The Westport Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1059, 1 April 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1873.

Fkoji information positively given, from ocular demonstration also, the fact is apparent that recent efforts to obtain the enrolment on the Electoral Roll of the name of every eligible, resident on the Nelson Goldfields, haß resulted in success, so far that a considerable number of applications have been duly filled up and deposited in the primitive receptacles provided at the various Court Houses. At Westport lor instance the receiving box is full to repletion, so full in fact that individuals in attendance at the Warden's and Resident Magistrate's office, awaiting their turn in the lobby for an interview with the Clerk of the Court, have been seen wiling away the monotony of their waiting interval by pulling out the partly obtruding papers from the box, and amusing themselves by conning the names and qualifications of the applicants for electoral privileges. It is only charitable to suppose that the documents were in every case honestly replaced, and that the inquisitive seekers after information, who had not yet claimed the privilege of a vote, were duly impressed with the force of the precept " go thou and do likewise." At all events it is satisfactory to know that the duty of the revising officer will be no sinecure, that the number of forms of application will considerably exceed, throughout the .Nelson Goldfields, that of former years, and that the anxiety to become enrolled indicates no mere passing inclination to become possessed of a vote, but a deeper and more earnest interest than has hitherto prevailed in affairs political. But the interest now erinced will fail in good effect if it does not extend beyond the

mere formal record of qualifications to vote. In no respect does the regulation of electoral rights and privileges vary in more eccentric fashion than in the dictum which declares for or against an applicant obtaining the privilege he has sought for. There is of course a law which decides tire validity or otherwise of all claims made, but the interpretation is varied and contradictory, dependent in fact upon nothing, so much as the individual opinion, or fancy, oreven temperament of the interpreter, and it has not unoften happened in more than one province of New Zealand that the names of whole batches of expectant electors have been struck off the Roll simply because of some trivial error in the form of application or statement of qualification, unknown and unsuspected until discovered by the Argus eye of the revising officer. Whereat the applicants have been sore perturbed in spirit and with infinite chagrin deplored their carelessness in not employing some trusty advocate to watch the proceedings of the Court of Revision which they themselves from lack of time were precluded from attending: Now, without for a single moment asserting, or even by the slightest implication attempting to give expression to the idea that at the sittings of the Revision Courts on the Nelson Groldfields any adverse action will be taken to reduce the number of electors by means of quibbling objection, or too rigid interpretation of the strict letter of the law, we think, and in the opinion all reasonable men must concur, it is necessary, in order to finish the good work commenced, that those who have bestirred themselves to get a goodly addition to the lists of applicants should also on the days appointed for the revision of those lists, employ trusty advocates to watch the progress of affairs, to question tbe legality of every objection made, to sift it thoroughly, to clear away if possible all doubts and misconjectures, and keep intact on the rolls tbe names of as many applicants as possible, who making their applications, with good intent and honest purpose, may haply find themselves debarred from the exercise of their privileges by reason of some technical error, easily explained and rectified at the moment, but which if instantly neglected may result in their disfranchisement. To this intent & paid advocate should be deputed to attend each Court of Revision, and if those who have worked so zealously of late in obtaining the .qualifications and signatures of present non-electors desire to see their labors result in a satisfactory conclusion it is necessary —perhaps not so much as a necessity, but rather as a prudential precaution they should -follow up this suggestion.

The members of the Nelson Cowncil are summoned to meet on Tuesday, the 29th ©f April. High water mark showed seventeen and a-half feet of water on the Buller bar yesterday. Mr Hodgson, Inspector of Schools, has returned froea his up-country tour, and will be on the Coast for a few days, awaiting a steamer for Nelson.

Mr John Season, after a pleasant trip to Australia and Tasmania, returned by the Kennedy on Sunday evening last, bringing with him, among other knick nacks and curiosities, ta collection of Australian birds and also sqeoo oanaries. At Greymouth he presented to the Acclimatization Society a couple of hares brought from Tasmania. His collection of feathered pets suffered on the voyage, and their number was diminished on board the Tararua steamer by the ravages of lats who made a strong raid upon them.

Attention is called to an official proclamation in another column defining new regulations affecting beach claims. On Thursday last the first number of a new weekly paper entitled the 'Grey Weekly Press,' was issued from the Star office, Greymouth, It is intended especially for country readers, and will be found to contain in convenient form all the current local and mining news of the week, and the latest telegraphic information. It should obtain, and speedily, an extensive circulation.

