The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, DEC. 29, 1876.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 129, 29 December 1876, Page 3

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, DEC. 29, 1876.

'Tub County elections are now over. Although -in many districts throughout • • the Northern Provinces, but little ■interest seems to 'have been taken in 'these elections, the; people of Otago •have been fully alive to their duties and jprivelfiges in connection with 'the * . matter. We believe in no County has • -so -active interest been manifested as in the Clutha- 'With the exception -of the OBrugh Riding, regarding which a misapprehension existed, every seat was •keenly contested, and -almost every ■elector polled. This shews a political 'vitality and activity which augurs well for the future* of the district, for as*suredly, as with individuals so with ■communities, business is most efficiently 'conducted ~wh?ii attended to by those -immediately interested. The concern '•just manifested in the elections will 'indicate to those elected that their •-course of action is to be very narrowly l watched, and that the people themselves •will see "to it that their interests are i betrayed nor neglected. Well '•{-.would it 'have been for the bona Jlde {'•settlers of Otago had they in years gone by Taken the same interest they ■now do in matters political At the --same time we are. not 'forgetful of the •merit of the old proverb, that improve--»ment comes better late than never, and •Botwith^t%^ii:|% adverse circumstances, •either ofa 5 political or commercial : nature, v ,.we are fully convinced that 'times both prosperous and happy are ;yet in- store for the inhabitants of these .parts. As we havesaidthe elections are now •over, and no doubt His Excellency the will appoint an early day for •the first 5 meictirig of the^various Councils. A number of questions will then come •up for settlemdnt, and amongst others •that of the places -of meeting of the *Councils,-or in other words, the County --■ 'towns. So far at least as the Clutha : 'County is concerned, this question was ihad -fully in view by the electors, and .- 'exercised- considerable influence during - 'the 'election, and we believe they have "virtually decided the question. At the •same time the formal appointing of a place df meeting falls ro be made by the 'Council, and we mistake the character, •of the gentlemen elected if tbey do not faithfully carry out the only pledge they •gave the electors, and do the best they ■can for the County -as a whole, discarding personal and mere local interests. "'With them personal interests, township ' ' ""-rivalries, 'and local jealousies should •■; have no influence-: the only aim should toe to select the most 'convenient and -appropriate tplace, for the meetings of the Council, and for -the 'conduct of the business of 'the 'Counry. -Looking to the maps of the County "ic appears rhat the geographical centre is somewhere . -amongst 'the hills and gullies between Warepa -and 'Catlins Cone, so that in Jthe settlement ot the question, con-" ■sidera'tions other than mere central -. ■, -positions must be regarded. We shall •mention a few ofthese. Let it be borne < in mind that the -district has now been ■inhabited and -settled for a good many years, anditis only reasonable to suppose that during that time the uninfluenced •operations of the various industries in which the community has been engaged | would point to some place as the most - y and appropriate business •centre. If such indications 'exist, then, "we presUtire^ all will readily agree that •the place indicated should be selected as the County town. Are there well ..£ ; define^, indications of the 3d a litre re*"°lerreO> ? ' The'state of the roads ought i to form a gopd s tegt.. Let anyone ex- : .amine the roads-throughput the Clutha y district, and y^e think he will find that . ;as a general vruie .where ihese lead in t ?Msxejr,fa are =/^4sormed -and metalled,, itvhereas those -: ■'. 7 jeading in the- opposite^ direction fetill ■''•''-' grow thenaturaitussoct.v These roads .laave beeri^ under the ' charge of mumerous l Boaids, elected by ; the ' inhabitants of the v&rious districts, and

have therefore been made to suit the traffic of these districts: That they all point towards one centre is perhaps the strongest and most reliable indication that could possibly be found as to where the County town should be. But this evidence is amply coroborated by other definite and powerful facts. Where have our banking institutions been ■established •; where our courts, both civil and ecclesiastical j where our leading* commercial houses, sale yards, etc ? These also will point to the one spot. Bat apart from all these Balclutha is the centre of the population of the County, and the members now elected to the County Board would have some forty or fifty miles less distance to travel to attend the meetings at Bali clutha, than they would Lave were Clinton, for example, chosen as the place of meeting. Numerous other circumstances might be mentioned, all tending towards the. same conclusion, but we think enough has been said to indicate the most suitable and in every respect the most desirable County town for the Clntha. Indeed, if the good of the County as a whole be the only aim of Councillor? 1 , we do not see that, there is room for iwo opinions or any doubt whatever upon the point. It is to lie hoped that upon this and other preliminary questions a unanimity of feeling may prevail, so that the important business of the County may be cotn-

menced undisturbed by. any petty cliques or jealousies, which are only too apt to extend and mar the whole proceedings.