The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Saturday, Jan. 9, 1864.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 73, 9 January 1864, Page 4

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Saturday, Jan. 9, 1864.

There is nothing of which an Englishman is more jealous than his rights in reference to the exercise of the franchise. This jealousy is seen in the individual, and in the aggregate. It is seen in every clause of any act having for its object the alteration or amendment of any part of the constitution of England or its dependencies. It affects, to an unknown extent, the thoughts and actions of every politician. The necessity for an extensive and liberal franchise has, in short, owing to this very jealousy, become a part of the political creed of every Englishman. Any Government attempting to throw obstacles in the way of a community, so as to interfere with its rights in this respect, will find that they are only taking the shortest way to enable the people to secure these rights. The exercise of the franchise is essentially a right, not a privilege. It is the duty of every man to exercise this right, so that a proper check may be put upon those to whom are entrusted the destinies of a country. Thus, then, although the duty of a Government is plain, and it should do everything to facilitate the exercise of these rights, it is also plain that unless individual exertion be made, and individual desire exhibited to obtain political power, the right to vote will cease to be of value. The constitution of New Zealand has conferred rights upon many of the people in this district, of which they are utterly ignorant. The majority of the people here are entitled to vote for the election of members of the Provincial Council. Although apathy has been exhibited on the part of the Provincial Government in providing the necessary officers and others for the district to permit of registration, yet it is the duty of the people to see that they are not defrauded through this want of action. Let tbe people call the attention of the Government to the seventh section of the " New Zealand Consti- " tution Act," and then if the proper steps are not taken, what we have above called apathy, will merge into a criminal and unconstitutional attempt to defraud the people of their political rights. By that clause it is declared, 44 that every man of the age of twenty--44 one years or upwards, occupying a tene--44 ment without the limits of a town, of the " clear annual value of five pounds, and having 44 resided therein six calendar months next 44 before such registration, shall, if duly regis--44 tered, be entitled to vote at the electior of 44 a member or members for the diitrict." This applies to the election of members of the Provincial Council. The same qualification confers a vote in the election of members of the General Assembly. The inhabitants of this district come under the denomination of men being without the limits of a town, —and thus almost every man on the diggings is entitled to the exercise of a vote. It has already been established in the Supreme Court, that occupancy has reference to any man being in

a place of the fixed value, whether his own or not. The period during which voters' names can be placed on the electoral roll extends from the Ist January to the 31st day of March in each year. It is of importance* then, that every man possessing the necessary qualification should take steps to have himself registered, so that he may be able to show by his vote his appreciation of those who may come soliciting his suffrage. Unless this be done, the people of this district will again be like lambs led to the slaughter, and like sheep before the shearers —dumb. We call upon every person having the qualification to register, and thus have the means of putting a check upon the wholesale taxation and neglect with which they have been visited. Let them, at once, secure to themselves what the constitution has given to them, and then, farewell to the class-legisla-tion which has been such a marked feature in Otago for the last two years. Let them take into their own hands the election of their representatives, and then farewell to that neglect of their interests which has characterised every action of the Provincial Council, so far as raining communities are concerned. We believe that his Honor the Superintendent will be in the district in the course of a few days. Let the people take the opportunity of inviting him to a meeting, and of stating to him plainly and respectfully the manifold shortcomings of the majority of the members of the Provincial Council, of which he is the head, and ascertain from him the probability of facilities for registration being given, and we have no doubt good will result.

In another column will be found an advertisement calling a meeting of miners at Arthur's Point for the purpose of a meeting with the Superintendent. Let tnem state to him plainly their grievances without toadying and we have no doubt that the gentlemanly instinct of his Honor will enable him to appreciate the loyal and independent character of the Shotover miners.