NOMINATION OF MEMBERS FOR THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 239, 28 June 1866, Page 2

NOMINATION OF MEMBERS FOR THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

A meeting was yesterday afternoon at j four o'clock held at the Prince of Wales Opera House, to nominate members for the Municipal Council. Mr Sale occupied the chair, and stated in his opening address that he had come there to preside over the appointment of assessors, and it lay with the meeting whether it would choose them or not. If they^ were chosen, he was prepared to receive the nomination of candidates } but from a copy of the resdliiliofis passed at a previous meeting, and which had been handed to him on his arrival, it appeared there was a desire to postpone the election. Of- course this rested with the meeting, which could do so if it thought proper. He had no power to act in the matter, being only an instrument to elect, with the assistance of assessors, candidates for the Council. He believed that blame had been attached to him, for at last night's meeting construing, as he did, the qualification of voters. He had only said that holders of Business Licenses and Miners' Rights, of six months' standing, could vote 'for the candidates for the' Provincial Council, "as ho had come to the conclusion there were no Goldfields members, through the division of the Province to districts, lli ha,d expressed no opinion concerning the Municipal election until requested to do so, and his first idoa was that a six months license or miners' right constituted a right to vote. A legal gentleman had, however, called his attention to the peculiar wording of this act which induced him to believe that twelve instead of a < six months' < qualification was required. In speaking of tho right of voting for the Legislative Council, he said that holders of business licenses and miner's rights, could only vote for those districts in which such documents were issued. He did not consider the Municipal Ordinanoe confused, but on|y ambiguous ; still if the meeting determined to postpone the election it had the power to do so, but if any names were proposed he should do his duty as chairman. Mr Prossor was glad to hear such an explanation from Mr Sale, but thought any further discussion unnecessary. He should, therefore, move " that the meeting do adjourn until the first of August, when it might be in a position to proceed with the election.' 1 Mr Bonar seconded the motion, which was declared duly carried. A cordial voto of thanks to the chair terminated tho meeting.

• Tho " Westland Obsorver " sayu s— " For a week past tho bar at Okarita has been somowhab unfavorable for tho easy entrance or oxit of shipping, not so muoh at first from oxtont of surf, as from a poouliar divergence of tho ohannol. Instead of tho straight and deep channel, the- oxistenco of which was naturally mado tho subjoot of several congratulatory paragraphs, thoro has, fo» several days, been a chaunol so objectionable in character, as roally to deserve somo urifavorablo notice Its only rodceming feature is tho faot that it haa boon very temporary. It was in its worst condition when tho steamer Bruce arriyod on Tuesday. On that day tho river took a circuitous vouto of roaohing tho sea, by running closely alone tho sandspit for somo distance to tho northward, - boforo it broko through tho lino of brcakors, bocoming J thoreby unavailable for the tntranco of vessols oxcopt at tho risk of being thrown broadsido on to tho beaoh. Notwithstanding tho unfavorable appearances, tho Bruco vonturod an onfcranco, choosing a dirootion to tho southward of the ohaunol proper, and tho venture was successful, but only after sho had tho assistanco, of two or threo breakers to force hor over tho bonk which intervenes botwoon j the sea and tho stream? This condition of tho bar continued during tho followiug day, and; Captain Korloy profcrred remaining insido to j risking an accident : by Thursday a heavy north-Westerly galo had sot in, and was of, courao succeodod by such a heavy swell aud surf that, although tho ohannol itsolf may have improved, as wo boliovo it has, any attompt to loavo would noithor bo a pleasant nor a prudent undortakiitg.M