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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 51, 4 March 1864, Page 2

Wr inti ma-tod in our last issue thai Mr Stnart had boon sent for on the resignation of Mr Cowan to form an Executive. Yesterday morning, Mr Stuart informed his Honor the Superintendent that Messrs Tarlton and Beaven had consented to act in conjunction with himself, Mr Tarlton taking- the oftico of Provincial Treasurer. His Honor, we understand, while agreeing- with Mr Stuart's proposition that in all matters purely provincial, the Superintendent should, act solely by and with the desire and consent ofthe majority ofthe Executive Council, differed as to what ought to be considered purely provincial affairs. The main points at issue were, •we understand, as to the time of dissolution of tlie Provincial Council, the Representation Act', and the cutting down of the Estimates. Much has been said about the injustice which would be done to those recently arrived amongst us, who will be disfranchised were fresh elections to take place prior to the new roll coming into force on tho Ist October. When the present Council was elected, soon after Separation, we find there were 269 electors on the electoral roll; some of these were absentees residing in Dunedin and elsewhere. Grabriel's Gully had just then been discovered to bo a rich goldfield, a general Hegira took place, more particularly of the population in the rural districts, so that of the 26f> electors names on the roll, we do not believe more than onehalf voted. On the present Electoral Roll, 1863-4, there are 754 electors names. It would appear, therefore, that a good number have been disfranchised for some time. One would imagine it was only fair to allow this large majority to have some say in the government ofi themselves in the present critical state of the province, more so than at any previous period of its existence. We are assured that should a geueral election take place before the Ist October, half the population will be disfranchised. We have been given to understand tliat the number of fresh claims which have been registered since the lst January amounts to the astonishing total of twenty-eight ! Of that number, many are electors on the present roll for other properties. It would appear, therefore,no act of crying injustice will be done should the dissolution take place .' in ! ; June ; but rather, that an injustice will be committed should, it not. We clo notbelieve tjiere will be fifty new names added to the Electoral Roliof 1864-5, even if we wait; and of that/number hardly one will be in the countiy districts. There may certainly be a few in Riverton and Invercargill. We will, in order to substantiate our argument compare the three rolls :— Electoral Roll of 1861, under which the present Council was elected, 269 voters ;.. Electoral Roll of

1863-4, under whicli a fresh {Council could be elected if a dissolution took place in June, 754 voters ; Electoral Eoll for 1864-5 under which, the ' Council couldbe elected if a dissolution takes j place after October (supposing addi- | ti'onal fifty voters) 804 voters. Now, in th 6 present State of the province, when such a large, expenditure on ; publib WtirkS is being carried on, /is/it/not more consistent with justicetliattheCouncil should be dissolved at" once than to; wait because we- anticipate an increase of fifty. votei-s to'the* Electoral Eoll ? ..... We understand ;*thati *the ■ result of the interview -whi(3hJ/fr Stuart had, was that His Honor, not being able to coincide with Mr Stuart;, Mr Cowanp^Siagain sent for to nominate anothei 1 Successor -to form an Executive;* - .Mr* CJow^p^e Relieve, nominated; .; Mr Tarlton, wlio was sent for, and undertook -the ,task.- ,-At last evening's sittings of the Council, Mr Tarlton announced that he -had formed an Executive, his- colleagues being Mr Cowan and Mr Beaven. ;