ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 8 July 1887, Page 15

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.

THB! COMMISSIONERS* REPORT, W£ki/iN#tfo&, 3tdy 4, The following is a precis of the report of the commissioners defining the boundaries oi the new electoral districts under " The Representation Act 1887 " :—: — There have been many changes ifl i&e' electoral boundaries in adjusting the districts to the quota of population, resulting in the number of the electorates in the North Island being increased by three and the Middle Island decreased by the same number— the numbers now being respectively 39 and 52, or in all 91 for the colony, A decrease in the Middle Island has been effected by making one electorate less in the group of West Coast, Nelson, and Marlborough electorates, and two less in the Canterbury and Otago group. In the North Island two additional electorates have been given to the Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay group of electoral districts* and one to the Auckland group. The alterations and adjustments induced by these changeshave necessarily so affected boundaries as to render some of the old names of electorates no longer applicable or descriptive. The following names have therefore been discarded: — Auckland East, Wellington South, Wairarapa South, Wairarapa North, Picton, Waimea, Stanmore, Coleridge, Wakanui, Geraldine, Moeraki, Waikouaiti. The new names a"re as follow : — Auckland Central, Ponsonsby, Woodville, Masterton, Wairarapa, Wellington East, Wellington South and Suburb, Waimea, Picton, Lin wood, Rangitata, Waihemo, and Waikaia. ELECTORATES WHICH REMAIN AS THEY WERE : Auckland West, Napier, Nelson, Hokitika, Wairau, Christchurch North, Christchurch South, Dunedin East, Eoslyn, and Wallace. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ELECTORATES. WAITAKI. The old electorate has been diminished by the suburbs of Oamaru north to Lindon creek and south over the Awamoa being cut off and added to the new Oamaru electorate, and greatly increased by the addition of Hakateramea and North Waiho, being formerly in the old Waimate electorate, also by extension to the south over the Kakanui to Allday Bay road. The boundaries of the new electorate are : Leaving out Oamaru and beginning at the mouth of Waiho river, up that river and its northern branch to its source near Mount Nirarod ; thence around the northern boundary of Hakateramea riding to Waitaki river ; thence' by that river, Ohau river, and Hopkins river to the main range ; thence south along that range east of Ahauri river to Longslip Mountain; thence to Lindis Pass and Mount St. Bathans: thence due east to Hawkdun Mountains ; thence south-east along that range and the Kakanui Mountains to a point nearly due '■vest of Allday Bay; thence east to the south-east corner of block Vli, Otepopo survey district ; thence still easterly along the southern boundaries of blocks VII and VI to the Main North road; thence southerly about half-a-mile along the main road to Allday road ; thence east by that road to the sea; thence northerly along the coast and around the electorate of Oamaru to the mouth of the Waiho, the starting point. OAMAHU. The old electorate consisted of the borough of Oamaru. This has been increased by extending northward four miles to Lindon creek and southward be- j yond Awamoa creek to western boundary of block IV. The boundaries of the new electorate are : Beginning at Cape Wanbrow and j going in a north-easterly direction along the coast line to the mouth of the Lindon creek and thence northerly by that creek to the northern boundary of block I, Oamaru | survey district ; thence west along thatboun-J dary and the northern boundary of block II to Oamaru creek ; thence southerly j along . that - creek to the northern boundary of block IV ; thence west to the north-west boundary of block IV; thence south along the' 1 western boundary of that block, continued by a road line to the ocean ; thence north-easterly to Cape Wansbrow, the starting point. WAIHEMO. This electorate is made tip of parts pf thepjd Moeraki and Waikouaiti electorates,

•From Sfoeraki has been taken all the distriefc. between Allday Bay road and Kakanui andl up Shag Valley. Two ridings of Green Valley and Dunback have been added to the new Mount Ida electorate. From Waikouaiti has been" taken all south of Carey's creek, BluesMrf, and added to Pbrft Chalmers and Dunedin West. ■J&e oaines of Moeraki and Waikouaiti hate been dropped, and that of Waihemo given U? the new electorate, the boundaries of wbich are :— Beginning ' at Blueskin Bay; thence go northerly along the toast line to AHday Bay, about twer miles south of Kakanui j thence west to tKakanui Mountains ; thence southerly along hat range, and* by the eastern boundary of Dunback riding to its south corner ; thence north by the side of the Waikouaiti river to the Little Hummock ; thence by the Silver Peaks; thence southerly to the source of the south branch of the Waikoaaiti river ; thence by that river to a point do© west of the