The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1895. HARBOR BOARD ELECTION.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 61, 1 February 1895, Page 2

The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1895. HARBOR BOARD ELECTION.

The poll for the Harbor Beard election wiil take place on Monday, February 11th, and it will be necessary for every country ratepayer to strain a point on that day and register his vote in favor of country candidates. Some doubt appears to exist among ratepayers as to how many each ratepayer can vote for. There are six members to be returned, and there are six candidates standing in the interests of the country ratepayers, and with the intention of reducing the rate, which the finances of the Board show can be done next year provided economical administration is practised. Each voter, who has one vote can give one vote each to the six candidates by rubbing out all others on the voting papers. If more than six names are left on the voting paper, it becomes informal. A voter may vote for less than six by era-iug the names of as many as he pleases, but we would point out that it is just as easy to secure the return of the six members as it is to return any individual. A combined vote will be given throughout the country districts, each district voting for its local nominee and the other five country candidates, and by this means alone will the country be able to return a majority. Bast experience has shown that to have only one or two country representatives on the Board is useless, as so long as the town holds the majority they block vote everything they require to have done for the benefit of the town, and arc just as unanimous in resisting anything proposed for the benefit and convenience of the country. We therefore hope that every ratepayer will do his best to roll up and record his vote, so as to get the rate reduced. It is a great handicap on property and depreciates the value of every acre subject to the rate, as otherwise the settlers would be prepared to submit to a higher rate by the local bodies for the useful purpose of roadmaking, for which all their energies and spare shillings are so urgently needed. In another column wo publish the names of those who have been selected as the country candidates.