West Coast Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 644, 17 October 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1867.

The candidature of Mr Button for the Mayoralty, puts Municipal institutions in Hokitika upon their trial. If the electors return him, they wili ignore all the principles upon which the system of the self-government of towns is based. It is with no purpose of promoting the election of either Mr Shaw or Mr Prosser that we write. Nor is it with any wish to disparage Mr Button's talents or capacity for public usefulness. We believe him to be a young man of considerable ability in his own profession, and one very likely in the course of years to rise to a distinguished position in whatever community he may finally settle down amongst. He will probably not achieve the summit of his success in Hokitika. He is now amongst us for the second time. But the public have no guarantee of his being a fixture. It is the way of lawyers to come and go. Some of the class may afford us material guarantees of permanent residence ; others may not. Many instances may be called to mind of gentlemen eminent in their profession, who have left us to lament the loss of their services. We are quite ready to accept Mr Button's assurance that a very strong inducement indeed will be required to take him away from Hokitika. Bi\t he will not dispute the accuracy of the case as we now state it. A solicitor or barrister of New Zealand has an equal standing in any town in the colony, and may transfer his practice to any part of it with the simple trouble of packing up his wig and gown aud thefew volumes that constitute his law library. We do not go to the extent of saying that a solicitor is disqualified on the grouud of his profession, from filling the office of Mayor. No citizen whatever is disqualified on account of his calling. But a solicitor aspiring to the highest civic dignity, is fairly c^eu to be questioned as to the permanent identification of his interests with those of the town of which he seeks to bu the Chief Magistrate. A man who has invested a large capital in the establishment of a business with the successful prosecution of which all his interests ace identified, holds a very different position from one who can carry all his capital with him in a carpetbag, and to whom any one court in the colony is as opeu as another. In referring to the case of Mr John Hyde Harris, Mr Gillcs, as Mr Button's proposer, was very unhappy. In the first place, Mr Harris has singularly neglected his duties as Mayor of Dunedin since his appointment to that trust. In the second place, Mr Harris holds a position in Otago, which thoroughly identifies him with the future of the province. He is one of its oldest 'settlers. lie has been its Superintendent. By marriage and other ties he is bound to Otago. The precedent of his election to the Mayoralty of Dunedin, therefore, suggests no argument in support of the candidature of Mr Button. Whilst, however, we do not object to Mr Button's pretensions on the ground of his being a lawyer, he has sought to urge that fact as a special reason why he should be returned. Mr Button states that his legal education and knowledge will enable him to preside with wisdom over the "deliberations of the Municipal Couucil, aud save it from mistakes. We cannot feel that assurance. Mr Button was one of the speakers at the meeting held some weeks past at the City Theatre, to promote measures for the protection of the rights of the town section- holders, which were threatened to be seriously compromised by the proclamation of sale. But Mr Button was quite content to rest satisfied with the assurance of the Provincial Government, that they would be "willing" to set aside the law, for the protection of private interests. If the General Government had not been moved by other persons than Mr Button to carry a Bill through the Assembly, amending the law, the equitable rights of the section-holders would have been utterly forfeit — and no man not in possession under a business license at the time Hokitika was withdrawn from the Goldfields, heen entitled- to preemptive privilege, or any holder at all entitled to compensation for improvements. Under these circumstances we cannot think that tho interests of the town are more likely to be protected by Mr Button's legal acumen as Mayor, than they would be by being placed in the hands of a commercial man. We should be glad indeed if Mr Button would plainly answer at one of his meetings the plain question we now put to him. What single service has he ever rendered to the town of which he seeks to be chief magistrate ? Is lie a large employer of labor ? Has he in any way

contributed to the development of the commercial interests of Hokitika ? Is his name identified with any public object gained or fought for ? Another question we may take the liberty of asking. Why did Mr Button systematically keep' himself aloof from the movement which has resulted in the emancipation of Westland from the domination of Christchurch ? Is it, seemly that the chief magistracy of the capital town of the new County of Westlaud should, on the very morrow of the Act creating it, be conferred upon a gentleman who never uplifted his little finger even to obtain this great boon? In the crisis of our struggle, where was the talent of our young barrister, who now aspires to be the Chief Magistrate of the capital of the new County ? What is the philosophy of local selfgovernment ? What is the essence aud prevailing spirit of the whole system ? How many years would a young man like Mr Button have to serve his fellowcitizens in the old country, before he stood a chance of becoming a Mayor ? What, indeed, would a sober set of English citizens think of a gentleman similarly placed, asking them to confer this dignity upon him? Mr Button says his father and his uncle were Mayors. But they had done good civic service before. They fought their way to the dignity, and having won it by fair labor, it sat gracefully on them. We wonder what those staid functionaries would have thought of their young relative in his present aspiring mood ? In sober seriousness, let us ask the citizens to consider whether it is a wise policy to allow the civic chair to be reached by any other path than that of public service ; and whether the highest dignity they have it in their power to confer ought not to be reserved for some one who has labored to promote their interests. The Mayoralty should be looked forward to as the crown of a citizen's ambition. By conferring it in a mere fit of caprice upon a gentleman who has rendered no service whatever calling for public recognition, we do the utmost to destroy all inducement to our best citizens to devote themselves to public life.

Mr Shaw will meet the electors this evening at the Round Tower Hotel, at eight, and at the Oddfellows' Hotel at nine o'clock. Mr Prosser holds a meeting at the Sawyer's Arms, Gibson's Quay, at half -past eight. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Margaret Connell, alias Dooley, and Patrick Hern, for being drunk and incapable, were each fined 10s, with the alternative of twenty-four hours' imprisonment. John Bailey, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined LI, or forty-eight hours imprisonment in default of payment. A few civil cases were disposed off. Judgment was in every case allowed to go by default. Cobb and Go's coach arrived from Christchurch yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Passengers : — Mr Freeman for Hokitika ; Mr Boss for Grreymouth; and three wayside. Tho road is reported to be in splendid condition, and the river 3 low. A Benefit is announced this evening at the Prince of Wales Opera House, for Mr C. Strasser, who lately met with a very serious accident in the vestibule of the theatre, almost depriving him of sight. A very attractive bill of fare is announced, and under the special circumstances of the case, we do not doubt that Mr Strasser's benefit will be a substantial success. The pieces announced are " The Soldier's Bride," " Cool as a Cucumber," and " A Day after the Fair." Messrs. Boyle and Paterson entertained a numerous company of friends last evening at a dinner at Casey's Ballarat Hotel, in recognition of the mark of confidence reposed in them by their fellow-citizens in their election to the Municipal Council. A very pleasant evening was spent, and the usual loyal and complimentary toasts given and responded to. The Hobart Town " Mercury," while quite convinced that tho acclimatisation of the salmon has been successfully accomplished, confesses that it is unfortuuato that none of the young sahnon havo been netted, that all possibility of doubt might bo removed. Two salmon were lately reported as having been seen in the Ouse, a tributary of the Derwent, and Mr Ramsbottom went there to endeavor to secure one. Before he arrived there, however, the rivers had become swollen to a most unusual extent by rains, and he waß unable to carry out the object of his excursion, but ho reported having found unmistakeable indications of the presence of salmon. When the condition of the rivers admit of his doing bo (adds , the " Mercury") he will pay them another visit, and ho entertains no doubt Hint he will succeed in capturing ono or more of the fish ho is in quest of. About 6000 young salmon were about to bo liberated in the River Plenty.