Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 505, 5 September 1857, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

Some little stir begins to be made about the approaching election of Superintendent.- Indeed, with two candidates in the field, it would be imputed to them as an oddity of no small magnitude if they did not create some stir for their own sake. Accordingly we find a tremor beginning at the extremities of the body politic. A public meeting of the electors of Kaiapoi took place in the large room of the Northern Hotel, Kaiapoi, on Monday evening last, convened by the friends of Mr. Moorhouse, for the purpose of hearing an exposition of his political opinions. The room was densely crowded at an early" hour; indeed so large a gathering has never been known in Kaiapoi. Mr. Moorhouse was very cordially received by the electors. After haying been introduced to the meeting by Mr. Ollivier, he proceeded to enlarge upon the several topics contained in his ; address. Several questions were put to him, and were answered apparently to the satisfaction of the meeting. A resolution, of which the following is a copy, was then proposed by Mr. Dobbs, seconded by Mr. Franks, and unanimously adopted:—"This meeting, having heard from Mr. Moorhouse an exposition of his sentiments", is of opinion that he is entitled to the support of the constituency of Kaiapoi, and it pledges itself to exert its influence to secure his return for the office of Superintendent." We understand that Mr. Brittan was in the town, but declined accepting an invitation to attend the meeting.

From Akaroa we learn that the runaways from the whalers are becoming troublesome. The activity of the customs and law authorities in that port has stopped desertion to a great extent, but one or two individuals have succeeded in excaping. On the 27th ult., Mr. Lucas, from his station on the southern head of Akaroa harbour, espied some individual in the. act of sculling a dingy belonging to him across to the opposite shore. This person went round the north head into a small bay, and landing, went into the residence of Mr. C. Haylock at that place, where he helped himself to a few articles of trifling value. He was afterwards seen from M'Kjnnon's station, with a swag on his back, proceeding up the hills on the south side of the harbour. It is natural to conjecture that this gentleman had formed a plant somewhere, as the bundle evidently contained more things than were taken from Hay lock's : The dingy was afterwards picked up in Lucas's Bay, slightly damaged. The individual is known to be a runaway from the United States ship Milo, and was once discovered in an act of theft at Akaroa, but from some misdirected spirit of commiseration was allowed to go adrift again. He has doubtless been secreted and abetted in escaping by some thoughtless person who has forgotten that such conduct is a flagrant breach of duty to society. It is strange that our settlers should be so blind to the interests of themselves and the community of which they form a part as to encourage the breach of a commercial contract entered into between these runaways and the owners of vessels coming to our shores to trade, on the maintenance of which contract the success of our visitors' enterprise depends. It is, moi'eover, passing strange that with all the outcry against vice, and strictures on the powers that be, particularly with reference to the expenditure of Government, men cannot or will not see that by the practices referred to they give a directly helping hand to swell the calendar of crime, and increase the expenses attendant on its punishment.

We see in a Gazette just received, dated the 2nd instant, a correspondence published between the Superintendents of Canterbury and Wellington, which explains the cause why the Wellington contract boats are not to bring on our mails. •It seems that the Superintendent of Wellington, on his late visit to this province, had urged the acceptance of his proposal that the mails should be conveyed in the way above referred to so strongly that it was accepted and advertised accordingly. But after Dr. Featherstone's return to Wellington, the Government of that province overthrew the arrangement, on the ground that the vessels were under penalty to them (the Government itself) to remain only a certain time before returning to Melbourne. Most probably, in our opinion, the owners had not been consulted before hand, and refused to carry out the scheme. An offer was made, however, by Dr. Featherstone, to bring down the mails in the Wonga Wonga for a bonus of £1,000 per annum, without guaranteeing to be ready to bring on the mail if it should arrive earlier than a fixed day. The Canterbury Government has very properly, we think, declined this proposition, and has entered ..:. into a contract with the schooner Canterbury for seven months. Some /greater advantages* than those now held out by Wellington would, we hope, be