north boundary of block ir, North Harbour and ' Blueskin survey district; thence east along that boundary to near the itfottth of Carey's creek to Blueskin Bay, the Starting point. MOUNT IDA. The old electorate has been increased by the addition of the ridings of Green Valley fend Dunback, formerly in the old electorate of Slosraki, aJso by the addition of the Poolburn and part ot the Ida Valley, formerly in the Dunstan elestor^te. This electorate has? b^en diminished by cutting off ' Poolburn aC# portion of Ida Valley, which is now given" .to Mount Ida. There is no other alteration. PORT CHALMERS. ■The did electorate has been extended northWards- to the northern boundary of the smvey district of North Harbour and Blueskin, and) accordingly" includes all Blueskin and Purakanui districts up to about Carey's creek, also a line of sections along the west side of the main road through the bush to the open country at Blueskin. (This electorate also includes the islands in Otago Harbour, DUNEDIN EAST. This electorate is unaltered. DUNEDIN WEST. The old electorate is unaltered so fjvu as* Dunedin proper is Concerned, but its area i& considerably increased by the addition o€ High Ward of the North-East Valley borough,- formerly in the Waikouaiti electorate, ailso 1 by country up the valley of the Water- of -Leith and that behind the reservoir; also by Wocks 111 and XII, North Harbour and Blueski& survey district, all formerly in the electorate of Waikouaiti. The boundaries of the new electorate are : Beginning at the centre of the Octagon, going in a north-easterly direction by George street, Albany, King street, and Main North road to Normanby; thence in a southerly and easterly direction along the boundary between East and High Wards of the NorthEast Valley borough to trig, station E ; thence in a northerly direction along the boundary of High Ward to the western boundary of block VII, North Harbour and Blueskin; thence north-west, west, south, and east arorm<s blocks XII and XIII, north North Harbour and Blueskin to trig, station S on Swampy' spur; thence along the eastern boundary of Wakari riding to the North Taieri road, near- trig, station W and Ashburn Hall Asylum; thence southeasterly along the North Taieri road to the Halfway Bush; thence by Wakari and Balmacewan roads to the boundary of block 11, Upper Kaikorai survey district ; thence along the northern boundaries of that block and block VIII to the North-East Valley borough boundary ; thence by that boundary to the Town* Belt of Dunedin ; thence Westerly by the Town Belt to the Halfway Bush road ; thence by the said road past the old cemetery to York place ; thence by York place and Stuart street to the Octagon, the starting point. DUNEDIN CJENTBAL is the old electorate with the addition of that part of the city west of Arthur street from York place, continued by Canongate through the Town Belt. The boundaries of the now electorate are: Beginning at the end of Frederick street, opposite new Knox Church ; thence by that street to the harbour; thence by the harbour to Jetty street to limit of reclamation; thence by that street, Manse street, High street, Clarke street, Duncan street, Arthur street,' and Canongate continued to Town Belt ; thence northerly by Town Belt to Halfway Bush road ; thence by that road past the old cemetery to York place ; thence by York place and Stuart street to the centre of the Octagon ; thence by George street to the end of Frederick street, the starting point. DUNEDIN SOUTH. The old electorate has been diminished by giving to Dunedin Central that part of the city west of Arthur street and Canongate, and increased by portions of Caversham and Peninsula electorates from Anderson's Bay road to St. Kilda. The boundaries of the new electorate are :—Beginning at Princes street end of Jetty street ; thence by that street to the limit of the reclamation ground ; thence by the harbour to the south-east comer of the borough of that municipality to Hillside road ; thence northerly by Hillside road to the To n Belt ; thence around the Belt to Canongate road; thence by that road, Arthur street, Duncan street, Clarke street, High street, and Manse street to end of Jetty street, the starting point. EOSLYN. This electorate is unaltered. PENINSULA. • The old electorate has been diminished by giving to the electorate of South Dunedin that portion of the [borough of South Dunedin fronting Anderson's Bay road, and increased by the addition of the small area on the east side of Forbury road formerly in Caversham electorate. The boundaries of the new electorate are : Beginring at the St. Clair end of the Forbury road ; thence by that road to Cargill road', and by it to Hillside road, and by Hillside road to View street, the boundary, between South Dunedin and St. Kilda boroughs ; thence by the boundary of South Dunedin to the harbour, and by the harbour to Taiaroa Heads ; thence by the ocean to the end of Forbury road, the starting point. CAVEBSHAM. The old electorate has been diminished by giyjpg to the electorate of, South Dunediii.

