The Evening Star. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 345, 16 February 1871, Page 2

The Evenin g Star. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1871.

The intelligence just to hand, from the Thames, reveals a state of things unparalleled in the history of gold. At what the yield of the Caledonian will end it is impossible yet to predict; but the equal of the present returns ha 3 never been known either on our goldfield or auy other in the world. It is needless to say that we are at pre-

sent apparently on the eve of a revival of the excitement of the past, and though we cannot wondor at the heads winch seem to be turned in the city to-day, it s to be hoped that the lessons of the past will not be forgotten, and that reason will rule in future speculations.

It is to be regretted that the new arrangements to regulate voting at elections have not prohibited the practice of "plumping." We understand that ab the recent election for City West, this method of giving a vigorous expression of political preference was largely indulged in by the supporters of each of the candidates. And though the final result, or the relative position of candidates on this particular occasion might not have been materially modified by a more legitimate exercise of the franchise on the part of voters, it cannot be doubled that if electors were compelled to {rive their votes in accordance with the number of candidates to be elected, the result would be a more reliable expression of the popular choice. When au election is conducted as at present, there is a suspicion, whether well or ill founded that, a good deal of deliberate deception is practised. The supporters of candidates may come to an understanding that votes are to he distributed in a particular way. And though the ballot is expressly designed to shield the voter from improper interference or compulsion, the allowance of " plumping" presents a needless temptation for electors to " sell" one another. That this has been the case to a very largo extent". ill

the recent City West Election, is candidly confessed, and is proved by the reading of the voting papers. That some " plumping" should have taken place was to be expected, but we believe that after confidential understandings come to, previous to the election, the number of single votes turned out of the ballot box lias been a surprise to all, and showed conclusively that voters had mutually " sold" one another all around. "We do not say that these ' understandings are commendable, or that " buuching" is in all respects the correct way of arriving at the true wishes of the public; still, there is nothing in the practice contrary to justice. And where such understandings will be made, the power of plumping gives a premium to dishonesty. For while the honorable and truthful will honestly fulfil the understanding, the untruthful will evade the obligation under shelter of the ballot, and give, perhaps, a double value to the vote of dishonesty. This, however, is not the worst feature in the practice. But as the intention of an election is to embody the wishes of the majority of the people in the returns of certain names, ifc is manifest that a considerable disturbing element is introduced, by the recording of single votes, where there are several seats to be filled. ]f we suppose that the practice of plumping is carried out by every Toter, although the candidate placed at the top of the poll will correctly represent the choice of the majority, it does not follow that the second on the poll will also represent after him the choice of the majority, and it is quite possible that the majority which had chosen the first by single votes, would if they had given their second votes have placed the third or the fourth candidate in the position of second on the list. By the practice then of plumping, in which the voice of each elector may be wholly expended in the selection of one, it may happen that the second elected, when there are two seats to be filled, may be very far from representing the selection that would be made by the majority. And although it is not to be expected that in any ejection every voter would plump for his favourite candidate ; still, the same disturbing element in a smaller degree must be present in the returns from any election of two or more members of legislature, in which plumping is allowed. The evil has been seen in some of the sister colonies, and it has been enacted that every voting paper flpnn,iited in tho TinTln-fc Ij<>=, «li<i uoi bearing undefaced as many names as there are members to be elected, is rejected as irregular and invalid. The provision is a wise one, and tends very ma' I^i< ially to produce results, recording accurate the wm of fche ma j orit of electors.

Feom our agents at ix^ received the following ife\L« ™> ha™ mation, which will throw lisP. to'the imagined practicability of Ml. Hall's carrying out any arrangements supposedto be made with the Australian Governments:—" Mr. Webb has purchased out Hollyday and Brenham's interest in the Honolulu and Australian route, formed a company with two million dollars capital, and is to run boats to Tahiti, Honolulu, Fiji, Sydney,

and Auckland. A more comprehensive scheme could not be undertaken. He will carry it out, and no doubt satisfactorily." This is authentic intelligence we are assured; and the prospect of the traffic being by Mr. Hall diverted from Auckland, over which our " dismal " contemporaiy the Evening Neios gnashes his fangs and howls with savage delight, is simply moonshine. We shall return to this subject.