NAPIER.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2535, 20 February 1877, Page 2

NAPIER.

■.'/■■' Monday. A carious complication has arisen in the Waipawa County. An extraordinary vacancy in the Council having occurred in consequence of the decision of the Resident Magistrate on the petition of the Hon. H. It. Russell, there were two nominations, Messrs Russell and Sydney Johnston, but the Returning Officer declared himself unable to fix the time for the poll because the election not being a first election, and therefore being on the rolls to be prepared by the County Council, and no such rolls having been prepared, he had no means' of taking the poll, and adjourned it sine die. There is, besides, a difference between the two even sections of the Council. Three of them wanted the Council meetings continued at Waipawa, where the first was held, and three wanted them removed to Waipukarau. The latter succeeded, because one of their three was the Chairman, and gave a casting vote. At tbe meeting held on Saturday at Waipukarau accordingly, the Waipawa members, though in the township, would not attend, alleging that ; as there were noW only six members the acts of the Council would be invalidated. The ■• three, Waipukarau members, however, proceeded with some business, reserving the question -of validity in respect to a quorum for legal opinion. The question that arises is this:—As they are now,only a Council of six members, do three constitute a quorum P But against that it is urged that, though only now six, because one seat is vacant, they really are a Cpuncii of seven.' , ;