PUBLIC MEETING AT TIMARU.

North Otago Times, Volume III, Issue 46, 5 January 1865, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT TIMARU.

Wβ »re favored with the following communication : — A meeting of the electors of the Timaru District was held at the Queen's Hotel, on Tuesday evening the 20th December, to concert measures for the adoption of a better system of Registration. Mr Edward Smith, contractor, having been called to the chair, explained the purpose for which the meeting had been called, and invited those gentlemen present to express their opinions and to suggest any alterations or improvements which might be made under the present system of Registration of votes. Mr Ellis, in addressing the meeting, called the attention of his hearers to the necessity that existed of a hearty and vigorous unanimity among all the householders of the important district of Timaru. He (Mr Ellis) further pointed out the advantage of appointing a committee of gentlemen, from those present, to carry out the views of the meeting. Air Padgett, on rising, said that great difficulty existed in the present system of Registering votes in the Timaru district, and instanced the town of Timaru itself. There was no Registering officer in the place, and anyone wishing to register his vote, must go two or three miles out of town to do so, and then possibly not find that officer at home, further, that if any objections were made to the right of any householder to vote, he (the householder) must proceed all the way to Christchurch to answer or remove the objections, or else be content to have his name struck off the roll. Mr Padgett also stated that he had been an elector for upwards of four years, and , that on a rerent occasion, when about to exercise his franchise, to his utter surprise he found himself struck off the roll, while his neighbor on the opposite side of the way had his name retained. Mr Reilly also complained of the same thing happening to himself, and in addition, said that before last March, he re-registered his vote (as a freeholder), not that he considered he was bound to do so.—and then at the last election found his name off the list of electors.

Proposed by Mr Ellis, and eeconded by Mr Padgett,— " That a committee be formed (with power to add to their number) to carry out the objects of the meeting." Carried.

Proposed by Mr Ellis, and seconded by Mr Exley,— "That Capt. Sutter, Messrs E. Smith, Exley, Reilly, Padgett, Jas. Smith, and the mover be appointed (or the above purpose." Carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr Padgett, and seconded by Mr Reilly, —"That the committee meet for the purpose of Registering votes, and affording information to electors, on Monday in each week, at 8 o'clock ; the first meeting to be held on January the 2nd inst., at the Queen's Hotel." Carried.

Several other remarks having been made respecting the extremely unsatisfactory manner in which the Registration of votes has been carried on, and the difficulties thrown in the way of doing so, the meeting, after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, adjourned.