AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 690, 10 June 1869, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

[FEOM OTJJS OWN COEEESPOITDENT.] May 29, 1869. The event of the month is of course the visit of the Prince. His doings having been duly chronicled by the press, it is unnecessary for me to enlarge on that subject. But the conduct of the authorities, concerning his reception, has been in one point fairly open to criticism, and in another deserving of condemnation. The first parties to welcome him on the arrival of the Galatea were—first, the hon. D. Pollen, M.L.0., Resident Minister ; next, the Superintendent, Provincial Secretary, and Provincial Engineer—the latter three all concerned in the St. Patrick's batquet, of which the public will not hear the last for many a long day. No doubt those three gentlemen said and did nothing but what was strictly loyal on the occasion of the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh. The children belonging to the Sunday schools were assembled in front of Government House to take part in the ceremony by singing part of our National Anthem. The idea was good, but how was it carried out? A guard was so posted that the children could not seethe Prince! Despite the rain, they kept their post, and ning; but left bitterly disappointed. Whoever had the charge of the proceedings, so it wa3. If the Prince had known, it is net too much to believe he would have come out as they finished singing, and let (he young folks seo him. If he had done that, and taken his hat off to their cheering, they would have been satisfied as well as gratified. Less than five minutes would have been ample time to expend over that —and if he would not spare five minutes for that purpose, he is not much. But tha probability is he knew nothing of the matter until it was all over, ami too late. For this I blame the authorities, the management. The other hitch was over the ball. Many people would subscribe to the reception generally, who would not to a ball — some as a matter of conscience, and more because they are not ball-goers, considering (and rightly toe-) that those who enjoy sails should pay for them. The General deception Committee declined to undertake the ball, bo a Ball Committee was organised, end, as the first step, a number of names were put down as guarantors for specific eutns; the cash being thus ensured, the bail was held, and is said to have been first-class. So far all square; but the nest part of the play was not only in bad taste, but positively mean. The Ball Committee found themselves short of cash, and instead of coming rateably on the guarantors, they applied to the General Committee for a sum, and obtained it! So the general public subscribers were taxed with a portion of :he ball expenses ! The departure of the Prince has been delayed in order that he may proceed up ihe Waikato, in the hope that Potatau IL will meet him there and make peace. Verily it is likely a drowning man catching a straw. I have little faith in the proposed meeting taking place, and less still in any beneficial result from it. I shall be glad if it does belie my anticipations. Although our Suj/erintendency election is not expected for several months, one candidate is openly in the field, and the name of a second has been mentioned as intending to contest the election. In my opinion, neither of the three now before the public —Messrs John VVil iamson, H. Ellis, atid T. B. Gillies—is really the coming man. The present Superintendent has many supporters, who know that they sink or swim with him, and consequently a hard fought contest may be anticipated. He has read tne parable of the urjust steward to some advantage, and has made the most of the patronage at his disposal. Having nearly the whole of the gold-field revenue practically at his disposal, he by it secures many voters The Provincial Council voted every specific sum tint the Superintendent asked them, both for salaries and publio work-', and ended by voting a special clause to the Appropriation Bill, under which the Government are authorised to spend several thousands more if they think fit. That little ciause carries a great deal of weight with it. Is it constitutional? An attempt at puiljing the electoral roll has caused some stir. The Principal Registration Officer is a gentleman who, in private life, is deservedly popular. He receives a salary of either £SUO or £6OO per annum (ho had the larger sum at one time, if not now) ; yet as a public oilicer his conduct appears to be guided by a determination to do as little as possible for his salary. Thus names of men weil known to be dead, others noioriously disqualified, absentees who have bolted, &c, nave remained on the roll, and when anyone called his attention to them, lie declined to take any steps to remove them unless some person would put in a formal objection, in which case the Revising Officer would be bound to attend to ib. ibis was simply declining to do a portion—and an 'important portion too—of the duties for which he is salaried. Toe Registration Act (of 1853, I think) provides that it is the duty of the Registration Officer to object to any name which he has good reason lo believe ought not to remain on the roll. : If that duty was done, dead men could not be so often personated, and it would still be open to any elector to supplement that by objecting to absentees and others known to be disqualified. One question raised before the Revising Officer has been decided by hnu quae op- ' posite to what I have generally understood :to be the Jaw of the case. I assume the » facts to be as reported. Mr L-, registered .as a householder, is object, d to, and he ' asserts that he is j-dnt householder, and pa\s more than £lu yearly rout. His nuine ii "struck off. I have always understood,