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New Zealand Mail, Issue 752, 30 July 1886, Page 22

A return has been compiled showing the number of Maoris whose names appear on the electoral rolls of the Colony. The total number is 796. The largest number in any single district is HI, in Foxton, but these are marked “all objected to.” Bay ot Islands comes next with 82 Native voters, and Tauranga and East Coast have 78 and 70 respectively. Wairarapa North and South have 63 and 59 Maori electors, and Kaiapoi (Canterbury) has 53, the figures are all small. In 59 out of the 95 electorates no Maoris are registered.

A petition has been presented to Parliament by Mr Johnston, member for Te Aro, from 614 citizens of Wellington in favour of constituting the city a single electoral district. Mr Johnston also presented & petition from the Wellington Harbour Board asking for endowments.

The New Zealand imports for the past quaiter amounted to L 1,253,478, against L 1,338,678 for the corresponding period of 1885, a decrease of nearly LIOO,OOO. The exports were valued at L 1,299,835, against L 1,486,133, a falling off of nearly L 200,000. The chief deficiencies were in frozen and preserved meat, hides and skins, wool, tallow, oats, barley, and potatoes. There were substantial increases, however, in bacon, hams, dairy produce, wheat and flour.

During the second quarter of the year 19,978 postal notes were issued, the amount of money being LBo9o. These figures show a considerable increase over the previous quarter.

The Savings Banks returns for the quarter ending on June 30, show that the withdrawals exceeded the deposits by L 4566. The excess of withdrawals was largest at Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin. In Christchurch the deposits greatly exceeded the withdrawals. In the corresponding quarter of last year the deposits exceeded the withdrawals by L 30,797.

The New Zealand postal revenue for the quarter ending on the 30th of June last was L 50,027, as against L 50,799 for the corresponding quarter of 1885. The telegraphic revenue was L 26,841, as against L 25,029 for the second quarter of last year. During the quarter, 402,052 paid telegrams were transmitted, also 63,670 Government telegrams. The money-orders issued numbered 38,337 for L 136,597, and 31,570 were paid for L 117,231. All these figures show a large decrease as compared with those of the previous year.

Our statement that Mr F. Back and Mr Allison Smith were not “ driven out ” of the New Zealand railway service, but left it to “ better themselves,” has been challenged, and it is asserted that one has gone from a chief to a secondary position, and the other to a lower salary. We have been informed otherwise, and the Premier in his speech on Monday night corroborated our version, but this point is immaterial, for it is

admitted that both gentlemen left voluntarily, and that the one who is said to receive a lesser salary has attained higher rank, while the other who is second in Melbourne instead of first in Christchurch, enjoys better pay and better prospects. So our contention is amply justified.

It was rumoured on Tuesday that the Premier’s very vigorous denunciation of reckless borrowing, and his outspoken declaration that New Zealand’s borrowing must ere long cease, were inspired by a cable message received from the AgentGeneral, inculcating the urgent need of extreme caution in respect of all future operations in the„!London money market.

There has been a good deal of comment upon the alleged sadden collapse of the Hansard staff early on Tuesday morning. It is remarked as being very strange that they should have broken down in the middle of the first day’s debate in the week, just after two off-days, when they must have had a tolerable rest. There is some talk of an inquiry being made into this unfortunate break-down.

The Waste Lands Committee has reported on the petitions of several leaseholders in the County of Tauranga, who state that the grass on their land has been entirely destroyed, and their property greatly injured by the recent volcanic eruption, and in consequence they have had to sell their cattle at a great sacrifice. They pray that in compensation for their losses, either the freehold of their leasehold estate may be granted to them without further payment, or that all rents may be remitted for six years. The Committee have referred the petition to the Government for consideration.

Reports from the Inspectors of Police at Auckland and Christchurch, relative to the working of the Contagious Diseases Act, have been laid before Parliament. The Auckland Inspector states that the working of the Act has undoubtedly had a deterrent effect . against vice, and that the more prominent and offensive forms of-immorality are not now brought under public notice in Auckland, while it has been the means of aiding in the reformation of many unfortunate creatures. The Inspecter' adds his opinion that 44 the introduction of the Act in Auckland has been a great boon to suffering humanity. The Christchurch Inspector states that the operation of the Act ceased in that district only last year, but he expresses his opinion that 44 the Act conduced to the better moral as well as physical health of the community that it had the effect of checking vice ; and that since its suspension there had been a noticeable change for the worse both as to moral and physical health.

At the present time there are still no fewer than 46 Bills on the Order Paper of the House of Representatives, in various stages. Of these 20 are set down for second reading, among which are New Zealand Loan Bill (now under discussion), B North Island Railway Loan Bill, and Magistrates Courts Bill. There are 16 down for committal, and the rest are in various other stages. Up to last Wednesday 426 petitions had been presented, and 187 papers laid on the table.

Sir George Grey has given notice that he will move as an amendment on the next motion for going into Committee of Supply the following resolution 44 That an humble address be presented to Her Majesty, lepresenting—(l) That in federated nations the privilege is left to each State comprised in the federation of framing and adopting its own con-, stitution as approved by the electors of such State. From the recognition of this right the privilege is secured to the people of each State of living under that form of government which is most satisfactory to them, limited only by the condition that the general powers necessary to secure the welfare of the confederation as a whole should remain vested in the central Legislature. “(2) That the people of New Zealand have no complete liberty or power to adopt such a Constitution as they would desire, inasmuch as the Governor is nominated by Her Majesty’s adviserß in England; the Upper Chamber is composed of paid members nominated for life, and in no way responsible to the people ; the Second or Lower Chamber is returned under a _ system of plural voting, which gives an undue influence to property, and by which any individual rich enough to _do so can purchase a qualification which gives the right to an additional vote for himself, or for any of his friends, in each constituency in the Colony. (3) That Her Majesty’s loyal subjects, the members of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, therefore earnestly request Her Majesty to authorise her Advisers to introduce into the Imperial Parliament a measure repealing the New Zealand Constitution Act from and after a date to be fixed by the Imperial Parliament, and empowering the inhabitants of New Zealand to frame and adopt their own local Constitution in the same manner that the inhabitants of each State in the confederacy of the United States are able to frame and adopt their own State Constitution, and to alter the same from time to time as they may think expedient.”