THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, February 19, 1863.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 331, 19 February 1863, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, February 19, 1863.

Our readers do not need to be reminded that in little more than a month they will be called on to elect two members of our Provincial Council. It is, therefore, time tnat they should be looking about for men to whom they can safely entrust the care of their interests, so far as these are connected with the Piovincial Government. The Provincial Council a good deal resembles the municipal councils at home, in respect to the local nature of the interests to which it attends. There both the representatives of the people in Town Councils and Parliament are expected to give some account of their stewardship at the end o! one year, and qf their opinions and intentions in respect to the measures that may be required in the following year. We need nou point out the good effect this plan has in keeping the representatives of any constituency up to the mark.- It has been frequently urged in this journal that something of the same kind should be done here. Put there is so little public spirit, and so little interest taken in the proceedings either of the General Assembly or the Provincial Council, that our members go and come as if this were a borough of the olden time, which they had an indefeasible right to represent if and how they pleased. Occasionally, indeed, a burst of indignation will be heard, if the behaviour of some member does not square with the ideas of one or other of his constituents ; but if search is made, it is not in general difficult to find some personal motive for this indignation behind the assumed zeal for the public

good. 'I his indifference in inspect to representatives extends to candidates for seats in the legislature. There is little or no action before the nomination day; and men are sometimes brought forward who, if they had been consulted previously,

would have declined to stand. The consequence is, that men are elected because .one.br two of their'-fri'ehiis happen to liave pi’oposed them, not because the constituency think them the best men tor the post. Before the forthcoming election there should be some attempt to get. men" who would really do their best for the interests of the place. Last Session some legislation affecting this place was got through, on the whole, in a very .creditable; manner. A considerable amount of monej was also voted for public woi’ks, and at tho end of the session there seemed to be a prospect of some good being done to the place. A year has nearly elapsed, and what good has the legislation yet effected? The cemetery is as neglected and desecratedas ever, the act having been passed on the 14-th May and the trustees not appointed by the Superintendent until the 18tli November. The Racecourse remains without further improvement. The Town Board alone has done anything. The bill passed on the 18th June, and they were elected by the inhabitants on the 25th July. They met with great opposition at first from a small section of the population ; but they stood to their post, and they have commenced to impi'ove the town in such a manner as bids fair to secure the approbation of every resident. Of the three bills passed nearly a year ago, only one can be said to have come into operation Then, with respect to the sums of money voted for public works here what is to be said ? About £7OOO was voted for roads, Ac How much of this has yet been spent ? It is not an exaggeration to say —with the exception of the £IOOO expended on the Wangaeliu bridge, which had then been down about 16 months — not one farthing. A few pounds may figure at the end of the year on the expenditure sheet, and many reasons will be given, if they ai-e asked, for nothing having been done ; but none satisfactory. This was, we believe, one of the. reasons that led Mr. Bryce to resign. The Council votes money.* But the Executive may or may or may not spend it as they please. To continue a mere puppet, with no power but that of speaking, Mr. Bryce would not consent. Are the members of the Executive the servants of the Council or not 1 So far as their action here gives information on the subject, the. votes of the Council have no weight with them whatever. They may or may not be carried out, just as it suits those who hold the reins. One must either believe this, or believe that there is some great want of energy or ability at head-quarters, or some unwise regard to economy. Now we want men who w T i 11 insist on the votes of the Council being attended to within a decent time, and who will endeavour to see that such arrangements are made as will oblige the Executive to carry them out. So far as this district is concerned, the votes of money for public works last session have oeen nearly worthless. So much for the past. AVe shall refer to the future on an early occa; ion.

By the “Registration of Electors act Amendment act,” passed in the session of 1861, the time for registering was altered. Formerly it was only in the month of March that registration could be effected. Now this can be done in the months of January, February, and March. The time is now more than half expired and those who wish to enrol should do so without delay. We believe forms may be had at the office of the Resident Magistrate and el-ewhere, but for the sake of our country readers we give below the form of application required. Those who use printed forms should see that they are in exact accordance with the copy given, as otherwise—as was the case last year in Hawke’s Bay, in consequence of the word “ truly ” having by mistake been .omitted income printed forms tlie applicant, even' though registered, may be disfranchised.

To the Registration Officer of the Electoral district of I hereby give you notice that I claim to have my name inserted on the list of voters for the said electora 1 district,[and that the particulars of my place of abode and qualification are truly stated in the columnbelow. Attested by E F a free-holder (or house-holder) of the eolnnv.

oi me ctnoiiy. (Signed) C D . ■ j Christian ! :Plaee where Name and Nature G f Property is Surname of Place of 1 situate and the Claim- - Abode f- 1 * 'name' and ant at full ‘ description of length the same