates can be elected, and we should be inclined to think that these will bo Messrs Moody and Acton. We do not think that there is any danger of Mr Moody being out of it. He is well-known as the most go-ahead, pushing, energetic mem her of the old Board, in fact; he was the best man there, and we cannot believe that the electors of the Levels can be so blind to the interests of the district as to keep him out of it. Mr Stumbles is new to public life, but at the same time be may run very close to being elected. He is heart and soul for progress, and would make a good member. There are eight or nine in the field in Tiraaru, and two in the Geraldine district., The two who are contesting the Geraldine seat are Messrs R. A. Barker and John Kelland, jun. The latter gentleman is kind-hearted, good-natured, and extremely popular amongst those who know him. He also possesses some ability, but he has not the experience of Mr R. A, Barker, and we do not think that he could possibly, for some time at any rate, make so useful a member of the Harbor Board. We have known Mr Barker for a considerable length of time as a public man, we have watched his actions in many a public body, and can confidently say without fear of con tradiction, that we have seen none who who was more straightforward, or mure just in his dealings. Mr Barker has a true appreciation of what is right and what is wrong, and a thorough horror of anything in the shape of a “job.” He may have his faults, but there is one thing certain, he will neither do injustice nor wink at “jobbery,” if he knows it. We do not say he has the knack of doing everything right. On the contrary, we believe him as capable of making a mistake as another, but we firmly believe that he is incapable of doing wrong unless he believes it to be right. He is, besides, thoroughly independent ; be holds opinions of his own, and until he is convinced of his error he will not change them. As he has had considerable experience on the Harbor Board, and is a gentleman who may be relied upon, we trust that Geraldine will elect him. We have no fault to find with his opponent, but we believe most conscientiously that Mr Barker’s experience of the business of the Board renders him the most useful cf the two candidates, and it is on this ground alone that we are in favor of his election.