THURSDAY, SEPT. 19.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 220, 27 September 1878, Page 3

THURSDAY, SEPT. 19.

In the Legislative Council — The Hon. Dr Menzies moved for legal opinions in reference to a letter from the Secretary of the Education department—i viz., that "the Government has been advised that the Otago Education District mentioned in ' The Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools Act, 1877/ could only mean; the Otago Education District in existence at the day of the Act." The mover thought it desirable that the Coivncil should be informed of the reasons which actuated the Government in overriding an express act of the Legislature. Some debate followed, and on the suggestion of Dr Pollen the motion was withdrawn, in favour of referring the whole question to a Select Committee. The Council then went into committee, when the Interpretation Bill was slightly amended and reported. The Dog Registration Bill was recommitted, and a long discussion ensued on the 25th clause, giving power to destroy dogs running at large among j^ieep or cattle. > The clause was ammended and agreed to. The Brands Registration Bill was then proceeded with, clause 4 being losfc on a division by 16 to 8. The Colonial Secretary said the Government would abandon the Bill. At the evening sitting the Colonial Secretary withdrew his amendment moved with a view to the abandonment to the Brands Bill. Clauses 5, 6, and 8 were postponed, ! and 18 struck out. The remaining j clauses were passed with some amendment, the obligation to brand cattle being | struck out, and the obligation of branding confined to sheep. , The Administration Bill was read a third time. In the House of Representatives — Mr Ormond asked the Government whether the news that Maniopoto and j other Native owners of lands through ' which the proposed railway from Waikato to Taranaki would run have consented to ' the construction of that railway, or have ; undertaking to give the land to provide for its construction ; and, if so, would the ; Government lay before the House the , particulars of such promise or undertaking % \ The Hon. J. Sheehan did not think it desirable to give the House the informa- j tion asked for. If he answered the ques- • tion as he might answer, he thought it ' would have an unfavourable effect upon the negotiations now pending, which would probably last for years to come. : Mr 'Tawiti asked the Native Minister when he would introduce a Bill to increase ' the number of Maori representatives in the Houso 1 , i The Hon. J. Sheehan said that if the I Government proposals were not accepted they would bring in a Bill to increase the . number of Maori members. '; A number of notices of motion -were -given, amongst them being one for all par- : ticulars regarding the acceptance of tenders for the Tapamu railway. The House resumed in Committee on the Electoral Bill. Several discussions took place, and some progress was made. Clause 18 ultimately pa3sed in the following form : — " Every male Maori of twenty-one years of age and upwards ahall be subject to the provisions of this Act, j and be qualified to vote in the election of members for the House of Representatives, but shall only be so qualified if he is seized i at law or equity of lands or tenements for his own life, for the life of any person, or for any larger estate of the clear value of L 25 at the least, and has been seized for , six months previous to the date of his claim to vote, or if his name is enrolled on a ratepayers' roll in force within the district in which he claims to vote on account of , lands or tenements belonging to him, j and shall have actually paid his rates for the year in which he shall tender his , vote for the election of any member of the House of Representatives." Clause 19 was amended to read as fol- , lows : — " No person who is an alien, or ; has beeii duly proved by law to be of un- \ sound mind, or who at any time thereto- ! fore shall have been attainted or convicted j of any treason, felony, or infamous offence j within any part of Her Majesty's do- ' minions, unless he shall have received a free pardon, or shall have undergone the sentence or punishment to which he shall have been adjudged for such -offence, shall be qualified to vote" at such election. " ThefolloAving new clauses were added : — " Any person whose name may for the time being be upon any electoral roll of any district, hereinafter called the original district, in respect of a residential qualification, and who shall have ceased to reside in such district, shall be entitled to have his name inserted in the electoral roll of the district in which he is then resident, and after three months residing therein, on a written application in the form in the 18th schedule obtain from the returning officer of the original district a certificate in the form of the 19th schedule addressed to the returning officer of the district in which he is then resident. Upon delivery of such certificate to such returning officer to whom it is addressed, accompanied with a declaration in the form in the 20th schedule, the person named therein shall be entitled to have his name inserted on the roll for the last-mentioned district, according to the tenor of such certificate ;, and the returning- officer of such district shall insert the name of such person thereupon. Such person shall be entitled to vote in like manner as . though his name had been originally inserted on such lastmentioned roll, provided that the returning officer shall not insert the name of any person on any electoral roll after the issue of the writ for the re-election of a member of the House of Representatives for the district to which such-qualification relates, until after the return of such writ. Every returning officer upon giving such certificate shall strike the name of the person to whom the same is issued off the electoral roll for, the original district, and shall make a memo, against such name as follows : 'Transferred to (naming district),' and shall initial the same ; and every returning officer meeting the name of : any person upon anr electoral roll, by virtue of such certificate,- shall make a memo, against such name as follows : . l Trans4 f erred to (naming district)/ and shall initial the ■ same. . Any person who shall knowingly or wilfully make any false statement in any application; in the, form

contained in the 18th schedule, or shall falsely make the declaration contained in the 19th schedule, shall be guilty of misdemeanor." Mr Saunders moved — l ' That no person shall be entitled to have hia name placed on the roll for more than three electoral districts in the Colony." Qn this the ayes were 16, and the noes 44. The following new' clause was accepted by the Government. It was moved by Mr de Lautour, and agreed to on the: voices'—" Every holder of a miners' right or business license who is enrolled on the ratepayers' roll within the electoral district where such roll may be iti force shall be entitled to have his name placed on the electoral roll for such district, and all qualifications so created shall be considered to be residential qualifications, and shall be subject to all limitations and other conditions attaching thereto."