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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 954, 23 June 1868, Page 2

The Bishop of Waiapu will, next Lord's day (D.V.) conduct service as follows :— at Puketapu at 11 a.m., and at Meanee at 3 p.m. Bay of Islands Coal. — It will he seen from our advertising columns that the first cargo of Bay ot Islands coal has arrived in this port — the old Huntress, scarcely recognisable in her new garb, having come in on Sunday. Napieb Brass Band. — A sum of £80 has now been subscribed for, of which amount £60 has been received. The instruments have been written for. These, we may state, will, when procured, be public property, vested in the committee of management. Shrubs and trees from Mr. Hay's nursery, Auckland, will be sold by Mr. Lyndon on Thursday next. Revising Court, Waipawa.- — The Revising Officer sat here on the 11th instant, and a number of voters and claimants at or near Waipukurau were struck off the rolls. It appears that one of the parties objected to, Mr. H* J. Baker, went, at the opening of the Court, empowered by the other parties to appear for them, and give evidence as to their qualifications, &c. ; but he was informed by the Revising Officer that he must produce written authority from each person to appear for them. The Revising Officer was asked to delay the cases till Mr. Baker returned with the requisite authorities, and the latter used every dispatch, and reached the court-house again about 1 o'clock, when ho found the whole afiair over, aud the court adjourned. Surely it was never intended that the Revising Officer for a very wide district — some voters live from 20 to 40 miles from Waipawa — should open the court at 1 1 o'clock, call over the names of the parties objected to, and, no appearance being made, proceed to strike them ofl" the roll ! The court should have been kept open till 4 o'clock, to enable people from a distance, or who might be prevented coming early, to appear. On a strong representation to tbe Revising Officer, he expressed himself willing to hear the cases at Napier on the 17th instant 5 but tbat necessitates the parties cither to waste two or three days, besides incurring considerable travelling expenses, if they appear in person; or employing a solicitor of the Supreme Court ; or, as they are now told, sending a regular power of attorney to some one. If such impediments are placed in the way of obtaining the franchise, it is tobe feared that the busy and industrious portion of the community, in country districts at least, will not trouble themselves ; and it ijvill be always in the power of idle, meddling, or spiteful people to narrow the constituencies. The constitution meant to confer household suilragc, but in this district objections' were made wholesale by certain parties, in the hope probably that some such result might happen, as it has done. It is to be remarked that this is the first lime that objections have been lodged to claims, and people in the country were not well informed as to what-it was necessary for them to do. It is quite n caso for the Legislature to take up, and it will no doubt be brought before Parliament nt its first session, with a view to some remedy being provided. — C Communicated. J