The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1886. REPRESENTATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1417, 15 May 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1886. REPRESENTATION.

Tnr. ■Representation Act of iSSi wIU expire on December i next year, and it is a somewhat significant circumstance that the Governor’s speech makes no allusion to the fact. It is rumoured in Wellington that the subject will not be dealt with during the present session but that cither another session of the present Parliament will be held or the Government will seek to extend ihe operation of the existing Act. The term of the sitting Parliament will not expire by effluxion of time until August next year, so it is quite possible to hold another session at the usual period before the general elections. Whenever the re distribution of seals may take place it will we presume, be made upon a population basis. This was the principle insisted upon by a majority of the House in iSSi, and the arguments which supported it then are equally prevalent now. It will be necessary, of course, for the Government to be in possession of the complete census returns before dealing with this question, from the fragmentary pariicJk’ars already published it appears that the North Island will be entitled to more members than at present, and that the South Island will suffer by the re-distribution. Should an appeal be made to the country during the current session the election would necessarily take place on the present basis, and, we think, the recognition of this necessity will materially influence the attitude assumed by the Nortii Island members. They will, naturally, desire to avoid precipitating an appeal which woulddeprive them, temporarily at least, of the advantages they expect to derive from their increased population. The fact that no mention of this important question was made in the Governor’s speech leads us to believe that the Ministry has determined to ascertain “which way the wind blows ” before committing itself to any definite line of action, MR BRYCE’S RECEPTION.

The Hon Mr Bryce, who has just returned from England after the successful prosecution of his suit against Mr Rusden, was accorded a formal reception by the citizens of Wellington yesterday. The laudatory speeches made on the occasion, and the very cordial manner in which any complimentary reference to Mr Bryce Was ereceived by the representative audienc, must have been exceedingly gratifying to the friends of the ex-Native Minister. Mr Bryce disclaims any particular credit for the course he pursued with regard to the now notorious libel case. His principal motive, he says, in prosecuting Mr Rusden was to clear his own reputation, and to defeat the attempt to place a foul blot on his family escutcheon. But whatever may have been Mr Bryce's motive, the fact remains that by his own indomitable eneigy, and at hu own risk and expense, he has cleared the colony and the colonists of one of the most scandalous calumnies ever attempted by an accredited historian. That Mr Bryce is entitled to a larger measure of credit than he is disposed to accept, theic can be no doubt ; and we think the people of the North Island, who may be supposed to know- something of the merits of Mr Rusden’s allegations, are following a wise course m publicly demonstrating their concurrence with the verdict of the jury.

Tlio rain storm wliioh commenced on Thursday evening continued with great violence last night. At an early hour this morning the streets in the Borough were literally flooded, and the few pedestrians abroad found very great diflioulty in making their way against the sou’-west wind. The rain has continued to-day, and accounts received from other parts of the colony show that a very wide area has been visited by the storm. There is a considerable fresh in the Ashburton river, but at present no damage to bridges or other property is repotted About dusk last evening the Avon in Christchurch overflowed its hanks, just above the mill-dam at Hereford street bridge, and flooded the cardena and some of the houses in the locality. Groat damage has been done to the potato crop throughout this provincial district. A telegram received at a late hour this afternoon, and published in another column, gives particulars of serious flosod in Christchurch.

Tawhiao has wired to Mr Ballanco that, owing to his eldest son’s illness, his visit to Wellington must be deferred.

The first meeting of the Lancaster Bark Trotting Club, advertised.to take place, to day has been postponed until Saturday next. An elderly gentleman well known in Christchurch sporting circles, who made himself conspicuous at the racecourse on Thursday by indulging in a variety of singular extravagances, was arrested in Ashbur.on this morning on a charge of lunacy and removed to Addington gaol. Wo understood the arrest was made at the instigation of the friends of the accused.

This is the manner in which an American editor reports a correspondents’ contribution Your poem has been received. Being less mercenary than a majority of San Francisco editors, wo beg leave to decline" The Millionaie’s Daughter. ” We might, however, be induced to accept the daughter, and all the property, real and personal, to which she is heir, but we can’t accept the poetry.

A correspondence writing to our local contemporary with reference to the proposal to change the name of the New Town Board District, suggests “Maythorn” or “ManxwiU ” should be substituted for Hakatcrc. A correspondent sends the following to an American exchange Two years ago I visited St. Helena, the little island where Napoleon was imprisoned and buried. The remains, you know, were long since taken back to France, but his grave is still there, guarded day and night by a soldier. Thousands of people visit it yearly. The island, which is peopled only by a few hundred residents, is a high, rocky point in the sea, and produces little grain or vegetables. A few sheep are raised, but the MOO or 100 people who live there are either in the employ of ihc government, at the ship-supply station, or are wealthy, and live on the island through preference. I suppose that there are tons of pieces of rocks, bits of wood, leaves and grass, etc., taken from the island yearly as mementoes, by tourists.”

Daniel Burns, a coachdrivor, was sentenced to three month’s hard labor, and fined £lO at the Ohristchurh Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, for ob sti uctiug the Ferry bridge to the danger fofcthe lives and limbs of the passengers in another c mch, which ho blocked on the bridge, assaulting a young man, and nsingin decent language la the presence of ladies. The Melbourne Argus of 15th Apr! ; “Wo have received the following letter with reference to certain annoouc ments in the Melbourne press ; ‘ I understand that various rumours have boon published in Melbourne to the effect that Lord Normandy is engaged to bo married to Miss Maciutyre. Those are entirely without foundation, and have been reiterated in a scandalous manner. As the lady’s brother, I beg to request the favour of a contradiction In a paragraph in your next issue. Trusting to your kindness, 1 am yours truly, DosauuMcistyre. Layuga, A.S.W., 12th April.’ ” A statistician nays Hurried woman live two years longer than spinsters. An exchange, therefore charges that every man who refuses to marry shortens some woman’s life just two years, and prac tically commits homicide, and follows up the allegation by calling on the grand juries toiindbills against bachelors over thirty years old.