The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5509, 22 November 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 1878.

Amongst tho many public journals upon which the oyes of the present Government rest lovingly, and the dew of Ministerial favor has fallen abundantly, and continues to fall, in the shape of advertisements, the “Lyttelton Times is perhaps that one which has been least corrupted by the . unwholesome patronage. There is an antiseptic infusion of cynicism in the constitution of our contemporary, and whilst the golden shower when it comes is suffered to run off into the proper receptacle, a word in season shows that Jupitor Grey, as seen from the Editor’s chair, is really “no better than he ought to be.” We reprint in another column a short article from the “Times” of Saturday last, on the subject of what Is now so well known as the Bay of Islands’ scandal, that is the getting of four hundred bogus Maori votes placed on the electoral roll of that district by the simple process of dismissing Mr. Williams, the Registration Officer who had made objection to the claimants, in order to prevent his appearance at the Revision Court where the objections were appointed to be heard. Our contemporary appears to think that the report of-the Native Affairs Committee exonerates the Government, and that the blame rests with Mr., Tole, and especially with the Revising Officer, who permitted himself to be guided by that learned gentleman. Ministers, however, take a different view of Mr. Tole’s action from that taken by the “ Lyttelton Times,” and in their newspaper, not long ago, warmly defended the action of the member for Eden, justifying at the same time the wholesale operation which was so dexterously performed by asserting, what has not been denied, that there were some amongst . the 400 who. would certainly have been entitled to be placed bn the roll if their claims had been heard. It is asserted by these who ought to know best-—that is the gentlemen who got up the list—that there wore certainly eight persons so qualified, and upon proof being given of the fact their claims would no doubt have been admitted. But that cannot be held to justify tho illegal admission to the privileges of the franchise of the four hundred Maori claimants who had no legal qualification of any kind. It must also be remembered that this same Revising Officer had, after investigation upon a former occasion, rejected the claims of a large number of the men who by the late operation were placed upon the roll. The gentleman, Captain Baker, who was suddenly appointed to succeed Mr. Williams, could not, even if, he were prepared and knew what course to pursue, be expected to oppose the policy of the Government and to carry out vigorously a process for only attempting to carry out which his predecessor had just been dismissed from his office in disgrace. But the new Registration Officer was not even properly appointed, and had neither power to act nor information to guide him unless indeed he had consulted Mr. Tole.

The plea, which our contemporary urges, that the report of the committee had whitewashed the Government, we have disposed of on a former occasion. It is true that the Chairman of the Native Affairs Committee said that he was directed to report that the Registration and Returning Officer had been properly removed ; but it is to be remembered that in the quorum of the committee when that direction was given there were present and voting four members of the Executive whose conduct was impugned, viz., Sir Georoe Grey, Mr. Sheehan, Mr. Macandbew, and Mr. Hoani Nahe ; so that the accused persons being judges in their own cause, there can be no need for surprise at the nature of the verdict. We have not heard that any steps have been taken to make inquiry on the spot, by Commissioners, into the allegations made by the Native petitioners, and we feel sure that our Lyttelton contemporary will join with us in urging upon the Government the necessity of issuing this Commission without delay, and of making immediate publication of the report.