Evening Post. MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1894. ELECTORAL REFORM.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1894, Page 2

Evening Post. MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1894. ELECTORAL REFORM.

♦ This suggestions which wo recently offered -for an amendment of the Electoral Law by issuing electors' lights and enabling votes to be recorded over a period of several days havo, we are glad to see, attracted considerable attention throughout the colony. The articlo has been reprinted in a number of journals, and the Timaru Herald, in giving it a place in its own leading columns,»remarks — "The novelty of the idea is not in " tho Electoral Bight, but in the extension " of timo for the taking of the ballot. Theonly " difficulty which occurs to us is as to pro- " vidingforthe seourity of the ballot-box from " day to day at outlying- polling places ; for " in the country districts post offices, police " stations, and courthouses do not always " meet the necessities of the occasion. How- " ever, it is probable that means might be " found for practically gotting rid of the " difficulty, and if so the plan is one which " would greatly tend to tho convenionoe of " the public and to a more perfect expression "of the opinion of the elootors. It is not " probable that the new Parliament will be " asked to amend the machinery of the eleo- " toral law, and we Bhonld bo well pleased " to see the suggested reform embodied in " any Bill which may be introduced on the " subject. New Zealand is the recog- " iced field for legislative experiments, " and ono more venture of the same " character need not alarm the consti- " tuencies." Wo do not think the difficulty raised by our contemporary would prove very difficult to overcome. If the Electoral Law is to bo amended by the new Parliament I we have evory hope that the suggestions wo have offered will be carefully considered. Wo have seen it nrged that voting by means of registered letters should be permitted, but such a system would undoubtedly open the way to abuse. If voting papers were sent out by post, to be returned in the same way, there would necessarily be room for tho exercise of undue influence, and for tampering with the secrecy of the ballot. Employers might insist on seeing how employes filled up their papers, and husbands could do the Bame with regard to their wives. This would bo done despite all legal provisions to the contrary. Personal attendance by the voter before some impartial officer, from whom the voting paper is alono procurable, and in whose presence it must be privately marked and deposited in the ballot-box, is absolutely necessary to secure full freedom of eleotion. Practically the present system of the ballot ensures seoreoy, but there is no doubt that marking the ballot-paper with tho voter's number on the roll causes considerable distrust, 'lhe " gummiug-down " is usually a sham. - In certain cases the way a man votes might accidentally become known to a scrutineer or clerk when counting the ballot-papers, but it would be quite impossible for any disclosure to occur except by a purely occidental combination of improbable circumstances. Still, the numbering hod better be done away with, if some other means of identifying voting papers in case subsequent judicial proceedings should become necessary. If numbered Electoral Bights were issued there would be no necessity for numbers on the electoral roll, or for placing the number on the ballot-paper. Duplicate voting would be impossible under an Electoral Right system, and any improper use of an Elootoral Right could be provided against in another way. The ballot papers, for instance, might be bound in books of, say. 250. each book having a distinctive letter, which should appear on each voting paper in it, tho papers in eaoh book also bearing consecntive numbers. Each voting paper should have a counterfoil bearing the same letter and number as the voting paper. If deemed necessary the counterfoil might be in form of a receipt, and have to be signed by the voter on reoeiving the voting p»per. The number of the Electoral Bight Bhould be noted on the counterfoil. If the voting extended over sever*! days, as we nave pre-

vioualy suggested, tho ballot-boxes would, at its close, till be forwarded unopened to the principal Kcturn ; n^ Officer, together with tho booKa of counterfoils, duly sealed up. Except in caae of h scrutiny or judicial enquir}'. there would he no need of relerring in any way to tho oonntertoila No voting paper wo-. Id have upon it anything to identify it with the voter, but in caae of scrutiny a reference to tho counterfoil would at once connect votingpaper say M 184 with Electoral Right say 310, and with the signature of the holder of that Kis-ht. The Electoral Roll would only need to be an alphabetical one without any numbers, the name of each elector -voting being marked off on it. By such means the risk of accidental discovery of how anyone voted would be absolutely done away with, whileHhe identification of a voter in case of legal enquiry would be rendered easier and more complete than under the present System. Our electoral methods are founded too much ou antique models, and the machinery is far too much of a rough-and ready character. It ia time that a little common sense waa brought to bear on the subject, and the method of voting adapted to the circumstances and requirements of the community, whether there is a precedent or not for tbe plan adopted. The object of the Electoral Law should be to ensure the fullest possible effeot being given to the wishes of the majority in each of the electorates, and to aeture to each individual elector the exercise of hia or her privilege, free from extraneous influence or preaßnre and iv perfect secrecy. The present system of ballot by no means perfectly attains these object-.

