The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1887. ELECTORAL REFORM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2717, 5 October 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1887. ELECTORAL REFORM.

Roll Stuffing and personation and double voting are the recognised evils of our present electoral laws, and we are glad to notice that the Wellington Evening Post expresses a hope that before another general election takes place there will be a consolidation and amendment of these statutes. Of course we cannot expect any immediate action in this direction. As yet we have first of all to find a Ministry, and the Ministry, when found, will have to give its attention to matters of greater urgency than electoral reformstill; while the experiences of the late election is fresh in the minds of honorable members it will be well if they put some pressure on the coming Ministry to place electoral legislation on a sounder footing. The Corrupt Practices Act is so ingeniously contrived that a . clever rogue can elude its meshes, while an honest scrupulous man is liable to be tripped up by it. It is no doubta well-meaning piece of Parliamentary handiwork and possibly would only become more absurd than at present if patched. No doubt' husting nominations may be dispensed with, Tho main point, however, on which reform-is desirable is jn; the compilation of rolls, and their periodical readjustment. As matters :■ now staid a Registration Officer is .powerless to prevent improper persons from being placed on tho roll, lie in fact,. sees his roll stuffed—without any legal right to interfere. Our Wellington contemporary makes a number of excellent suggestions for improvements in the compilation of rolls, but probably the very best practical suggestions on this head would come from the registration officers themselves if they were asked by any Government in power to make such recommendations as would ensure clean rolls and honest voting. It must be galling to gentlemen of intelligence and integrity, who fill the positions of returning and registration officers, to find that owing to the laxity of the electoral statutes, they have to countenance all sorts of irregularity and impropriety. We feel convinced that a caucus of registration officers could very speedily draft a thoroughly efficient and honest electoral code and this is just what the colony requires. Electoral reform is not a political question nor a party cry, and for this reason we may reasonably expect it from any Ministry which 'may come into power, * We have received from Mr Sohroder's Solicitor a communication in whiclr£2s is demanded from us as compensation to ( Mr Schroder's reputation for ihjury'done to it by certain hie lftte myserious lire

which appeared in this journal Now the comments we'made on this fire were written in the public interest,and we do not feel disposed for a single moment to give way to the impudent demand which is now made upon us. We. have instructed our solicitor to absolutely refuse to comply with it, and we shall be prepared to vindicate our'right to comment on mysterious fire's in any court in New Zealand.

The gas rate which was struck last evening will be felt to be a hardship by .ratepayers, especially by those dwelling in the : suburbs, who obtain but little direct or indirect benefit by the gas expenditure. These suburban settlers in 1 many instances favored the subdivision of the town into wards whicli compel them to participate in the good or evil fortune of the central portion of the town. Had the more rational division which we' advocated 1 been adopted, we fancy. suburban ratepayers would have escaped the gas rate. . ' , . •

■ Notice is.giveu.tliat half an aero of land adjoining the Lutheran Church at Mauriceville is dedicated as a burial ground to be used exclusively for the interment of members of j:hat denomination only.. ' We are requosted to, remind oui\ readers that Mr Grundy's furniture which" is to be sold on Saturday next by Mcsßrs Lowes and loms, will be open for inspection on Friday. The Westport Harbor Board havo accopted the resignation.of Mr C. Napier Bell as Board Engineer, arid are inviting applications for the post at a salary of £SOO a year. Mr F, H. Wood held his,usual monthly Stock Bale at liis Featheraton yards yesterday, nil the stock yarded being sold and realizing as followsfat heifers, 80s to 93s 6d; Steers. £slss; yoarlings, 20s; ewes and lambs, (poor) 7s 3d; lioggots, 5s lid; shorn ewes, '4s 3d to 4s 9d,

