TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1880.

Manawatu Herald, 10 February 1880, Page 2

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1880.

THE ELECTORAL ACTS. 4 The approach of the period of the year when persons were under the old Acts required to register their claim to vote for members of the House of Representatives, naturally suggests the desirability of our placing before our readers the amended law, as enacted by Parliament during last session. There are three Acts dealing with the subject. The first repeals all existing Acts relating to the qualification and registration of electors,and is called -• The Electoral Acts Eapeal Act, 1879." By this Act it is provided that ajl existing electoral rolls are to remain in force until the first new electoral rolls are prepared, and that the Governor is to proclaim when the new electoral rolls are to come into force. The second of the trio is " The Qualification of Electors Act, 1879." The qualification for Europeans is twofold — first, freehold ; second, residential. In order to register under the freehold clause, the person must be an adult male, having in his own right a freehold estate of the total value of at least £25, whether subject to incumbrauces or not, " and of or to which he has been seized or entitled either at law or in equity for at least six calendar months next before the registration of his vote." The residential clause simply provides tli'at '■ Every man of the age of 21 years or upwards who has resided for one year in the Colony, and in the electoral district for which he claims to vote during the six mouths immediately preceding the registration of his vote, and is not registered in respect of a freehold qualification under this Act for the same district, is entitled to be registered as an elector." There is also a Maori qualification, which provides that every male adult Maori " whose name is enrolled upon a ratepayers roll in force within the electoral district in respect of which he claims to vote, or who is seized in severalty of a freehold estate of the value of £25," is entitled to be registered as an elector, but no Maori may vote at any election of a European under any other qualification than one or other of those just mentioned. Persons convicted of treason, felony, or infamous offence cannot register, unless a free pardon has been granted, or a sentence undergone ; nor can aliens. Any member of the House ceasing to be an elector will not from that cause only be disqualified from sitting out the Parliament. The third Act of the set is « The Registration of Electors Act, 1879." Cluse 6 directs the Registrar of the to draw up new rolls directly after the coming into operation of the Act, and to place thereon the names of all persons found on the roll. Every person who desires to have his name placed on the roll is required to fill up and forward to the Registrar a form : any person making a false declaration is liable to a penalty of £20. Within fifteen days of the receipt of the claim, the Registrar is to make enquiries as to the truth of the statements therein contained, and if they are found to be correct, the claimant's name is to be added to the roll. The Registrar, however, may require proof of the statements made, and tho claimant is allowed to withdraw his claim. If within ten days after proof shall be required, the claimant shall fail to satisfy the Registrar that his claim is valid, and has not withdrawn it, a summons will be taken out by the Registrar, and the person will be required to prove his claim before a Resident Magistrate. Should either the Registrar or the claimant fail to appear, judgment will ex parte be given against the absent party. If both parties appear, the case will be tried by the Court in the ordinary way. Full power is given to the Magistrate feu compel tho attendance of witnesses, the production of documents, &c, and the Magistrate may give or refuse costs to either party. The Registrar or any enrolled elector may object to a name on the roll, but must give notice to the person so objected to. The person so objected to may cause his name to be erased from the roll, but should he neglect to do so, the objector may summon him to Court, when, if his name is struck off by the Magistrate, he may be compelled to pay costs. Any objector other than the Registrar is required to deposit £1 as security before taking legal proceedings against an elector. Persons removing from one electoral district to another may have their names transferred, but no transfer shall be made to a roll after the issue of a writ until the same has been returned. Any person making a Mac declaration to procure a transfer, is liable to a penalty of £20. la

case of death, or ou receipt of a written request to tbat effect, a name may bo stir tick off by tho Registrar. Tho rolU are to be alphabetically ar* ranged and numbered consecutively, and the official Hat is to be kept at a place to* be directed by the Colonial Secretary, where it may be inspected two days in each week free of charge. The first roll under the Act is to be printed four months after being drawn up, and whenever one hundred names are added a new roll is to be formed and printed, provided no roll is to be reprinted until a year after the last reprinting. Instead of reprinting the whole roll, a supplement may be added. A supplementaiy roll is to be printed before every election. Electoral rolls containing 1000 names will be sold for one shilling ; over 1000 names, two shillings. Notices under the Act may be served personally by letter, or by being left at the person's place of residence, or by being sent through the post as a registered letter.