Our readers will remember the manner in which tho so-called Society of Scienco, Letters, and An was exposed in our columns on tho strength of disclosures made by London Truth. The notorious Sturman still finds dupes, however, both at Home and in these colonies But Mr. Labounhere is persistently on hia trail, and exposure is heaped upon oxpo-mre. On 7th December be drew attention to the fact that the name of the Earl of Gla-gow was amongst other distinguished names given as thoao of founders, officers, and members of the bogus society Chribtcburch Truth on this copimunicated with His Excplloncy, and in its issue of Saturday last it says that it has " the authority of His Excellenoy for stating that tho übo of his name has been made by the so-called Society entirely without his knowledge or authority. Hia Excellency further states that he never belonged to the " Sooiety " in question, was never communicated with upon the subject of lending his name, and certainly never authorised any person to use his name for such a purpose. Upon learning that his name was beincr fraudulently used he at once communicated with hia agent in England, and has just reooived a reply to the effect that a declaration has been made that his Excellency's name " will bo removed from the prospoctus without dolay." His Excellenoy further authorises us to state that any New Zcalanders who receive prospectuses from this "Society" will understand that if Hia Excellency's namo should appear on them it ia noc with bis sanction." Particulars of Saturday's play in the cricket match against New South Wales, with Hporting and yachting news, will bo found on the fourth page. Tho Minister for Lands has promised to obtain a report from Inspector Gow with reference to the proposed extension of the Oamaru water-raco Mr. M'Kenz'e has pointed ont that as the period allowed by law for making any complaint or lodging any claim for damages with respect to the pollution of the Oamaru supply by mining has expired, no claim can now be recognised. A sum of £106 10a was taken at the Basin Reserve gates on Saturday. The Now South Wales team receives half tbe gross takings. Tho schools under tho control ol the Wellington Board of Education resumed this morning after the midsummer vacation. People who indulge in sea-bathing in the open sea cannot be too cautious during the present hot weather. Within the past week or two a number of sharks have been seen swimming about in different parts of the harbour, and narrow escapes have been reported. Yesterday morning- a young man, in rushing into tho water at Lyell Bay for a dip, was horrified to find a good-sized shark moving about a fow feet away from him, and later in the day three other sharks were seen swimming close to the Esplanade at Thorndon. Some very smart work had lately boon done by the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's s.s. Tainui. She loft Lyttelton at 735 a.m. on Friday last for Napier, arrived at the anchorage in that port at 8.45 a.m. on Saturday, and took in nearly 11,000 carcasses of meat transhipped from the steamers Weka, Ahnriri, and Fanuy, and the kotch Trusty. She took her departure for Wellington at 2 a.m. on Sunday, and arrived in harbour about 7 yesterday ovi ning. Her arrival in Wellington so eay'y was quite unexpected, as the a#onts did not anticipate that she would bo here before Monday night or Tuesday morniDg. Snch de.-patoh" speaks well for the excellence of the arrangements made by Captain Evans, his officers, and the agents of tho company at the various ports. Tho fine weather also facilitated the operations. Mr. Peter sen, who arrived by the Ruahine last week, presided at Hthe organ in St. John 'B Church yesterday. His playing oreatod a very favourable impression. An incidont whioh possessed some comical featurea for tho eye-witnesses, occurred on the Queen's Wharf on Fridaj'. Fillis* Circus was being shipped to'NelsMi. and amongst tho animals was a largo bear, which evinced a decided repugnance to a s,ta voyage. When the time arrived for Bruin to go on board ho seized the chain ty which his keeper was holding him, and attempted to break it. The man in charge endeavoured to spoil his little game, whereupon he turned on the fellow and a wrestling match ensued. Both man and beast woroter: lbly in earnest, and the result of tho bout was witnesßod with tremendous interest by scoros of people. Victo y roated with Bruin, who at once renewed his efforts to snap tho chain, but the keeper again closed with him, and another tussle followed. The animal now became somewhat savage, and as the man was getting roughly handled, some of the spectators interfered, but it was not until they had belaboured tho bear with a piece