Bay of Islands Roll.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3224, 19 June 1879, Page 3

Bay of Islands Roll.

llx Sryce's Bepor-t.

His Opinion of Jolm Lundon, H. 0. Lawlor, and Hr Baker.

By telegram wo lonrn t'le following is the gist of tho report of the Commission upon tho iivegulariiiea in the Bay of Is'and Ro 1!. Mr Bryco srps :—" I think, then, tl at Mr John Lundon has for years past deliberately endeavored to place persons oh tho elect >ral roll for the Mongonui and Bay of Islands district with a view of rendering it more favorable to himse?f, and without c .ling ■whether such persons were qualified or not. It is my opinion that of the 83 claims which he caused to be preferred in 1878, four-fifths had no legal qualifi'.ition, and that of tho

remaining filth many were invalid l.y reason of the mode in which the claims were p-epared. I think that the late registration officer, Mr WilHams, permitted, perhaps, unconsciously, his politic! sympathies and dislikes to influevce him ii the discharge of his official dulies as registration officer; that he made his objections on insufficient information, and thus becamo an instrument

to forwprd the object" of a local party or faction. I think that both of Mr ,—Jdawlor's celebrated or notorious decisions were unsound in law, and that his capacity is not equaj to the performance of <ac duties of revising officer in a digtrict where difficult questions may arise. ■I think that Mr Baker, now Registration

Officer, at Kwsscll, is altogether unfit for

that position. I think that the conduct of the Government in removing Mr Williams f.om the position of Registration

Officer atsounforlurate a time was incon

'siderato,.,injudicious, and objectionable; but I dp not believe that Governmant or any member of it ibad any intention by that means of preventing du^ 'nqniry into the^ merits or demerits of the claims objected =lo by Mr Williams. It will probably be observed that scarcely anyone concerned seems to come welloctof' this inquiry, and this circumstance has j occurred! forcibly to my own mind. In | further illustra'/ion of this curious feature of the case I would dirrct attention to a | circular which was produced in evidence by Mr Lundon, which w?U be found in his evidence. Th;s circular unmistake:ibly advises packing of the electoral roll for a special purpose in as gross a manner as regards the qualifications as ever was attempted by Mr Lundon ; yet it has come to my know'edge that it has been accepted without demur, and acted on with avidity by gent'emen of the anti-Lnndcn faction, who rre loud in their condemnation of the tactics pursued by their opponents. It has produced a singo'ar effect on my mind to see +hat these gentlemen have a High sense'-of their own honour, and would (del g-TStly pained to find it impvgsed; yet it,is evident that in their njfrids packing of the roll is r.^ht or wrong, accordingly as it serves or | obst: ucts a special purpose, or party prejudice. If, however, the peculiar circumstances of the district are considered—the sparse European population, the isolated communities and preponderate of. the native people—there is, perhape, little causa for surprise, for in such a ;dislrirt.where Press criticism must be tmfelt, and public opinion without existence,' arbitrary exercise of power and immoral political manoeuvres can have no sufficient check. -