Raupabaha's Statur. — A handsome marble pedestal, raised on a block of granite, and surmounted by a bust of this old warrior, has been erected within the enclosure of the Jubilee pole at Otaki. The inscription originally bore, in addition to the name, ay;e, date of death, &c, a- few lines in regard 10 the prowess of the d ceased chief, aad made reference to the number of natives he had killed. As relations of those who ware killed by TCaupar.-.ha are living at Otaki, they were naturally indignant at these unpleasant lines being inscribed on the monument, and tho obnoxious pari was therefore erased, and some words of a loss objectionable character are to be substituted. The JVixt-'N School —We nre pleased to learn that the a tendance at tho Fox ton school has greatly improved since the holidays, there being 1 100 on tho roll, whib; the attendance has in several cases been nearly 150. At Otaki. — This township has been tolerably lively for the last few days, and is expested to contiuue so for a week or two. Maoris from nearly all parts of the colony have arrived there to attend the jubilee, and have given a very animated appearance to the place. *'n Suturd-iy night last a huge crowd of men, women, and children were collected on the main mad. laughing, eh ittin.', and playing various gamen, A centre of great attraction was a stack of timber, upon which a number of native youths were engaged in '' step daueitig," to the nm-dc of a concertina, played by ono of i heir own race. It was quite amusing to watch the dancers, and 10 hear the comments of the spectators, who were constantly striking matches in order to sen more clearly the •' steps," and judge aoeordin«:ly, the merits of the d iff rum performers being freely and in most cases corl'eetly canvassed. The LocAt. Board. — As will be seen in another column, the Local Board spent a large amount of time and breath on .Saturday in discussing Mr Gray's position. Nevertheless, they have not got one step noaror the question, which remains in thy samu unsatisfactory state. The point is a legal one, which the members are u>t competent to determine. Brit-fly it is this : Does the fact of Mr Gray lvceivihg £13 per annum for a roadway, constitute " a contract ?" If it does,he has no right to sit on the Board ; if it does not, then he lvtirius his position as a member. The question is purely a technical oae, to decide which a legal opinion should be obtained. Instead of tfiking a calm and dispassionate view, however, the members got their blood ui>, and sime expressions were used whioh we refrain from publishing. Now, that is not the way to sottle thi-se matters. Mr Gray m,iy be an excellent Commissioner and Chairman, biit if he has infringed the law* an! forfeited his seat.he must sooner or la*er vacate it. Wo have on a previous occasion expressed an opinion, that the receipt of ths. reguhr 6um constitutes a standing contract, and that therefore Mr Gray is disqualified. If such is the case, it is no reply to say, '• Oh; he is a good fellow, and it's a pity to oujt|him." Uis goodness is not questioned, but his logul standing on the Board is. Under these circuinsiaucos it woul.l be better to refer the whole matter to a solici tor, and have it settled by a legal opinion. The G-rav?!. Pit .Jokb — Our Palm-.-raton c Mitbinporary, iv his issue of Saturday, reprints our paragraph re the gravel pit at l'almerstou, and adds : — " \\'o «>re very sorry to destroy the point of the supposed joke, but a desire for the publication of tho truth compels us to do so. If ihe County Chairman stated that the Palmerston Borough Council asked the Government for section 448, ho stated what was not correct. Th-y applied for sections 694, 6SH, 696, 697, ii9-s, 099, 700, 701, and what is more they gor. them. At the same time, not to baulk Councillor Sanson's new-born au.J unlooked for generosity, we presume they would consent to receive section 41i also — but merely to oblige him." Uscollbcted Ratks. — During the financial diseiusiun in tho Co'inty Council on londay lust, tliu clerk prt-senferl a table of figures regar ling the rites collected in the County. From th:s wo learn that the linear* of rat-s for 187T 78 amounted on March 31, 18<9, to £202 9s oJ, of which there have been collected t ■ date £-43 9s 7d, leaving n balance of £158 19s Kid siill due. Of this sum, howevi r. about £-l(»is for rates owing by natives, wiih whom it is a intitter of