The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 318, 17 November 1855, Page 7

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, Nov. 17.

Most of our readers are perhaps not aware that an Electoral District of the Province of Nelson has been constituted south of the Kaikoras. They I may, indeed, have observed some time back iv the local newspapers notices signed by Mr. Jollie as *• Deputy-Returning-officer for the District of Amuri," to the effect that a writ had been directed to him by the Superintendent of Nelson, ordering him to elect one person to represent the Amuri District iv the Province of Nelson. Few inhabitants of this Province have, however, considered the matter seriously enough to he able to determine whether this notice calling upon electors to record their, votes at " Mount Parnassus" was, or was not a joke. We are credibly informed that an election has taken place in pursuance of the notice. One fine morning Mr. Jollie climbed up on his stockyard rails, called to those present, to knock off work, and the writ having been read to an assent* bly of one elector, Mr. George Lee was declared duly returned to represent Amuri in the Provincial Council of Nelson.

It will be asked, what does all this farce mean ? What absurd solemnities are interrupting the work of our fellow-colonists north of the Hurunui ? We all know the inhabitants of the country between the Hurunui and the Kaikoras to be men of our own Province, —sensible men, —men not hastily led into any absurdities. It is

melancholy to reflect that either the legislation to which they have been subjected has rendered them unaccountable for their actions, or else that they are engaged in making a juke of representative institutions.

We have repeatedly remarked upon the absurd boundary line laid down by Sir George Grey between this Province and that of Nelson ; whereby a large tract of country, naturally belonging to this Province, has been arbitrarily cut off and added to the Nelson Province, with which it can have no communication for half the year. The settlers of that district are constantly to be seen in Christchurch and Lyttelton, transacting their necessary business. They never dream of having anything to do with Nelson, except when a question of Government or legislation is concerned. On such subjects they correspond through the Postoffice at Lyttelton, where official letters from Nelson await them till they happen to be in town on business. Nelson wished to propitiate these gentlemen,—and tp make them like Nelson rule. Amuri was an electoral district. Amuri was flattered but puzzled by the honour. It is said that the idea was entertained of paying a shepherd out of work to represent them for the honour of the thing. Instead of this, however, they elected a gentleman who was not present, and who we very much doubt will be able to go to Nelson .on any such errand as pretending to look after the interest of a district which has nothing to do with that Province. The question of a proper division of the Provinces of Nelson and Canterbury will surely be reopened in the General Assembly. We may hope that an arbitrary decision of Sir G. Grey's, which overlooked a great boundary pointed out by nature herself, will not "be suffered by the representatives of the Colony to remain unreversed. At any rate, our Mends north of the Hurunui have a right to complain of having been placed in such a position that they cannot enjoy the rights and privileges of either Province, and that, nevertheless, they have acquired no Counterbalancing advantages.