that part of the electorate and the borough of Caversham east of Hillside road; a small area between the boroughs of South Dunedin and St. Kilda, east of Forbury road, has been given to Vhe Peninsula, so as to have Forbury TO ad for the boundary between the Caversham and Peninsula electorates.. There is no other alteration in Caversham electorate. TAIEEI. The old electorate has been extended P/astward on Flagstaff so as to take in the whole of Wakari riding. The addition is one more of area than of population, as the electorate is only increased by about 30 persons. BRUCE. The old electorate has been diminished by giving to Clutha electorate the township of Baldutha and all the Balmoral riding up to the Waitahuna river, also by giving to Tuapeka electorate Glenore and that part of Mount Stuart ridge and Adams' Flat road. The boundaries of the new electorate are : Beginning at the mouth of the Taieri and following up that river to Waipori lake ; thence by that lake and Waipori river to the boundary between Clarendon and Waipori ridings; thence along that boundary and the boundary of Mount Stuart riding to the Woolshed road near Clarksville ; thence in a north-westerly direction by_ that road to Adams' Flat road; thence in a westerly direction by that road and its continuation by the Mount Stuart ridge to Mount Stuart and the boundary of the ; Balmoral riding; thence in a southerly direction by that boundary to the Clutha river ; thence by Matau branch to the ocean; and by the ocean to the mouth of the Taieri river, the starting point. TUAPEKA. The old electorate has been increased by the addition of Glenore and all that part of Mount Stuart riding to east of the road along the summit of the Mount Stuart ridge; continued by Adams' Flat road to the Woolshed road; together with all east of that road and the boundary of the riding, OLUTHA. The old electorate had been increased by crossing the Clutha river and taking in Balclutha North and all Balmoral riding to Waitahuna river. MATAURA. The old electorate has been diminished by giving to the Waikaia electorate all north of the old Dunedin road between Waipahi and Mataura rivers, and has been increased on the east by taking from the old Awarua electorate all the country south of Hedgehope and Makarewa rivers to the sea up to the railway (?) line, being the eastern boundary of block la, Invercargill Hundred, and that boundary produced south to the Waihopai river ; thence east by that river to the boundary of the riding of Waihopai, and by it to the sea. The boundaries of the new electorate are : Beginning afc the mouth of the Mataura river, going easterly along the coast line to Chasland's Mistake ; thence northerly along the common boundary of Southland and the Clutha counties to the old Dunedin road at Waipahi bridge; thence westerly by that road to a point on the Mataura river on the northern boundary of Mataura town district; thence in a westerly direction to Hedgehope stream; thence south-westerly by that stream and the Makarewa river to the western boundary of block X, Invercargill Hundred; thence south by that boundary produced to Waihopai river ; thence easterly by that river to the western boun ary of block VIII, Invercargill Hundred ; thence south by that boundary and the western boundaries of blocks XII, XIV, XX, and XXV to ocean near Bushy Point ; thence easterly by the coast line to the mouth of the Mataura river, the starting point. The townships of Mataura and Mataura Bridge arc both included in this electorate. WAIKAIA is made up of portions of the old electorates of Mataura and Hokonui. From Mataura has been taken the country north of the old Dunedin road between Mataura river on the west, and Waipahi and Pomahaka on the east ; and from Hokonui has been taken Gore with the adjacent country south of the Hokonui range ; also Waikaia and Nokomai. The boundaries of the electorate are : Beginning at the south-eastern corner at the Waipahi bridge on the old Dunedin road ; follow down the Waipahi river to Pomahaka ; thence by that river to its source; thence by the mouniain range round the head of Waikaia river to Lorn Peak; thence southwesterly down the ridge between Mataura and Nokomai rivers to Mataura river; thence by that stream to a point due north of Ship Cone; thence south to that mountain peak; thence southerly by Hedgehope stream tv a point west of the Mataura river, about one mile above the Mataura township; thence east from Hedgehope to Mautaura river ; and thence by the Dunedin road to Waipahi bridge, the starting point. AWARUA. The old electorate has been diminished by giving to Mataura all east of the western boundary of block VI, Invercargill Hundred ; produced southwards to the Waihopai river, and easterly by that river to the western boundary of block CCOCXI, Invercargill Hundred ; and by that boundary and the western boundaries of blocks XXIII, IX, X, and XIV to the ocean; also by giving to Hokonui Wallacetown and all the country south of the Riverfcon railway line from Makarewa to Waimatuku. There has been added to the borough of North Invercargill. The boundaries of the new electorate on the mainland are: Beginning on the coast line near Bushy Point; along the western boundaries of blocks XV, X, IX, XXIII, and VII to Waihopai river ; thence westerly by that river to a point due south from and in line with the western boundary of block X, Invercargill Hundred; thence north by that line to Makarewa river; thence by that river to Oreti, and by that river to it mouth ; thence around by the north end of the New Eiver estuary to the mouth of -the Waihopai ; thence around the northern and .eastern boundaries of the borough of Gladstone ; thence by the western and southern boundaries of the borough of Invercargill to the New River estuary, and by it to the ocean and to Bushy Point, the starting point. This electorate also includes Stewart Island and the islands in Foveanx Strait. The boroughs of North Invercargill, South Invercargill, and Campbelltown are also in the Awarua electorate.