of timber for nearly a minute that the awkward brute released his hold and allowed himself to bo taken on board. Tho Cabinet haa decided, in accordance with a resolution passed last session, to offer two bonuses in connection with the flax business. The sum of J31750 is to be set apart f^r an improved machino or process of diessing the hoinp, and tho following conditions have been agreed upon :—l.: — 1. All applications must be sent addressed to the Mimater for Agriculture, Wellington, and must reaoh him not later than the 30th August, 1894, each accompanied by a description of the machine or process, particularly stating improvements on present machines or processes, and also the cost at which the machine or process can be supplied. 2. The applicants must be prepared to submit their maohines or processes to examination at suoh timo and place as the Government may direct. 3. The Government shall appoint a committee of three or more experts who shall stato what machines or processes thoy deem worthy of consideration, and may direct that the whole or any of them be brought tor trial to such place as they may think fit, the cost of so conveying the machines or appliances to be defrayed by tho Government. The other bonus will amount to -£250, and is to be offered for a process of utilising the waste products of tho hemp. A window-curtain in a bedroom on the top floor of the Albert Hotel, occupied by Miss Stafford, a member of Fillis' Cirous Company, accidentally took fire about 8 o'olock last night, through a draught of ait blowing it against a ljjjhted candle which was on tbe toilet table. The flames wete seen by some people who were in the passage adjoining, and were quickly put out, the curtain and Venetian blind being tho only things damaged. The Fire Brigade turned out, but was not required. Both the hotel audfurnituro aro insured, the latter for JHIOO in tho Phoenix Office. Tho building near South-road in which Mr Kitchen lived till lately will be formally opened on Thursday afternoon aB the Cottage Home for Children. An advertisement as to the arrangements for the ceremony appears elsewhere. At tho inqnest held at the Morgue on Saturday regarding the snicHe of tho late Robert (J. Furness, evidence was given by a brother and son and daughter of tho deceased, D. J Love, and Constable Oliver, from which it appeared that the deceased had been melancholy and strange shortly before his disappearance. Tho jury, of which Mr. T. Cronin was foreman, brought in a vordict to tho effeot that tho deceased committed Suicide whilst Temporarily Insane. The performance given in the Hospital grounds yesterday by tho Wellington Reed Band, under Mr. W. Foster, was greatly appreciated by the patients and staff. A collection was made at tho gates by the Hospital authorities in aid of the funds of the institution, tho Bum realised being £2 3a 2d. A petition asking that Thomas MnUan, of Wellington, railway employe", be adjudged bankrupt, has been filed, on behalf of the Waimangaroa Coal Company (Limited), by Mr. W. R. Hasolden. solicitor. The petition will come before hia Honour the Chief Justice, in Chambers, on Friday next. An eldorly man named John Skelton, who had been arrested at Martinborough by Constable Bowden, was brought before Mr. Martin, R.M., this morning on a charge of wife desertion at Lyttelton. The accused pleaded Guilty, but at the request of the police was remanded to Lyttelton. The Union St<am Ship Co.'s s.s. Botorua, on arrival at Port Chalmers this week, will be laid up indefinitely. Itis probable that Beveral necessary alterations /will be made in her. The Penguin will row take up the Ly ttelton-Wellington-Nelson running, and tho Flora tho Dunedin -Lyttolton- Wellington trade. It has also been decided that the Wainui shall in future call at Picton on her Wednesday trips to Nelson and the Coast. At present no definite arrangements have been mode as to the offioers and crew of the Rotorua. Dr. Mackenzie, owner of tho Pearl, has presented a prize of £5 for competition by the 18ft boats belonging to tbo Arawa Sailing Club. The only condition is that the ballast must be sealed to his satisfaction. As he docs not intend to run hia own boat, the race will be confined to the Ires, lone, Myra, Rita, and Mou. The ragatta race was won by the lone, and the approaohing contest is the outcome of that event. There were large attendances at the Salvation Army Barracks yesterday, when services were held in connection with the visit of Major Musa Bhai and his fellowofficers from India. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Rescue Home is taking place aB we go to press, and this evening Major Musa Bhai will speak of the work done by the Army in India.

