Another Difficulty in Franklin North.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4419, 12 July 1884, Page 2

Another Difficulty in Franklin North.

We regret to hear thata difficulty has again arisen in Franklin North, through tho action of Mr Shanaghau, Registration Otlicor, which is likely to romlor tho election abortive, howover it may go. It appears that the main roll was sent to tho printer prior to the issuo of tho writs, and porno names which had boon sent in before that time woro omitted from it—hold back apparently with a view to issuing a supplementary roll later on. This .supplementary roll was issued on tho Bth of July, and contained, besides tho nainos holdover, about a hundred othor names which, it is alleged, were received too late for registration. The logality of tho supplementary roll has been challenged, and wo understand that tlio highest legal authority in Auckland has declared that every namo upon it is invalid, and cannot lognlly bo polled. But among the names are those of electors whose claims were in amplo timo to be inserted on the first roll, and they may appeal in the event of their votes being refused. If, on the other hand, the supplementary roll is used—and it is doubtful whether the Returning Ofticcr can bo prevented from using it—tho whole proceedings may be declared irregular. On a former occasion tho Supremo Court nullified tho election for this district through official blundering, and if this should happen again, public feeling will not be disposed to extenuate the officer who is responsible for tho failure. It does not appear that the course adopted by the Registration Officer for Franklin North has been pursued in any othor district, and this in itself is rather an ominous rfgn.