THE POLLING-PLACES AT MACETOWN AND CARDRONA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 316, 15 May 1868, Page 3

THE POLLING-PLACES AT MACETOWN AND CARDRONA.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUNSTAN TIMES.) Sir,—Great indignation is expressed at this place at the conduct of the General Government in disallowing the pcllingplaces of Mace-town and Cardrona, and I think you will agree with me that there exists small reason for surprise at such indignation. Thanks tothe exertions of Mr. Shepherd, we are aware that it was not cone at the instance of the Provincial Executive. To us it appears strange conduct on the part of men professing to act for the advancement of all that tends 'to encourage, elevate, and enoble humanity to throw insurmountable difficulties in the way of so many orderly and persevering colonists exercising their privileges asemembers of a free and representative constitution, especially upon the misrepresentation of some interested and unscrupulous person, who feared the known independence of the politically murdered districts of Mace-town and Cardrona, the one ten and the other fifteen miles from the nearest polling-place, and having a population of one hundred and two hundred men respectively. It is clear to all who know the facts that, either the General Government are guilty of serious malpractices, or they have acted upon gross misrepresentations. The polling-place at Mace-town would probably cost the Government £ seach election, and, inordertosavethis paltry sum, 100 men will have to march twenty miles, the expense, loss, and wear and tear of which will not cost one penny under £3OO. These arc the facts as regards Macetown. I do not believe that, had these facts been duly represented to the Government, we should have this grievous injustice to complain of. It is time that we did complain bitterly, of the proceedings of the General Government, whose tender mercies, during their short reign, the inhabitants of the goldfields will not easily forget, refreshed us their memories are by this last (as they hope) dying kick. We have a petition to his honor the Superintendent in course of signature, praying his Honor's timely interference, and our only hope is that it may have the desired effect. We expect that the people of the Cardrona will take such constitutional action as remains open to them, and, ill order that they may know of our action and sympathy, I trust that you will publish this letter. I am, &., liOBERT CLARK. Mace-town, May 2, 1808.