NEW COUNTY OF WESTLAND NOMINEE.

West Coast Times, Issue 661, 6 November 1867, Page 3

NEW COUNTY OF WESTLAND NOMINEE.

<» TO THE-EDITOB OF THE WEST COAST TIITE3. SlH — There is a rumour going abroad which I caDnot bring myself to credit — namely, that the Hon. John Hall, who has arrived here -vrith. plenary powers from the General Government, to institute the machinery for the new County Council, ia about to appoint Mr Sale the General Government Nominee unJer the new Act creating the County of Westland. Now even assuming that the whole of Mr Sale's official acts during his career here met with strict approval, I must confess that I think such an appointment would be most highly objectionable in itself, a3 perpetuating the old system of things in which the same kind of close borough practices would be carried on. What we want here under the new regime is, fresh blood — new energy — new men — and a totally different and methodical scheme introduced in connexion with all public requirements. Let me warn Mr Hill through your columns to bo most wary and scrupulous in his first acts here. He has, doubtless, a somewhat responsible and difficult tusk to perform, but if lie, in the performance of that task, should make such a most lamentable mistako in the outset of the initiation of the now Act ; if ho should commence by the appointment of an officer as nominee of the General Government, who all along has bceu the nominee of tho defunct Provincial Government; and who is so completely inoculated with the views of all those -who have done the greatest mischief to a district, which, Avith its resources, would, with proper management bo the greatest success in hitherto mismanaged Mew Zealand ; and would, as a matter of necessity, sec everything through the samo medium, and would obstinately tread iv their steps— so fay as he might or could. — I 101 lMr Hall that he would be committing himself to an utterly mistaken course, and would make a grave and palpable error. Surely Mr Hall would bo taking but a popular — and because popular — wise step, in calling to his aid the advice of men hero, some amongst them who, iv the faca of factious opposition, have been the means of carrying out with marked success tho very views which the General Government itself was most desirous of adopting and establishing. If the Hon. John HaU, in his official visit here, contented himself with exchanging private conferences with Messrs. Bonar and Sale, aud iv that way is leading the public to infer that he is iinpliedly coalescing with them, we have little guarantee of what Westland's future will prove. Mr Hall is a- mau, who in his political career, has not niado many mistakes, but he would most assuredly commit a tro; mendou3 one in the outset if he incumbered himself with any of the old machinery of an extinct Provincial Government. Yours, &c, Reformer.