INTERCABGILL. The old electorate is diminished by giving to Awarua electorate the borough of North Invercargill. The new electorate therefore contains the boroughs of Invercargill East, Invercargill, Avenal, and Gladstone. HOKONUI. The old electorate is diminished by giving to Waikaia the borough of Gore and the country adjacent thereto ; also Waikaia and Nokomai, and by giving to the Waikatipu electorate Kingston Hundred, Kingston, and Halfway Bay. It has been increased by getting from the old electorate of Awarua, Wallacetown and the country south of Biverton, the railway contained between Waimatuku river on the west and Oreti and Makarewa on the east. The boundaries of the new electorate are: Beginning at the mouth of the Oreti river; follow up that river to the junction of Makarewa • thence by that river and Hedgehope stream to its source ; thence by a right line to Ship Cove ; thence due north to Otamiti stream ; thence easterly to the Mataura river ; thence by that river to its source in Eyre Peak; thence westerly by Jane Peak te Hummock Peak; thence west to the Oreti river; thence southerly by that river and the boundary line between the counties of Wallace and Southland to the ocean at the mouth of Waimatuku; thence by the coast line to the mouth of the Oreti, the starting point. WAKATIPU, The old electorate has been increased by the addition from Hokonui of Kingston Hundred, Kingston, Halfway Bay, and Cowlin Bay. The Mataura river is the southern boundary of the new Wakatipu electorate, down to the end of the ridge forming the watershed between the Mataura and Nokomai rivers. This electorate is otherwise unchanged. WALLACE. This electorate comprehends the county of Wallace, as before. ADDITIONAL DETAILS. In addition to what has already been telegraphed, the following details regarding other electorates will be interesting : — The new district of Ponsonby comprises Ponsonby ward of the city of Auckland, less some sections north of Cox's creek. Auckland West is unaltered, Auckland North is the former district of that name together with an area east of Queen street. Auckland Central contains one ward of the city and portions of the old electorate of Auckland East and Parnell. Parnell now comprises the borough of tha.t name and parts of Auckland and Newmarket. Newton is made up of the borough, two road districts, and other fragments. The new electorate of Woodville is carved out of Waipawa and Wairarapa North, and contains the Fortymile Bush settlements. Masterton comprises what remains of Wairarapa North. The rearrangement of the Wellington electorates shows Thorndon, Te Aro, and Wellington East compact city electorates nestling in the midst of Wellington. South Wellington and suburbs surrounds the three named on all sides except the harbour face. This allotment makes it necessary to go through all three to get from one part of the new district to the other, an arrangement which has already been subjected to adverse criticism. The old Foxton constituency has been diminished at the south end and increased at the north. Buller and Inangahua have been much altered, and Motuekahas received a great part of Waimea (the remainder of the latter has been added to Picton). Part of Cheviot has been added to Lincoln, and the new district of Linwood is made up from Stanmore and Avon. The constituencies around Christchurch have been considerably altered, but the city itself is untouched. Ashburton has been greatly diminished in area. Wakanui disappears, and the new electorate of Rangitata is made up from it, together with parts of Ashburton and Geraldine. The latter is also wiped out, and the remainder merged in Gladstone. The West Coast of the South Island gets off better than might have been expected, as the commissioners at first thought two members would have to be taken from it and the northern part of the island. This was avoided by a rearrangement of the Canterbury electorate. Speaking generally, more alteration was found necessary than was expected, the interference with one district involving an alteration of the next, and so on.