NORTHERN SEPARATION AND REFORM LEAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1163, 6 August 1867, Page 4

NORTHERN SEPARATION AND REFORM LEAGUE.

A MEETING- of the Council of tlio above body was held yesterday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, in Cochrane's Buildings, Fort-street. Present: B.Matthews, Eon. Sec.; J. C. Wilkes, George Staines, Samuel Alexander, Dr. Merrett, William Griffin, Samuel Plaice, and Major Cooper; Dr. Merrett was called to the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. • ■ ■ » The Secbetaey read the' annexed letter of resignation:— Saturday, August 3,1867. Sir, —As X have not timo to attend, as regularly as I could desire, the meetings of the Council of the "Northern Separation and Reform League, I beg respectfully to tender to you my resignation.— I have, &0., . D. WASHER. Mr. B. Matthews, Hod, Secretary. , On the motion of Mr. Amxandek, seconded by Mr. Wilkes,) the resignation was accepted, and to be entered as . such on the minute-book, nr° n ™ ot i oa by Mr. Alexandee, seconded by Mr. Wilkes, Mr. Samuel Plaice was elected a member of the Council unaniniously'* Mr. Plaice acknowledged the compliment by expressing ius thanks, and. assured tno Council that lie would endeavour-to forward.to the best of his;; ability the objects of the Separation League. . , Mr. Geiffin gave notice to move the follow- , lag motion at their next meeting. There were • jfour members of the League who had taken au ,

active part on the diggers' committee, and J assisted at the public meetings held in the I British Hotel, and he thought that not only those members, but the other members of the Council would agree with the sentiments expressed in the resolution. In accordance with the usual course he gave notice of motion, hut if the Council desired he would withdraw the said notice, and move it at the present meeting. ■ The Chairman thought they might proceed with it at once. After a few remarks from Major Coopeb and Mr. Staines, the resolution was ordered to stand over till nest week. " Resolved that this Council highly approves of the committee appointed at a public meeting of diggers, and the various speakers who addressed the subsequent meetings, in their strong recommendations to the gold diggors to assist tho constituted authorities in maintaining pcace, law, and order, on the goldfiolds, and to respect and protect tho rights and prh ileges of the natives in all their transactions. " Ist. Because it is both right and proper, as a matter of duty and consistency, inasmuch as we expect tho law will protect tho rights of Europoans, the latter should insist that an equal protection should bo afforded to the natives. " 2nd. Because it is sound policy to keep on good terms with the natives, and thereby strengthen the hands of the authorities in their endeavours to extend the boundaries of the goldfield to open a wider field, and give a better chance for the diggers to prospect for gold." Mr. George Staines gave notice to move, at the next meeting of Council, "A resolution in favor of vote by-ballot at the election of members for the House of Representatives, for the Superintendent, and also for members of the Provincial Council." He thought that vote by ballot would meet with a great deal of support from the public of this province. He also directed tho attention of Council to the favorable reception the question of the ballot had received from Mr. Stafford, and other members of the House this session. Major Coopeh agreed with the former speaker that there was a necessity for some alteration being made in the present system of election. He was not quite sure that vote by ballot would prove the best system that could be adopted. He thought that there were other arrangements that would meet tho case. The plan which in his opinion would be preferable was, that the returning officer should send voting papers to the electors, and for them to return them, stating for whom they intended to vote, and if this could bo properly carricd, it would prevent

the large amount of personation which had take place in this Province. It was tho first time he, Major Cooper, had attended the Council. The reason was that three o'clock was too late in the day, if they: agreed to meet at two o'clock he would be more likely to attend and give his opinion at the next meeting on tho question of the ballot. Mr. Alexander described the manner in which the ballot was taken in Victoria; it did not allow half a dozen voters going up at onco. Proof was givon first that he, the voter, was the man. A paper was handed to him with the names of tho candidates ; he scratched his pen over the names he did not vote for—the paper was then Eut into a box, and no one knew for whom he ad voted. The candidate's interest was protected by a body of scrutineers who examined the papers and counted them in the presence of the -Returning Officer when the box was opened. The poor man was not compelled to vote Tor his master or bo turned from his work, but he could vote for the man he thought was the best to put in, and his master could not tell how he had voted. His opinion was that the ballot was a great protection to the elector who wished to give an independent vote. Messrs. Matthews, Wilkes, Major, Plaice, Cooper and Staines kept up what may be considered an irregular discussion on tho question of the ballot for some time, during which it's good and it's objectionable qualities were brought out. But as the debate will be brought forward again in the regular way next week, we leave the matter for the present. The Secbetaby read a paragraph from tho New Zealand Herald, from a correspondent at Riverhead, which appeared to give much satisfaction to all present, particularly (as they remarked) when it was compared with the very hard knocks they had received from various quarters, when they wero forming the League. On the motion of Mr. Matthews, the meeting adjourned til! this day week at 2 o'clock (instead of 3), to suit tho convenience of country members. A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman, and the Council rose.