Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5902, 22 October 1890, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING.

GISBOKMB, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1890. THE ELECTORAL ROLLS. Somk timo ago wo mentioned that the roll for the East Coast electoral district would probably embrace three thousand names. Since then the number of new claims sent in leads one to believe that the three thousand will be exceeded. As the total population, of the district is only about nine thousand, the electoral roll number will be equal to one-third of the entire population. It is obvious that there will be nominally more electors than adult males in the community. However, it is easier to point out this undesirable state of things than to devise a practical remedy, considering the short timo al~lovvecT~ror -the preparation of the rolls. This excess of electors over male adults entitled to the franchise is not confined to. the East Coast and other rural constituencies. A Wellington paper calculates that there will be on the roll of that city the names of two thousand porsons who have no right to be enrolled. If proper supervision cannot be exercised in tho capital town of the colony, how much more difficult is the task iv an extensive district like the East Coast. The fact is, fcho time placed at the disposal of the registration officers whs altogether too short to carry out the work in anything like an efficient manner. The whole fault lies with the Opposition. Mr Ballanco extracted a pledge from the Government that the general elections should bo held as early as possible. The Government has stretched tho time as far as it could without breaking the pledge. The delay has taken place in accordance with the representations of the registration officers, who apprehended that the rolls would be in a terrible Btate if the elections took place at the date originally intended It is a pity that a further extension of time cannot be granted ; but Ministers are hedged in by their pledge. There would be no justice in blaming the Government for giving an assurance as to the period during which the elections should take place. The whole business of last session was threatened to bo blocked unless Ministers yielded to the demands of the Opposition on this point. That the work of Parliament should proceed, Ministers wereforcedto compromise with their opponents. Mr Bulliince's contention was that although the Ministers had a majority in Parliament, they were in a minority in the country. There was no ground for that assumption. Quite the reverse. Bye-elec-tions are but an imperfect test of opinion of tho country. However, with the exception of the Timnru seat, for which one Opposition member was succeeded by another, tho bye-elections resulted in favor of the Government. The truth is, that during the existence of last Parliament, the party under Mr Balknee's leadership became more discredited every day in the opinion of the country. Another part of the compact which tho Opposition forced upon Ministers was that the latter should resign if the general elections turned against them, in which case, of course, Mr Ballance would be sent for by tho Governor to form an Administration. There is, happily very little prospect of so deplorable an event taking place. The confnsion in the electoral rolls is mainly the result of a sham belief of the Opposition that it possessed tho confidence of tho country. A few weeks more, ami those who wore tricked into that belief will be disillusioned. That it waa a mistake to fix the elections at a date which would not allow time for the proper preparations of the voMs is shown by a circumstance which has been brought to light within the past few days in this district. It will be remembered that in the original draft of the new electorate, the Taupo district was included in the East Coast, and Patutahi in Hawku's Bay. Owing to tho representations of local bodies here an exchange was made, Patutahi being retained in the East Coast electorate, and Taupo transferred to Hawko's Bay. It now appears that the names of nearly one- hundred Taupo settlers have been printed on Uie new roll for the East Coast, and it is not all a matter of certainty that there is time to repair the error. The names should appear on the Hawko's Bay roll, and unless the tranfifcr be made shortly the Taupo settlers will most likely be disfranchised. The mistake has arisen through imperfect knowledge of the amended boundary line. If the people alluded to were allowed to vote- for this district, the election might be upset. We learn that the places of residence set opposite the names of thesn outsido electors are not shown on any map, and hence the mistake.

The members of the Fire Brigade meet for wet steam practice this evening. Acceptances and entries for the P.B, Turf Club's meeting close on Thursday night. Owners must add their colors when accepting. The following will be the rates for wool this year from Poverty Bay by Messrs Shaw, Savill and. Go's sailing vessels : — (Jroasy id, slipo 9-lGths of a penny, scoured §d. Tallow will be charged at 40s per ton. Mr H. E. Johnston the agent, has double-dumping nntchinory, and lie will obtain quick despatch for all consignments entrusted in his hands. Margaret Shaw, a married woman, sued Julia Roderick, domestic servant, that she did unlawfully assault her by striking her aucl pulling out her hair The case was ca led on at the Police Court tlii* morning, and I hero being no appearance of plaintiff the case was struck out. Mi* Booth, K. M., Trust Commissioner, granted certificates this morning to the following deeds:— Judgment in the Supreme Court Sievwright and DeLautour v. Tuta Nihoniho; transfer from Mare Whakanga and others to Annie Harris of lvviti section 202; transfer from Herewaka Poata and another to J. N. Williams of Huiarua No. 'A ; transfer from Arapota Potae to Atarota Parau of Kaiti IGO. Mr J. L. Toole and a strong company have had a most; successful season at Dnnedinund the veteran comedian is now in Christchurch. - It is not yet decided whether the Rev. Ch ir'cs Clark will visit Gisborne. Mr Clark is drawing great crowds in Auckland and tho people are as delighted as well as they wcro 12 years ago. — Madame Burton, n distinguished actress, with a strong op<jra company has arrived at Auckland and opens a geason there next week. A young man named Woolledge was sentenced to ton days' imprisonment at the Christchurch Police Court yesterday on a charge of using obscene language and resisting the police. The affair arose out of skylarking with young girls at the Salvation Army barracks on Sunday evening. It led to a disturbance, in which about 200 young men and larrikins took part, i The number of fires during the past 12 months in Wellington has been <19, as against i 53 of the previous yoar, Of tho <?!?> 33 were, ouly total losses.