Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 32, 3 February 1876, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1876.

A etENEBAii election haying sb recently taken place, it is hot unlikely that some laxity with regard to registering their claims tp vote may prevail among the people .generally, who will argue that, a Parliament having jusfc been elected for five years, it is riot likely thafc they will be called upon to take part ia fin election for some time to j

come. As, however, it can never be known when a vacancy may -Occur we would strongly .recommend, all those who possess the necessary qualification to., register?their claims duriug the period alipwedgby law, namely, up to the 31st of Marph next. There is v no occasion, to, delay until that date,_bufc the thing should be done at once, as matters such as this which are of no pressing importance are exceedingly likely to be forgotten altogether. „It may be necessary. .-/to -remind .those of our readers who have not houses or property of their own, but who are lodgerp, thafc the " Lodger Franchise Act " is now in operation, and thafc under its provisions many who have hitherto been unable to have their names placed on the roll are now entitled to become electors. The requisite conditions for registration may be briefly summarised as follows :•— * The lodger must have " occupied in ihe same electoral district . separately, and as a sole tenant for twelve months preceding the last day of December in any year, the same lodgings, . such lodgings being part of one and the same dwelling-house and of a clear annual value, if let unfurnished, of ten pounds or upwards, and must have resided in Biich lodgings during the twelve months; immediately preceding tbe last day of December in sucti year." To constitute him a " sole tenant " ifc is not necessary shat the applicant should be the only lodger in. a house, bufc ifc is sufficient that he is the sole occupant of a sitting or bed room. Of this class a considerable number are probably to be found in Nelson, and we would urge upon them . the desirability of availing themselves of the privilege to which they are now entitled by law. Not only, however, to lodgers, but to *' all who can claim a vote under any franchise whatever, we would say, lose no time in registering.

The late election for the Wairau District is interesting to those outside the locality more, immediately concerned from the. fact that it is exceedingly probable tbat the successful candidate will Jbe the Speaker of the new\ House of Representatives. Sir Dillon Bell has not been re-elected, and it is therefore impossible that he can again occupy the Speaker's chair, and this few will be found to regret, as he most certainly did not give general satisfaction, nor did he . succeed in maintaining the dignity which should attach to so high an ofiice. The • next to have a claim would be Mr O'Eorke, who was for four years the Chairman of Committees, but we understand that he is not likely to be a candidate for the higher oflice. During the time that Mr O'Rorke was in the Ministry, Mr Seymour was Chairman of Committees, and from the manner in which he discharged . the duties attached to the oflice, he gained the respect of all the members, and, with the popularity he thus achieved, and from the fact that he has always been a staunch supporter of the VogelMinistry, it is most likely that he wili be nominated, and secure the support of the Government party as a candidate for the Speakership. The member who is most likely to prove a dangerous rival to Mr Seymour is Mr Reynolds, who for a long series of years has been Speaker of the Otago Provincial Council, over which he is said to have presided in such a manner as to give general satisfaction. He is the weakest point in the Ministry, and it is by no means improbable that he may resign his portfolio, in which case, if he should desire to become Speaker of the House of Representatives, his claims to the hoaorable position would probably be considered superior to those of the member for tbe Wairau. But at present Mr Reynolds is a member of the Government, and we have not even heard it rumored that he has any intention of resigning. It has also been rumored that Mr Rolleston, the present Superintendent of Canterbury, will be a candidate for the office, but it is but a whisper that has reached our ears, and we are not disposed to attach much weight to it. Taking everything into consideration, we are inclined to name Mr Seymour as the next Speaker.