MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

West Coast Times, Issue 331, 15 October 1866, Page 5

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

We have mentioned in previous summaries that the -town of Ilokitika had been proclaimed aya v Municipality timber ' the Provincial Council Ordinance, and that some delay had -taken place in the election. \>f the first Municipal Council, owing to the provisions of the Ordinance not exactly squaring with the "conditions of the town. The. measure v. r as passed by the local legislature of the province before the goldfieids .had been discovered, and its machinery was bnt ill adapted to meet the requirements of a young goldfieids town. It was found that the franchise conferred by it w-as practically a very narrow One, and a general desire was felt, in the first instance, thai its operation .should be sus"pended so as to allow' an opportunity for the introduction of an • amending measure into the General Assembly before the election of Councillors took place. As, the pressing business of a more important general • character, which engrossed the attention of the Colonial Parliament, was found, however, to render it extremely improbable that* the Assemblj would find time during the 'present session to attend to this local requirement, it was determined; rather than forego any longer the advantage to bo derived from Municipal Institutions, to proceed with the election of Councillors under the existing Ordinance, 'notwithstanding its many defects. A meeting of electors was accordingly convened, in conformity Avith the requirements the Ordinance, at whjeh Mr Commissioner Sale presided, assisted by two - Assessors elected by ballot, viz., Mr G. W. Bimiey and* Mr Charles Williams. Upwards of twenty gentlemen were put in nomin ition for the nine seals at the Council Board, of which number fourteen wont to the poll, vin., Messrs James R. Anderson, Jas, A^ Bonar, M. Cassius, ■A. Gumming/ J. B. Clarke, F. ■L. Clarke, C. Ilansen, W. liungerford, 11. Ecclesficld, J. Fitzsimmons, D. Lynch, Thomas Munro, W. Shaw, and Charles Williams. The candidates • declared elected were Messrs Anderson, Bonar, Gumming, F. L. Clarke, Ecclesfifcld, Hungerford, Fitzsimmons, Shaw, and Williams. It was subsequently discovered that Mr Clarke and Mr Lynch had police! an equal number of votes, so that the ninth seat at 1 the Board had again to be contested. The run between these two gentlemen was a very close and exciting one, resulting in-the return of "Mr Clarke by a majority of four votes. At the first meeting of the new Council the members proceeded to elect their Chairman. The votes were taken by ballot. The result, in the first instance, shewed a tie between Mr Bonav and Mr S haw, the ninth vote being given for Mr Anderson. The second ballot resulted in a majority of one vote for Mr Bonar, who was accordingly inducted into the chajr. The subsequent proceedings of the new Council have been of an entirely preliminary character. They have advertised for the services of a gentleman to, form a rate roll, .for a Town Clerk and for a Solicitor. Pending these appointments,- it can hardly be said that the practical work before the Council has been commenced. The Chairman, however, has been instructed to apply to the Government for a site for the erecton of a -Town Hall, ami other suitable .buildings connected with it, and for the 'o-rant of an endowment to the Munipality. Some considerable" time must necessarily be expended in the enactment of bye-laws, the formation of the rate roll, &c, so tha,t we shall have to wait before we have the opportunity of seeing the Municipal Council in actual operation as a governing power. It is ft.' It, however, that a good beginninghas been made, and the establishment of -a sound and responsible system of town administration) is anticipated: By proclamation/ in the last '• Provincial Government Gazette," his Honoi the Superintendent has applied the Fire Brigades Ordinance to the town of llokitkar a measure "which confers lar.ge

additional powers •on the Corporation* and greatly increases its responsibilities*