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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5410, 30 July 1878, Page 2

By our Auckland exchanges we learn that a special train for the purpose of conveying the VVaipa electors resident in Auckland to Mercer and back again to Auckland free of charge, to enable them to record their votes at the late election for Waipa, was arranged for thcircouvoniencewiththoGovernment. Should this precedent be followed electors resilient in; Dunedin possessing a vote 5u the Lake District,' when the line is completed between Balolutha and Invercargill, will be, enabled to combine business with pleasure at election times, and ride free of charge to Kingston. Indeed, when the line, is through from Hokitika to, Araberly, there seems no reason whatever why men resident in the metropolis of Westland if possessed of doctoral qualification should not also have a free passage by rail to the foot of Lake Wakatip. It seems to qur unsophistl-

cated an entirely new idea this frank of electors from distant places to enable them to vote. Under the present electoral law, •- should this , custom obtain, it would‘V suit ::' many people to qualify for distant electorates in the provincial districts of .Canterbury and Otago, as frequently recurring pleasure trips could then be obtained at tho public expense. But under the “ new dispensation,”. whetv ; jrnanhood suffrage—with or without a registered residence clause we know not—shall become the law of the laud, complications, it is : feared, may arise from an abuse of the privilege conceded to the electors of Waipa. When “the,method of electing members of the House of Representatives upon a satisfactory basis” becomes the law of the land, it is obvious that in consequence of this action of .the Government a resident registration clause must be adopted; otherwise, if John Brown, who resides at Oxford, when an election t -is ponding at Invercargill or the Mataura feels desirous to piocecd South, lie may, under the pretext of recording his vote at either of these place?, or in fact in any other electoral district, proceed to His destination at the public expense. Another difficulty crops up from this “ franking” action. Supposing our metaphorical John wishes to go to .Dunedin from Oxford, instead of to the district where the election is to be held, is he compelled to go the whole distance, or may he consult his convenience and remain where ho wishes his journey to end ? With triennial Parliaments, manhood suffrage, and free railway passes’ for electors, no doubt can be felt but what “ there is a good time coming,” when our railway passenger traffic will be considerably increased. But yet the conviction is forced on the minds' of the observing that precedents of the class to which allusion is made should be cautiously initiated; ** for from such proceedings,” to quote the words of the Premier to the Secretary of State, “as are now under consideration, tho institutions of young nations, almost imperceptibly develop themselves; and that, however trifling each step taken by itself may appear, at the moment, its effect is lasting and will ultimately produce important results.”

A return of immigration from Ist July, 1877, to 30th June, 1878, presented to tho Assembly, shows that during that period 4590 ordinary and 1029 nominated immigrants arrived, the total number of souls being 5628, equal to 6024 statutes adults. The amount of passage money is set down at £68,651 19s, 9d.; cash paid by emigrants prior to leaving England, £1072 3s. 3d ; notes given by emigrant? prior to leaving England, £216 16s. 6d.; cash or bills given in the colony for nominated emigrants, £4lO 7s. 9cl. The distribution of the above amongst tho provincial districts has been as follows : -

— Since J uly 1,1S77. Total to date. Souls. Adults. Souls. Adults. 403 435i 11,427 0,014 Taranafci .. . 09 03 . 1,025 1.570J 405 355 0,410 5,2041 Wellington 500 4881 13,004 lO.OOOi Marlborough 03 82i 1.210 1,0031 Nelson ,, 126 . 108i 1,738 145 1304 . 1,600 1,2351 Canterbury 2,034 1,825 22,773 19,103 Otago 1,008 1,5051 24,101 5,023 5,024 84,103 70,4381

The nationality of ;he above are as follows :—• Since July 1,1877 , Souls, Total to date. Souls. English .. 2,530 44,037 18,351 Scotch .. .. . 080 275 12 2,051 Dunes .. .• 8 Swedes .. 007 Norwegians . 5 OSO 10 SOS Others .. . 8 . 537 5,028 84,103