The latest leaflet issued by the Department of Agriculture contains the interim report of Mr. Hiirnth on '• Blood-poisoning in Lamb* after i uttintr and Tailing " Mr. Gilruth sta'es that the Oi^eape !ws hppn the cause of great mortality simongxt tl,- sbeep in the Ba'clutha aud V»'yndham di-tricts. The cause of the disease ia a m cro-organism which comes either from a dirty yard or badly drained land, and whioh enters the blood through the op^n wound. Mr. Gilruth suggests that yards should be kept scrupulously clean, and that paddocks should be properly drained and the smface dressed with lime. The- Poramitlea of the Port Nicholson Yncht Club mot iv t' c Empire Hotel on Saturday night, Mr. K. \V. Mills, Commodore, in the ohair. The accounts in connection with the regatta, amounting to about .£2OO, wero passed. The prize-money amounted to about .£l5O, and the expensea, including commi-sion to the secretary, were nbout iJSO. There is a small balance in hand. Several speakers referred to the assistance which the Union Company bad rendered the committee in various ways, and the soeretary was directed to express to Mr. W. F. Wheeler, manager of tbe local branch, his sense of the obligation to the company, making special reference to tho efforts of Captain Strang. wharf superintendent, and Mr. James Holliday, chief clerk. It was also resolved to thank Captain Phillips, of the Penguin, for hia courtesy to the excursionists, and the directors of the Trust and Loan Company for the loan of a number of Beats. Dr. Mackenzie's protest with reference to the Bealing of ballast in the 18ft raco was considered, and it waa rosolved to inform him that it had not been received in time, and that, moreover, the committee was of opinion that the raco had been fairly sailed. The prizes wero then presonted. The Commodore, in presenting Mr. G. Mcc with a cheque for J650 and a silvor cup. congratulated the owners of the Maritana on her victory in tha Firat-claas Yacht Race, and referred to the sportsmanlike manner in which their boat was always sailed. Mr. Mcc replied, and tho hoalth of the owners was afterwards toasted. The Napior Telegraph states that Inspector Emerson is to be transferred to Wellington. Wo hope that this city ia not to bo deprived of tho services of Inspector Pender As a result of the inßpeotion now being made for detection of defective water-taps and fittings, the first batch of informations was laid in the Magistrate's Court to-day. On Saturday night a man snatched a satchel from the hand of Mrs. Light, of Auatin-street, while sho was walking along Manners - street with her husband. The latter and several others pursued the thief as far as the Star and Wellington Clubs' boat-shedg on the reclaimed land, where he eluded them by climbing the fence. The bag was subsequently recovered near'the sheds by Detective Campbell, one Bide being ripped open, while a sum of 14s whioh it had containod was missing. A number of other articles wera left in tho bag. About 11 o'clock the same night some members of the Star Boating Club found the follow hiding in the shed, but not knowing of the theft allowed him to make good his eßoape. It has been considered unnecessary to hold an inquest regarding tho death of Mr. David Carman, farmer, of Taratahi, who was struck down by lightning last Friday afternoon. Again, on Saturday evening, the seating accommodation in the Opera House was all taken up, when, tho impressive drama of "The Village Priost" was repeated. The acting of tho company in - the several powerful scenes which occur at various stages of the drama waa loudly applauded, and recalls were inß'sted on at the end of each act. To-night " Niobe," a farcical comedy by H. and E. Paulton, will be Btaged, and it is safe to predict that the audienoe will be all smiles. At the meeting of the Citizens' Institute to be held to-night, at Room No. 11, Exchange Huildines, a paper will bo read by Dr. Chappie on " Physical Education in onr State Schoola." Tho meeting will be open to the public. A Council meeting is to be held at 7.30 o'clock. A verdict that tho deceased committed Suicide while Temporarily Insane was returned by the jury at the inqueßt held on tho body of William Pipe, who cut his throat at Martinborongh on tbe 25th inst. Deceased, who was 37 years of age, had been in depressed spirits through want of employment. A room-mate of tho deceased named W. H. Thomas saw him in the act of cutting his throat with a razor, and seized him from behiud, but Pipe died within three minutes afterwards, having severed the jugular vein. Mr. Martin, R.M., punished with nominal fines three firbt offenders who appeared before him in the Magistrate's Court this morning for drunkenness, and fined James Smith, who had been previously co victed of a similar offence, 10s or in default to nndergo 48 hours' imprisonment. Samuel Cate, who had been found by James Brown, night-watchman and cunstable, in an outhouse on the premises of Messrs. Crease and Son at half-past 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment. Defendant served a sentence of seven days for a similar offence only a ivoek or two ago. J. W. Walo was brought up on tho charge of having attempted to put an end to his life with a doso of poison. Ser-geant-Major Ramsay said there was no evidence beyond Wale's own statement that he had swallowed poison. Mr. SKorrett, who appeared on behalf of the accused, complained of tho publicity which had been given the case by the papers. His Worship agreed that oases snob as these, as well as some other matters, were better kept out of the papers As there was no evidence, ho dismissed tho present oase William Peake, who took an overdose of chlorodyne last week, and has since been undergoing treatment in the Hospital, was charged with druukenness. He pleaded Guilty, and was fined 59, aud ordered to pay IBs, coats of hia treatment. King Tawhiao has been visiting Auckland, and had a long interview with !