The Southland Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 241, 13 April 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1866.

In order 'to give, Northern and West Coasfc news, and use matter crowded out from onr last two issues, we are compelled to hold over the i leader, letters, Eiverton coirespondence, and other items of interest. From our advertising columns it will be seen that a meeting of the Invercargill Building and Land Society will be held this evening, at the office of the Society, Tay-stveet. Prom a report we received late last night, we learn that there is now over a hundred men at work on the Riverton Goldfields — Paihi and Longwood. The breach workings is yielding fairly, most all are getting half an-ounce a day, while everyone speaks hopefully of the future. Several parties are offering gold for Bale, but there is not money on the ground to buy with. The Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Chief Surveyor arrived in town last evening, after making & week's touv on official business. The General Assembly has been summoned to meet for the " despatch of business " on the 28th May. The importance of all members being present cannot be over estimated. No doubt his Excellency the Governor will, in his opening address be more explicit than on previous occassions, and the reply to the opening speech will be looked for with much interest. It should shadow-forth the intentions of the Government and the policy of the Assembly. A question has been raised as to the legality of Mr Moorhouse's return for Westland. It is affirmed that having been returned for another constituency, his election for Westland was illegal. It is plain that no gentlemen can represent two districts at ono time, but it is a knotty point to decide, as to whether he cannot elect as to which constituency he will represent. It is a novel question to be raised but one of importance, inasmuch as it may involve a doubt of the perfectness of the Assembly when it meets. On Wednesday, the committee for the promotion of immigration met at the office of the Wa3te Land Board. The object of the meeting was not of an important nature, and but little business was done. Mr Murray having resigned his ofice as Treasurer) on the motion of Mr Perkins, seconded by Mr Murray, Mr Lmnsden, M.P.C., was elected his successor. The Justices of the Peace of Motueka, Nelson Province, have come into collision with the Provincial Government. It would appear, from the correspondence which has been published in the Nelson Examiner, that the constable of the district (John Boyes), had been discharged for incompetency, and there were two applicants for the situation — Thomas Boyes, son of the discharged constable, who was recommended by two Magistrates, and Daniel Talbot, who was recommended by five. The Provincial Government gave the appointment to the former, and the five Justices of the Peace, considering it a slight upon them have declined to act during lv's continuance in the situation. The Taranaki News says that Colonel Warro left by the Storm Bird on Thursday last, on his way to England. We are sure that his departure will cause universal regret in Taranaki. During a residence of five yeara in this settlement he won the esteem and admiration of all, by his unvarying courtesy to all with whom he came in contact, and his high soldierlike qualities. He was one of those few officers of high military rank in whose skill the colonists placed implicit trust. He leaves with the best wishes of all for his happi- ■ ne3s. ■ The shock of an earthquake was felt at Marlborough on the 29th ult. The Marlboroiigh News, 31st March, says : — " A little before nine o'clock on the evening of Thursday last, an earthquake was experienced. It was heavier than had been felt for some time previously, and its direction was observed to be from S,W. to N.E." From Auckland papers we learn that the proprietors of the New Zealand Herald are about to publish a weekly paper, to be called the Weekly Herald. The first number was to have been published on the 7th instant. The Canterbury Press contends Jthat 'Mr Moorhouse's election for Westland is invalid. Our contemporary says : — " We believe that an investigation into the law of Parliameat will show that the recent election for Westland is null and void. In dealing with the subject recently, we pointed out that such a case as a nieniber already elected for one constituency standing for another was never heard of in Eugland; that the only cases of double elections were those in which the member had been elected by two two constituencies at the same time and without his knowledge, i.e., without his knowledge that he had been returned for one before he stood for the other. When the elections are simultaneous the member can take his choice ; but as the Parliament, which in the absence of any specific provisions to the contrary is the law of the General Assembly, is distinctly' stated in the books to be that a sitting member cannot be elected for another constituency, it appears to follow that the second elec.tion is null and void. If there were a Speaker, it would be his duty to indicate to the Government that there was a vacency for Westland, when a new writ' would issue. As there is no Speaker the must remain over until the Speaker is elected. But in this case what will Mr Moorhouse do ? Will he resign his seat for Mount Herbert and stand for Westland .?.— in which case two of the Canterbury seats will be vacant in the first month of the session ; or will he stick to Mount Herbert? — in which case what becomes of the services he was to perform in using his position a3 member for Westland to preserve the untity of the Province ?"