Messrs Ronaldson and Burns have been elected as the Lyell delegates to attend the Mining Conference at Reefton. The meeting at the Lyell was largely attended, Mr David Leslie was called to the Chair, and the election was conducted by ballot. The recent rain-fall has materially replenished the water supply to the Reefton quartz machines. In Anderson's the batteries are kept constantly employed, and the stone put through, gives promise of an excellent crushing. The Inangahua Herald reports a rush to alluvial ground at Rainy Creek with more thau average proßpects obtainable. The Inglewood company, after four days crushing have had a partial cleaning up, over an ounce to the ton, taken from the plates alone.

The construction of the track from Zala's claim to the eight mile has been let to Owen Griffith. Eight tenders for the work averaged £3OB. A meeting of Justices, to revise the new Jury List and hear objections thereto, will be held at the Court House to-morrow, Wednesday, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon.

The sale of Town Lands at the Ahaura has been deferred pending a survey of allotments.

The Ahaura cricketers will meet an eleven selected from the Greymouth Club at the Twelve-mile Landing on Good Friday.

Captain Humfrey, who is well known to Nelson Volunteers, has been appointed as chief clerk in the office of Inspector of Government stores at Wellington, and the Wellington Independent expresses strong condemnation of the Civil Service being made a refuge for volunteer officers whose services in the force are no longer deemed neccessary.

It is the intention of the Greymouth Borough Council to borrow £7OOO, to be expended in town improvements. The money to be re-paid by debentures of £SO each, bearing interest at sit per cent., and redeemable annually to the extent of £IOOO.

The last payment becoming due in 1880. The amount of special rate for securing the loan to be one shilling in the £, upon all rateable property within the Borough. The works will comprise £5383 for street improvements and .£1617 for the wharf.

Miss Jennie Nye, who last winter found some admirers in Westport, appeared at the Theatre Royal, Calcutta, on the 11th of January last in the burlesque of Little Don Giovanni.

There must be some unsophisticated pleasure seekers at Timaru. One of the local journals in noticing a recent amateur minstrel performance, deemed it necessary to give the "plot" of the venerable nigger farce "theball*a a goinon." Murray's circus troupe have played f, Mazeppa" at Greymouth, for the benefit of Mr Burford, Miss Stephenson representing the captive.

The grand stand on the Hokitika raceconrse is to be erected by Mr Cannon at a cost of £lßl.

A question has been raised between the Resident Magistrate at Hokitika, and the Inspector of Police as to the necessity of a police officer appearing in -uniform when attending in court to prefer a ehrrge. The Inspector maintaining that it is not absolutely necessary, and the Magistrate holding a contrary opinion. The Inspector stating that he should continue to have his view enforced, unless ordered, to tho contrary by the County Chairman. Mr Fitz-G-erald stated that he should represent the matter to the Government, and Mr James said he should do so also.

The intense heat and continued drought have had a very prejudicial effect upon crops and pastures in the neighborhood of Nelson. Such a drought, says the Colonist, has not been known for many years past, •everything having more or less suffered. The potatoes are especially light and scanty, and agricultural matters of every description have felt the bad effect which the absence of rain has produced. The fruit has shared the detrimental effect also, and vegetables are so dear and scarce that importations have taken place from the Coast. The curious fact of the older and settled districts being supplied with vegetables from the neighborhood of our goldfields has presented itself this season, and City people have consumed their mutton with the unusual accompaniment of a West Coast cabbage—brassica of great size and weight, and potatoes very large and good, being frequently procurable: from this quarter at a reasonable price, when ail local supply has failed. "' . 'V The promoters of the last Hokitika Exhibition are already malking preparations to hold another during the next Christmas Holidays.

The inhabitants of Hokitika are petitioning the Governor in Council for the speedy construction of the Mohikinui Water Race.

The following notice to miners, relative to the rush up the River Waiho, has been posted at the "Warden's office, Gkarito-: Notice to Miners.—The ground now lying worked np the Waiho is a terrace on the river bank, just below the gorge, on the northern branch, about twelve miles from the beach, and is only payable for sluicing. The same terrace was worked years ago and abandoned. The available creets run about two Government heads of water, and already six Government heads have been applied for. From the terrace upwards this branch of the Waiho runs between high hills in walls of stone, and is unapproachable, and water wcnald have to be brought from elsewhere at great expense.—E. F. Tizzabd, Warden."