-ir George Grey one day last week. Tawhiao ia said to be getting very infirm. In debt cases heard by Mr. Martin, R.M., in tho Magistrate's Court to-day, judgment was given for plaintiffs as follows:—G. Morrill v. C Johnson, £8 ss, coats £Z 10a ; M'Kee & Gamble, v W. Keoy, £Vi 3s, costs .£1 Is ; R. & E. Tingev v. D. A. Ross, Jsll 13s lid, coats .£1; G. R Wilton v. F. Baird, £7 2a tid, coata 11s; G. it. Wilton v. G. Goooh, £1 7s 7d, coats 7s; M. Kreissig v. Kelly and W. Coombe, £1, costs 8a; F. Marsh v. Mrs. E White, 9a lOd, coats 6s; Wellington Loan Co. v. A. G. Smith, .£l2 83, costs £2 Cs; Bame v. H. H. Travers, .£44 5s Bd, costs £3 43 ; same v. same, 15a 9d, coata .£3 ; J. E Miles v. Caroline Hancox, £5 19s, and 12s oosts, and defendant to give up possession of tenement forthwith; W. Jupp v. W. Price, -£1, costs 6s ; Staples, Steel and Co. v. R. M'Masters, 43 sa, costs 73; same v. J. Watty, £5 2a 6d. costs £112 a. Judgment summonses —G. Bradley v. E. Armstrong, previous order varied, and defendant ordered to pay .£1 17s 6d by instalments of 2a per week; Mra. H. Crawford v. W. Tyson, defendant to pay .£ll2s within three daya, or seven days imprisonment; Rose Hyams v. H. Bezar, claim of .£ll 6s Bd, no order made against the defendant; B. P. Walker v W. William ••, defendant to pay £7 17s by instalments or 5s a week, or in default 21 days' imprisonment. Defended cases—S. Williams v. R. Have, claim of iS3 7a 6J, share of the cost of putting down a drain. Judgment for the plaintiff for amount and 17s 6d costs (Mr. Devine for the defendant); J. Hincook v. H. Pitcher, olaitn £Z 12s, oaso partly heard'and then adjourned till Thursday; same v. W. Grant, claim 12s, judgment for plaintiff for 10s, aud 6s costs; J. J. O' Brien v. J. H. Meyers, claim of .£2l 0s Bd, judgment for £6 Bs, with 10s oosts (Mr. Wilford for plaintiff). Tho American Tobacco Company of New York talks about starting a factory in Now Zealand, using the latent French machines to manipulate the leaf and cover ii automatically. Mr. Moas Levy, well-known in connection with the firm of M'Arthur & Co., Auckland, has been appointed the company's representative in New Zealand. Thoro i 3 a Hospital scandal in Christchurch. A gaol warder at Lyttelton was attacked by infl enza, and at last became delirious. Ho wus sent by train to Chrißtchurch, and from tho station to tho Hospital in tho police van. 'I he Hosp.tal authorities, however, refused to rocoivo him, alleging that ho was mad, and they had no accommodation' for him. The sick and delirious man, after being kept in the sun for some time, hid to bo sent back by train to Lyttelton, where he now lies in a precarious oondition. Truth is responsible for this statement of the facts, aud it demands enquiry. 1 A decision of great importance in the administrative system of the Wesleyan Methodist Church has'(says the St. James' Gazette of 7th December) just been arrivod at. It is, as yet, but a recomm- ndation by a committee specially appointed at the last Conference to consider the question of " Separated Chairmen of Distriots." The proposal mad-3 by the committee, of which Dr. Rigg is_ the most influential member, is that the existing thirty-five din! riots shall be grouped into thirteen divisions, and that over each of these districts should be appointed a Chairman, who thiuld have no circuit or departmental work, being left entirely freo to discbarpc the duties of an overseer. _ The proposal is in effect one for tho establishment of thirteen "bishops" to guide the affairs of the Methodist Church. The Chairman of the Conference would, as heretofore, remain the head of the organisation, his office, in faot, being analogous to that of an Archbishop. The new scheme, which has the support of the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, is likely to be officially adopted. A variety entertainment will be given in St. Patrick's Hall, Boulcott-street, by the members of the Faored Heart Sooiety tonight and to-morrow night. The program -no will include many novelties, and as the tickets are going off very well orowded houses are expected. The members of the Liedertafel begin their rehearsal this evening at 8 o'clock sharp. The local manager for the Straits Insurance Companies sends us the calendar of his office for 1894. The hairdressing saloon of A. G. James, opposite the Opera House, lately damaged by flre, ia now being renovated, and Trill be re-opened in a few days. Mrs. Maconold, of the Ladies' Collegiate School, advertises for a resident governess. George Thomas & Co. will sell to-morrow, fruit, 40,