(TO THE ADITOR OF THE GREY RIVER ARGUS.)

West Coast Times, Issue 240, 29 June 1866, Page 2

(TO THE ADITOR OF THE GREY RIVER ARGUS.)

Sir, — The importance" 1 of anything affecting the representation of the Westland District in the Provincial Council of Canterbury, induces me to address this letter to you. It is now clear that the argument used by me at the second meeting held on Saturday last at Kilgour's Hotel, in reference to qualification of voters, was correct, as it has been supported entirely in a leading article published in tho "West Coast Times" of Tuesday last. Such being the case, it behoves all having the interests of the Grey district honestly in view, to see how we shall be affected.

The Westland District, under the Eleotoral Ordinance of 1866, will send five members to tho Canterbury Provincial Council, divided thus : — Town of Hokitika, two members ; town of Greymouth, one member ; and the Westland district two members, all to be elected by voters on tho electoral roll of Westland, such roll to come into force on tho first day of October next. The roll for the election of the members for Hokitika and Greymouth must be prepared from the Westland Roll, and will include the residents within the surveys of the township. As regards the roll for the, Westland district, the voters enrolled, with three or four exceptions, reside Avithin the towns of Hokitika and Greymouth ; this being the case, what influence will Greymouth have in electing the two members? I reply that Greymouth will have a great influence, as half tho electors on tho electoral roll of Westland reside in Greymouth, and havo an excellent chance to scud three membors to Canterbury, pledged to see justice done to tho Grey district.

By the present law the miners are not direotty represented, which is a manifest injustioo. I would therefore suggest that a deputation wait upon our representative in the Assembly, Mr Moorhouse, and ask him to introduce a bill into the Assembly, granting two

mombors for the Gold Fields, viz., one for the Grey district, and one for the' Hokitika district ; such members to be elected under the Miners , Franchise Act,- J 862; these members to be in addition to the existing right to elect five members.

Another niatter to be Considered is-«* Has the Registration Officer power td tfiko the votes of unqualified men ? I am of the opinion that ho has not the power, under the Election Act, 1858, which provides Miat he must be' ftii'j nished With a copy of the electoral roll for the district, and allow those whose names appear thereon to vote. I beg to say that by permitting an illegal election at the present time we deprive / ourselves of the probability of returning three legal representatives in tho month of October next. ' I am, &c, Thomas L. Shepherd. Greymouth, June 27, 1866.