THE Bay of Plenty Times.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 349, 12 January 1876, Page 2

THE Bay of Plenty Times.

"THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES SHALL TEACH ME SPEED." KING JOHN, ACT IV.

Wednesday, January 12,. 1876.

An on (lit is going the rounds that certain gentlemen in the community j are endeavouring to prove "bribery and corruption against our' newlyelected member, Mr Gh E. Eead, of Poverty Bay, and thus overthrow that gentleman's election. We trust such is not really the case unless the evidence upon which they ground their information against Mr Bead has come to their notice in so clear and palpable a shape as to make it their duty to act as it is reported they are doing, for otherwise a great deal more harm than good may be expected to result from a course of action which, if indefinite, will only unnecessarily embitter our present member against this portion of the electorate. It is unnecessary for us to state that our opinions as to bribery and corruption are perfectly orthodox, and that in alluding to the subject of the rumour which is now circulating, we do so only with a view of drawing the attention of those partizans of the candidates opposed to Mr Read to the fact that in their zeal for their cause they are taking tip cudgels on its behalf which they will find it more difficult to wield than they perhaps imagine. As we remarked in our last issue the electoral contest has been fought and. won by Mr Gr. E. Eead. If a feeling of soreness exists in the minds of some of those who are supporters of the candidates who have lost the day it should not be forgotten by them that though their side has failed to win yet the welfare of the district at large-demands that the electors in this portion of the electorate should be equally, en accord with the newly elected member as are the electors in that portion which roted him into his present position. The action which we would strongly recommend should now be taken, would be that Mr Bead should; be invited to visit Tauranga at an early date, and that he should then be thoroughly posted up in the present, position of this division of the East Coast Electorate, so that when he goes- to the ! House he may know what' steps to take for its advancement. The position would not be a difficult 1 one to. explain: what legislation we require is very plain and straightforward". We have a district rightly called the " Bay of Plenty" if only it was allowed such chances as have been afforded to other places far less favored by nature, and as we believe our. late member (Mr Kelly) inserted sa go&dly. portion of the wedge which was to open the legislative mind to a sense of our requirements, it is to be hoped that his efforts will not be thrown away, and that our present member will consider it his duty to complete what has already been begun. We must again repeat, that unless the evidence upon which certain gentlemen are acting be so clear and palpable as to make it simply their •bounden duty, and nothing- more, to act. as it is reported they are acting; we advise them to let the stibject drop, to accept the dictum of fate, and- to", take their defeat like true men. If, however, their premises are sound let them prosecute the matter to "the bitter end," in doing which, they> shall receive, as is but fair and.right, our most cordial support; but we.shall certainly- require more evidence than mere hearsay and surmise..

"We hope to see, a large attendance - of ratepayers at the special \ meeting; to beh eld in the Court House this evening:' at half-past . seyen ; o'clock. The principal business is to settle a. claim made by Mr "Watson against the Town* Board, but -we notice that' any other business can be brought before the meeting, and if any ratepayers have any grievances or suggestions to make, they will have ample opportunity of ventilating them; at" the same time, we expect that the Board will be prepared with a com--plete statement of its affairs, financially and otherwise. The action of the Soard in allowing* this evening full liberty of discussion on any,subject, ought to be taken advantage of by the ratepayers to the fulleskexterit..