The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1884. TEMUKA TOWN BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1187, 5 June 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1884. TEMUKA TOWN BOARD.

To-day the election of five Commissioners to constitute the recentlj-pro-c'aimed Temuka Town Board takes place. There are ten gentlemen nominated, and there is every propect of a warm contest. We congratulate the people of Temuka on the public spirit thus manifested. To see so many nominated certainly shows that the people feel a keen interest in the well-being of the town, and give# hope that the establishment of a local body will hare a healthy influence on its future prosperity. It will be renumbered that we have all along held that the indirect benefits would be far greater than the direct. We have pointed out that the town was hitherto without any constituted authority to look up to ; that everyone was paddling bis own canoe as best he could ; that no one took any interest in the town ; and in order to change tin's state of things we suggested that a local body of some sort should be constituted. We urged that the local body would create what may be called civic or local patriotism, that the people would begin to feel that they iiad a town of their own to push forward, and that in that way a great deal cf good would be done. It is therefore with very great pleasure we find our words coming true. The large array of candidates for election to the Board shows indisputably that the people oifati to enter heartily into promoting the well-being of the place, and that the public spirit which we predicted has already manifested itself. And it is not to end here. Those who get elected will feel certain responsibilities devolving upon them and try to do their best for the town, while the outsiders will keep a sharp look-out on their actions, and the interest in local affairs will increase instead of diminigh.

There is one or two points which, however, should not be forgotten to-day, The electors should remember that only five of the ten ar? to be elected, and tliat these will remain in office until September, 1886. The elections will take place on the first Wednesday in September every two years henceforward, but, as the present election will take place within six months of next Sep tember, those elected now will remain in office until September, 1886, or two years and three months. Another point is that this is altogether a new thing, and that there is no one who has had experience of its working. It is not like an old established institution, in which there are old stagers who could direct the fledglings when they go wrong. In this all must begin on equal terras, and they must act with only the statute to guide them. It will be obvious to all that under these circumstances it is indispensably necessary to elect, at any rate for the first time, ' the best and the most intelligent men. On the men who are now elected depend the success of the Town Board. We do not wish to back up any one candidate or cry any down, but this we must say that it is very important that Messrs Blyth, Gray and Quinn should at any rate be elected. We have taken an interest in this matter, we advocated it in the beginning, but had to give in to those who wanted a Borough, After the Borough failed wo pushed the matter forward again, to a successful issue. We claim to have had a great deal to do with establishing the Town Board, 1 and consequently we are desirous that it should be a success. We now ask the people to lay aside all claims offriendship and all differences and put in the three candidates we have mentioned at any rate. They are all men who have experience in public matters and have proved themselves worthy of the trust frequently reposed in them, and they are undoubtedly the best on the list. Every man should vote for these three candidates because it might happen very simply that people would think they were safe, and just throw away a vote to give a hopeless candidate a show of appearing well on the list. We hope this will not be done, and that the first object of each elector will be to secure the election of the above named can didates, As for the other two we offer no suggestion, but we are glad to say that the people have a first-rate selection to choose from, and we have not the slightest doubt but that the result will be satisfactory.