THE WAKAIA OBJECTIONS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 183, 10 August 1871, Page 6

THE WAKAIA OBJECTIONS.

(To the Editor.) Sra, — During the past two months a number of the Ota<jo journals have devoted considerable space to lengthy reports of my proceedings — all more or less fic-titioua — and and to vigorous phillij i -s from country correspondents denouncing me as a tyrant and oppressor because I objected to certain names on the Wakaia Electoral Roll. I have allowed them to have their say uninterrupted, and now claim my right of reply. I will therefore state the simplo facts, whit-h in themselves give the strongest possible contradiction to the mis-statements referred to.

Prior to 1870, although frequently urged by the representatives of both political sides to exercise my power of free objection, I refused to do so, on the ground that it was the duty of the electors themselves to send me the objections, and that ifc was no part of my duty to act as political agent for either si4e or both, but [ warned them at the same time that if t'ley di'l not perform that duty before 1870, I should take ifc into my own hands, and then the roll should be most thoroughly punged. Accordingly last year I objected to 130 names, and 103 were struck off the roll chiefly on tlie ground of insutfivient value— the court ruling that the annual value to Ist must be taken as the taken as the test of household value. I also raised the question of " insuffi/'ient description," and it was ruled that the desc i,>tion must be " sufficient for identiti cation " — i.e., sufficient to prevent twenty persons registering for one section as mi.rht easily be the case with such vague description as "Roxburgh, land;" — in other words, that section and block must be specified. Tliis point I postponed enforcing until the next revision that no one might be taken by surprise or unjustly disfranchised. This year, therefore, acting on the law as defined by last year's Revision Court, after giving full notice before hand, I objected to 265 names. Ample publicity was given to the lists, and I used every effort to have Revision Courts held at the two main centres — Switzers and Roxburgh. The Revising Officer, however, owing to other engagements, was unable to com pi v with this request, although urged by me most strong in several letters. On ascertaining that only one court could be held, 1 afc once communicated with the various parts of the district requesting I might be supplied with the information required to substantiate such claims as could be supported in court ; and at the Court, by means of the information thus obtained, 78 names, objected to under " insufficient description," were retained, on the point of value, whereas the court of 1870 ruled that the test was the annual value to let. The court of 1871 took a view diametrical 1 y opposite, and held that the value to the owner and occupier should be the test, and therefore that any habitable house would give a household qualification. Tiie question being fully discussed on the' first case called, I accepted the decision as applying to the whole 160 " insufficient value " objections. The i^inaining 27 names were all struck, off -on various grounds — mim being i that of a female whosa false claim was duly attested ; both parties to this discreditable aff.iir thus rendering them.velves liable to a criminal prosecution. I abstain from prosecuting this time in the hope that the severe remarks made by the Revising Officer may prevent a^ " repetition of the offence. I mention this instauca to show what needless difficulties are purposely thrown in the way of Returning Officers by persons vyho should know better. * Such are the plain facts, which perverted and exaggerated, by the simpleminded country. correspondents of the Ofcago papers, have developed into Nnich amusing fictions. I may add. '.'that feh§ objections were not founded 40' WHT private information, but on , the qualifications , as stated by thf claimants themselves, which prfmd w fokoie did nqt fulfil'the requirements of " the la\y ? -r- 1 am, &c,.. " : Chakiils lloufr Mae?ew, - Returning OUScer, Waikaja. -

The fawvous Barnmii has again com..meaeed the "show" business,, and' has "seat .over to England' a reproduction of the Siamese twins in the person of two \ negro girls, £9 years of age, phyaioally .jojne.l together. They were visited at the Washington Hotel, Liverpool, by gentleman connected with the local press, who Ibnnd the twins to be clever, intelligent, bright girls, able to sing,, dance, and. c&njyenis^a. manner which many'fo I^^f^'bdlk might emp '*'£'■•■ - ■ <-