AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 988, 10 April 1871, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

[fi:om our own correspondent ] March 27. Now that the competition for the championship of the volunteers has ended, people may settle down to their usual occupations. Our Supreme Court House is not always tenable, but has nevertheless to be the scene of a deal of litigation, and some extraordinary reve l'ltions, especially in the matters of book-keeping and so called business. The art «f book keeping appears to consist in so keeping the books that nobody can unravel ihem. This applies to Government as well as to firms who are preparing for whitewashing. You of course would learn by telegram how the Southern Biiiemen boat the Northern men hollow. Aucklauders out a poor figure on the whole, although an Aucklander won a chief prize the last day. One of your representatives (Mr Renouf) figured tolerably well upon several occasions, although not at the top on the last day. Politically, things are quiet. I am not certain that any one of the contests in the late general elections was actually won by personation, but 1 am in no doubt that in several instances, what would otherwise have been a close run, became a large majority by illegal means. In this colony it has hitherto been the fashion to let things pass, no matter how much illegality has been practiced, which virtually is offering a premium to those who use corrupt means. If steps, were taken 1o unseal a man whose partizans had used violent, or other illegal means, the risk of forfeiting the seat would make candidates more careful as to the means employed. There is good reason to believe that many votes were personated at Coromandel for Mr C. O'Neill. It is known trat a considerable number were personated at two polling stations in the

Rodney district, on behalf of Mr H. W. Farnall, the now sitting member. Itfe highly probable that a number "were personated at Hokianga, in the Bay of Islands district, for Mr John MoLeod, But in each of the cases mentioned it would be almost impossible to prove by evidence admissible in the Supreme Court, a sufficient number of personations to leave the " now defeated'' candidate a majority, and so reveise the position of the parties. But it a fe v hired ruffians are to be allowed to carry the elections, the ceremony of voting i s a farce, I have it on good authority that at the Weiti (Rodney) fifteen or sixteen personations were passed, 0 f which a friend of the losing man had cognisance, but which he could not pr e . vent, Also, on authority of a M.V.C, that at Waiwerawera (Rodney) more than twenty cases of provable personation occurred, notwithstanding the attempt* of the friends of Mr Shepherd to prevent it. One individual voted three times over, actually answering the questions, and the Deputy Returning officer, when appealed to, said he had no power to refuse the votes. This person and a few friends threatened Mr Shepherd's t* ? o friends with personal violence for obstructing their game. In almost any other British colony such intimidation would have ensured the election being disputed, probably annulled. But the New Zealand Legislature has blocked the path of a man who might wish to dispute a return, and made it both difficult and expensive; and as Mr Shepherd is not a wealthy man, he may not feel disposed to incur the trouble and expense of testing the return. It appears by the papers that at Wellington an attempt is to be made to unseat the sitting members. Knowing nothing of the merits of the case, I can only hope that the decision will be a just and equitable one ; and that, if lawlessness has been successful, it may be restrained and punished. The great Aroha lsnd case has been decided by that expensive toy, the Native Lands Court, for the second time. Will it rest? is a question easier to ask than answer. The Manawatu case was settled several times, jet had a knack of turning up again ; and it would not surprise me if I he Aroha cm did the same. Anyhow the lawyers and Native agents, will have a heavy claim on the land, which has been several weeks in the hearing. The evidence as to right was of course conflicting, the right being- simply the might of the opposing parties in their last conflicts. Each- party claims to have held by force of arms. Is not the idea of adjudicating such a question " in the name of the Queen " an absurdity! It may be better for the public that the Maoris spend several weeks in Auckland disputing this claim, than that they should resort to their old plan of building pas on the land, and tiring at each other at safe distances ; but I am not qnite certain on that point. If the losers feel strong enough, they will surely try to hold the land, it being thus after all a question of might. "We had a breeze on the 25th insfc, which did some damage, blowing down a chapel, some smaller buildings, trees, fences, and a chimney stack. A few members of our mosquito fleet also came to grief. We have had several c&s& of sudden death among us lately. Mr Naughton, formerly Sergeant Major in the 58th Regt., and many years head of the Auckland Police, and who was lately appointed Resident Magistrate at Onehunga, died suddenly ten days ago. He was a Mason, but being also a sup* posed son of the Romish Church, the Masonic fraternity did not give him a Masonic funeral. Since then one of the priests has written to the papers, virtually asserting that he would not have performed the rites of their church over the deceased " if he had known he was a Mason," as to be a member of that body is to be " apostate from th o church ."" It was no secret to the public that the deceased was a brother of the mystic tie, hence it seems strange that the priests should be, or assume to be, ignorant of the fact. Referring to the political situation, I believe the Auckland prettv equally divided between Ministerial and Opposition. Two doubtful votes, the rest equally balanced. A suppose that the seat for City West will be vacant, Mr John Williamson being

disqualified under the Disqualification Act of last session ; unless indeed the Government intend to vet that Act at defiance. Even in that case the legality of the Assembly's proceedings would be questionable. Under the Act referred to, the election is void at law, as far as Mr Williamson is concerned. Probably no Auckland man dare take the question up, but I presume some of the Southern men dare. Threatening letters may frighten some of our public men, but I suppose that game won't rule in the South.