choice whether they pay or not, being exempted from taxation. As no rales duo over two years (that time for the rate of 1877-H having expin-douNov '-29, 1879) c«n be sued for. over £100 in rates hue therefore been lost to the Couutv, together with the subsidy of a similar auiimin, unless the defaulters voluntarily surr ncK-r the ainouu's. Such a con*u'»m uion, however devoutly to be wi-hod, ne.'d not be expected On March 3', 1879, the rate arrears for the yea* 1878-79 amounted to £(ii 37* 3d, of which there ware collected by November 26, 1879, £271 15a 7d, leaving a balance then uucollecteri of £"181 Us Bd. For 1879 80, the total estimated inconvi from thu rate wns £3927 9s, of which there were collect»d by Nov. 26, 1879, £2346 18a 4d, leaving v balance outstanding of £1580 10s 6d. We anticipate a larga reduct'oi! in this amount, when the next return is made up, probably by next sitting day, tho Council having voted the Collector £10 for petty cash in taking out summonses against defaulters Otaki Church — There was a very large attendance of Maoris at the morniug service at Otaki, on Sunday last His Lordship the Kishop of Wellington conducted the service, assisted by the Itevs. Messrs M-Williara (of Otaki)! S. Williams (of Te Aure, Napier), and burrows (of the Auckland distiiot. The Maoris were most attentive and devout throughout the service. After a brief interval the Sacrament of the Holy Communion was ndmiuistere 1 to about seventy natives. The natives who attended the service were all attired in their best olothing, and some of the females j.

were " got up " in quite gorgeous dresses, but all looked remarkably wall and clean. In the afternoon a service for Europeans was heldj and in the evening there was nrother Maori service. The afternoon sermon Was preached by Mr Burrows, aud that in the evening by Mr Williams. Pkj?sbykhky. — The Presbytery of Wellington will meet at the Foxton Presbyterian | Ohuvoii to-morrow (Wednesday} morning, wh»n e'eivymen will attend from Wunganui, Wellington, &c. A Whuiiavixd. — A veritable whirlwind occurred in the main street of Fox ton yesterday morning, about ll o'clock. The attention of persons in the street at the time was called to a peculiar *ighl near tho Post office, where a quantity of dust was seen to be whirling rapidly round. It gradually rose to about seven feet in height, and then moved in a half circle over towards the Post Olh':;o ai;d back to the cast side of the street. As it approached Mr Gray's store the dust was seen to rise very rap-dly in the form of a spiral column whirling quickly, aud tapering towurds the fop, with a slight bent? to the east, until it attained the height of some sixty or seve'itv feet, being more than double the height of Aberdeen House. It then broke, and the cloud of dust returned to its mother earth. The spectators watched for several minutes to see if Nature would repeat the strange performance, but, with her usual contempt for mortal admiration, she declined to respond to the encore. Nabkow Escape. — A narrow escape from drowning occurred on Sunday last. It ap pears Mr Purcell nnd his sou James were übout t-> bathe in the river, when the youth threw off his clothes aud plunged in. But, unknown to him, the bauk shelved very rapidly, aud in instant he wad out of his depth, and below the surface. The father, being engaged in stripping, paid no heed t'i the boy's disappearance, but a youuger brother called out, " Where's Jem ?" Mr Purcell at once saw something was wrong, but being himself unable to swim, could do nothing. The boy rose to the surface, and S:ink three times (so we are informed). Meantime the father culled for help, and a man named Waters pulled a boat, (in which he was passing) to the scene. Noticing tins air bubble** rising to the surface, Waters dropped the end down. This was clutched by the drowning lad, who literally wound himself rouud it, and was lifted to the s-ir face aud brougbt ashore insensible, but iifu-r a time he Ciirae to.nnd is now quite re stored. Wo aro informed that upon coming round, he remembered nothing of the affair whio.i so nearly cost him his life. Wo congratulate his parents ant young Purcell most heartily upon h.s es.