We learn from tho Secretary of the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral Society that tho prizo list this year is considerably extended, Eighteen gold medals, forty five Bilver ones, and over L2OO in money prizes being available for exhibitors. The extension of tho prize list this year are specially directed to the encouragement of dairy and small farm exhibits, also implement and carriage classes. Auckland just now is a Paradise for Mistresses, A lato Masterton resident now living in tho northorn capital writes to a friend as follows" I havo a slavey now who rejoices in the name of Hada, a splendid girl of IG, who washes and scrubs liko a demon, and who only goto four shillings a week. I advertised once, and in loss than an hour I had thirty applications, aud ovor fifty before the paper had been printed two hours, and nono of them asked for more than five shillings a week." In the Carterton R. M.-Court on Tuesday, before S. von Sturmer, R.M., the following cases were heard W. B. Allen v Thos, H, Hill, a claim for Lll. Mr Knight for plaintiff, No appeavanco of defendant. Judgment for plaintiff • with, costs 245, and' and solicitors feo, 21s. Jame3 Brown v Tunui Orangi, a claim for Ll6 Os Id. Mr Bunny for plaintiff, Mr Pownall for defendant. A counter claim was put-in for board and lod»in?s, bub was disallowed' on account of not being , lodged with plaintiff in time, according to the Act. Judgment was given for plaintiff with costs 3Cs, and solnitors fee 21s, execution being stayed for one month, to allow the defendant to take the necessary proceedings to recover. This concluded the business,

Duncan Beattyn, charged with having unlawfully wounded William Shakespoar Poole at Mastorton on August 25th, was arraigned at the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday, He y/ks defended by Mr Edward Shaw, and a verdict of" Not Guilty" was returned by the jury. The Press says:—"Upon Mr Shaw concluding his address to the jury in connection with the charge of stabbing preferred against Duncan Beattyn, in the Supreme Court His Honor Mr Justice Richmond said ho was glad to find that Mr Sbaw had not attempted to justifiy the stabbing, He (His Honor) had to sit in that Court and tell a Wellington jury that blows would not justify the use of tho knife. He had known cases in which solicitors had urged the contrary, and he, who ought to be listened to, had vainly informed a Wellington jury that the use of the knife under suclr circumstances should not be permitted. He was therefore pleased that Mr Shaw had adopted the course he had."

Mr Bryco made a valedictory speech to his old constituents of Waitotara at the official declaration of the poll at Waverley on Monday, says tho Press. Having thanked tho electors for their past support he said ho did not think they had ever had any real cause to be ashamed of him, and ho knew ho had often felt proud of his constituents. In regard to his nonsuccess in the present election, some defeats were more honorable than some victories, and he thought his present one might bo ono of.them. ;He hoped to part iu friendship.with those electors who nad voted against him, and he would endeavor to retain thoir respect as a private settler, even though" he' had lost thoir confidence 88 their representative. As to the eloctors who might have votod in tho elections a/ainst him from selfish or unworthy motives, he would say, Let us part in peace. He had never sought the support of such poople, and did not regret having lost it. He had represented tho district, with the exception of a short interval, for a period of 21 yoars, and he thought they puld excuso him for admitting that there was something painful in tho parting. Perhaps a little of the feeline might be prompted by mortified vanity, but if it was so it would soon pass away, leaving him only the remembrance of thoir long continued confidence and kindness,

Wo have at length opened out our first shipments of summer dress fabrics in all the. most fashionable shades, including some lovely tints in grey and gobelin,- and in soft woollen aiid silk mixed fabrics, foiile, boige, lawn tennis costume cloths, and a thousand other varieties too numerous to recapitulate, Our lady friends must needs come and enjoy the display at Te'Aro House, Wellington. We have some vory handsome checked and striped woollens with plain to match, and a variety of very beautiful embroidered robes, the very sight of which lingers in insatiable desire to purchase these elegant atristio marvels at To Aro Houso, Wellington. Alukady many of our lady friends have made their first purchases, and our dressmakers are busily employed in fashioning these into "tilings of joy and beauty" against the festivities of the coming session of the Houso of Eepresontatives. It would be wise, oh-the part of aU ladies if they would givo their orders as early as possible to the dressmaking departments at. Te Aro House, Wellington.

Not that there need be any {ear of disappointment this season, We have two excellent dressmaking rooms, and can in both guarantee style, fit and promptitude, at Te Arc House, Wellington. To any ladies unable to visit our warehouse we shall be most happy to forward suoh pattornsas are desired, andcompletejmeasure»ent charts, from T« Aro HoWjW«llingt«n