necessary to induce the Government to give a subsidy to any vessel not trading out of our own port. THE ELBCTOEAL ROLL, AND THE DUTIES OF EEVISING OFFICEES. We publish for general convenience the following ¥eswm6 of the law as it at present exists in this Province. It is compiled from Sir G. Grey's Proclamation of the sth March, 1853, and the Provincial Council Extension Ordinance, in so far as they relate to the roll now in the course of formation:— I.—-As soon as conveniently may be after the 28th of August the Officer appointed for that purpose in each of the Electoral Districts shall cause a list to be prepared of the claims which have been delivered at the places appointed, setting forth the Christian and surname of every claimant at full length, together with his place of abode, calling or business, and the ground on which his claim may be made, and arranging the names in alphabetical order. 2.—On or before the 28th day of September every such officer shall, as soon as conveniently may be, cause a copy of the list of claims to be posted in some conspicuous place in the district to which the said list shall relate, and shall subjoin thereto a notice, that all objections thereto will be heard and determined by the Revising Officer on a day specified in such notice, not being more than one calendar month after the date thereof. 3.—Such Revising Officer shall sit on the day to be specified, as aforesaid, for the purpose of hearing_and determining objections to such list, as aforesaid, and of forming the roll,for the i ensuing year of persons qualified to vote for the district—and-the said Revising Officer is empowered to take evidence upon oath. 4.—Any person whose name shall be on any such list may object to any other person as not entitled to have his name retained on the electoral roll. But the person so objecting shall, ten days at least before the day appointed for the formation of such electoral roll, cause notice (in writing) of such objection, and of the I ground thereof to be given to the Revising Officer, and also to the person objected to: provided, that such notice may be given by delivering the same to the wife or servant, or to some adult inmate of the family of such person, at his usual place of abode, and explaining the purport thereof to such wife, servant, or inmate, or by leaving the same at the last known place of abode of such person within the Province; or in case any person other than the elector claiming to be registered shall have put in the claim, then such notice may be served on such person in the manner above described. s,—On the day appointed for'the formation of such electoral roll, the Revising Officer shall retain on the list of claims the names of all persons to whom no objection shall have been duly made; and shall also retain on the said list the name of every person who shall have been objected to, unless . the party objecting shall appear in person, in support of such objection, and shall also prove due service of his notice of objection. 6.—ln case the party objecting shall make his objections in person, and shall prove such service of notice as aforesaid, the Revising Officer shall require proof of the qualification of the person so objected to; and in case the qualification of such person should not be proved to the satisfaction of the Revising Officer the name of such person shall be expunged from the list. The Revising Officer shall also expunge therefrom the name of every person who shall be proved to be dead, and shall correct any mistake or shall supply any omission which should be proved to have been made therein, respectively, in respect of the name or the place of abode of an}- person who shall be included therein, or in respect of the local description of his property; and the list so corrected shall form the electoral roll for the ensuing year, and shall be signed by the Revising Officer. 7.—The persons whose names shall be so enrolled thereon shall be deemed and taken to be the electors of the distinct until the completion of the electoral roll for the year next ensuing; and every person whose name shall appear upon such electoral roll shall be deemed and taken to be duly qualified to vote for the district in respect of which his name shall appear upon such roll without any further or or other inquiry, revision or scrutiny whatever. And when the name of any person claiming to be placed upon such roll shall once have been duly enrolled thereon, such name shall from year to year continue to be published as aforesaid, and be entered on the electoral roll for the time being, without any further claim on the part of the elector, until his name be objected to, and shall be duly expunged in manner hereinbefore prescribed. B.—As soon as conveniently may be after the annual revision of such roll, the Revising Officer shall cause copies thereof to be published for general information; and the original roll shall be preserved by him as long as it shall remain in force, open to the inspection of any elector, at reasonable times, on payment of one shilling.