-apc. The Ospaey — No bids were offer ad for the Osprey on Saturday. Commission's Disqcalificatio>\ — Tha Post has the following in reference ti> the above:— The action of the Racing Club with regard to Messrs Stevens and Campion, the pai ties concerned in the recent attempt to make a fraudulent entry of a horse in the tiinpiiv; Plate, has been rather nii-ire-presenti d. The Club has disqualified them absolutely from cither entering or riding a lurse at any races held under the Wellington Racing Club rules during the pleasure of the stewards. Mr Donald Fraser, who is the reputcl owner of Commission, has also been notified that it will rest with him to show cause why he should not be iacludud in the disqnaiific.it on. Pastor Chixiquv. — A telegram from Christehureb s-iys :— -The Oddfellows' Hal was crammed to excess to hear Pastor Chiniquy's third lecture. The Uuv. .1. S. SuialUy, tiie chairman, in introducing the lecturer, said that in spito of laying priests and lying editors, Pastor Chiuiquy would continue to be regarded as one ot the noblest men living. The leoturer, in the course of tiie evening, referring to the Boxing Day riot, advised the audience not to conceal thjir colors but to go into the street"} with them round their shoul lets. If thej are not free to do so, they had belter be slaves to tlia i'ope at unce. The Home Rulk Party.— -A Post special, under date London 4, saps : — The oxcitemeut in Irotanl is subsiding, ani the Home Ruta League is in a moribund condition. Most of the more influential leadeiM have become alarmed and displeased with tin* excesses committed by the agi: utor« Mr William Shaw, member for Cork, was uppeuled to to t:ike tho leadership of the Home Rule League, but has positively declined to do so. The treasurer also has resigned, ai:d the members are in a stats oi gieat disunion among thorns. l vet. It ithought probable, under th<*3e circumstances, that the league will soon break up. Tub Latb Alks Daukklii. — Au elegant tombstone in the Melbourne cemetery beaib the following inscription : — " This slali was laid by Geurtre Frederick Price Darrell, iv memory of his wife, Mury Frances, who died 3rd Jan'itry, 1880, aged4(iyeai.s. An actress. Guileless of wrong with ill intent, was all unselfish ; she lived and died be loved hv e\l who knew her. She never lost i friend nor nude an enemy ; she had no fear of death, believing in the great hereiif ter. Better so ! As the curtain descended on the fircicul play below, she was euroiled in the joyous company who realise eternal life above." Tub biuiiT Fantastic. — At a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery last week, the Rev. Mr Muuro remarked that, ii» answer to one of the usual inquiries, ho had received f'oro certain ministers) very frivolous aud, indeed, insulting answers. The question was as to whether auy particular iutlications of spiritual life hid been discerned during the year, and one of the answers, whidh might be sriven as a sample of some of the other.*, stated, "Nothing extraordinary; much riukinganddaucing." This was evidently intend d as v reflection upon ii particular congregation (St. Jiimes'). The Rev. Mr Macnicol took occasion to deny the authority of the answer. The Rev. -Mr (Jiirrick thought it disclosed very bad taste ou the part of the writer. The following paragraph from a telegram explains the above:— "A lively scene took plii.;e last nisrbr at St. James' Church. List week a res>oluti>n was carried that dancing and rinking should be allowed iv the Suud>ty»achoi>l hall To-night a freah meeting was conveued, the untidanoiug and fin king fraternity mustered in force, and. after a warm debate, reversed th •; former decision." Poisonino Cui.viauv. — A Press Aasociation telegram under date Christchurch, February 6, says : — lt was rumoured yesterday tbat an attempt had beeu m-ide to poison Pastor Chin.guy. It seems that on Wednesday night, a letter was received at the Oddfellows' hall, addre^ed to the pastor. When opened by the secretary, it was found to emit a strong stench. The secretary said that after handling the letter, and putting his finger.* t-t his lips aud nos»s an itchy sensation followed, and shortly afterwards his lips wore swollen considerably. A paper was also inside of the envelope on which was wiitten, " Remember you are to meet your God. Prodigul child come to me home. lam one who would give alms if you want them, reflect on this Look at your black angel." The envelope and enclosure were handed to the police, who snbmitted them to Professor liockerton. He reports as follows: — I have examined, and find it to contain^notbing more than varnish and dead flies.