The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1866.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 97, 23 March 1866, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1866.

We are not surprised to find a very great outcry raised against Mr. Moorhouse for conduct which will not at all add to his character for honesty and fair dealing-. But we do not propose to follow m a similar strain of denunciation against that gentleman because he has chosen to sacrifice all political principle to attain a certain end, which we believe to be the only reason for his recent conduct. Mr. Moorliouse has of late had to veer about to catch the passing breeze, and has on more than one occasion had to " tack," to save himself from a foul wind, but he has managed to regulate his movements with a certain amount of success, so as to insure himself against a wreck.

But the conduct which has displeased so many people, and which almost every one wishes to know the incentive Jor, does not become a statesman or a gentleman. We will give the circumstances of the case which lead almost every person to bring such a charge against Mr. Moorhouse, anil others to designate it by far stronger language. A short time ago Mr. Moorliouse was unanimously elected as a member for the House of Representatives for the district of Mount Herbert (late Ellesmere) ; and now he has been returned as Representative of the Goldfields, on the West Coast. Mr. Moorhouse was not proposed without his own knowledge, but further than possessing information on the matter he actually proceeded to the West Coast, and there addressed meetings to secure his own return. And at the present moment he is placed m the awkward position of representing two constituencies, one of which must be sacrificed. The electors of Mount Herbert, as a matter of course, are highly displeased with such a breach of faith. There is another objection, besides a flagrant breach of good faith, to any man treating a constituency m such a manner, which should not be forgotten. Canterbury will lose a member during the gTeater part of the next session of the Assembly, as no writs can be issued for a fresh election until the House has met and appointed a Speaker, after which the writs can be made out and the election take place. This political move on the part of Mr. Moorhouse is a very curious one, and has puzzled our Christchurch contemporaries exceedingly. We profess to have more insight into the motive which guided Mr. Moorhouse to take such a dangerous step. That gentleman certainly possesses capacity for devising towards the attainment of certain ends ; and this step, evidently taken for a special purpose, has set the whole of Christchurch m a Jurore to find out the reason. Although it is evidently a well laid scheme on the part of Mr. Moorhouse, it is just possible that he maj r over-reach bimseltj and between the two constituencies, at some period not very remote, fall to the ground. We presume that no person will deny the fact that such a step would be taken by no man unless he had little political integrity, and less honesty of purpose. Well, to point out Mr. Moorhouse's only motive for pursuing the line of conduct he lias done, is not difficult. He wishes to " preserve Canterbury as a whole " ! And has not the West Coast, very plainly said that it will use every endeavour to separate from the other portion of Canterbury 1 Of course Mr. Moorhouse, being elected to represent the Goldfields, puts an end to all idea of provincial separation of tLe West Coast; for that gentleman has strongly expressed himself against anything of the kind, and will oppose it strongly. One singular feature of this election is that scarcely any of the electors took the trouble to vote, and have therefore damaged their own cause by allowing Mr. Moorhouse to be returned. Not only has the West Coast injured its own prospects, but those of this and other outlying districts have been injured, because the West Coast was one district, the member for which undoubtedly would have given m his adhesion to the cause of outlying districts. But the return of Mr. Moor-

i house has put a stop to such anticipations, j and the member for Westland will undoubtedly desire to "preserve Canterbury as a whole," and oppose the Timara County, as well as any other scheme which may threaten to take any of the revenue from Christchurch to be expended m any other part of the Province. It is generally understood that Mr. Moorhouse would have gladly represented Timaru m the General Assembly through a similar motive. As the representative of Mount Herbert lie could not check the attempts of the West Coast to separate, but now he can nip any movement of the kind m the bud. Were the inhabitants of the West Coast to forward a petition to the House of Representatives praying for separation from Canterbury, they might find some difficulty m getting a member to present it to the House for consideration. And Mr. Moorhouse can retain his seat until the next dissolution of the General Assembly.

The electoral law of New Zealand is not so simple as it should be m a colony where a householder ot five pounds is allowed to be placed on the electoral roll. The present system was introduced by Mr. Stafford, m 1858, find has gradually been bringing the electoral list of the colony into a state of »-reat confusion ; and as the population increases the confusion caused by such a clumsy measure becomes still greater. It is a law which cannot be brought into use successfully ; because the greatest amount of care cannot insure us against innumerable errors. We will just instance one case which has been brought under our notice m this district, and which might, if not property understood, .lead to very great annoyance. In March last a person claimed to vote for the electoral district of Tim am, and bis name was m due course advertised and placed upon the roll of the district. However, on looking through the roll for the proc'inc'utl district, wherein his property is situate, he does not appear as an elector, neither is his name on any other provincial roll. It will be found that several names have thus been omitted from all the provincial rolls, although appearing" m the general roll. This m reality ought not, by the Registration Act, to disqualify any man from voting, because his name is upon the electoral roll for the Assembty district, and it is the duty of the Registration Officer to say whether the property is situate m A. or B. pi-Qvincutl district. But such an omission on the provincial rolls causes great inconvenience and many disputes on the polling day, m the case of provincial elections. In claiming to vote care must be taken to sign " Timaru " or '' Gladstone " as the case may be ; for no one claiming for a provincial district will be allowed his privilege. In another column we publish a description of tho boundaries of the only general electoral districts south of the Rangitata, for either of which districts the claims must be sent m. A form was shown us the other day which was filled m for " the electoral district of" the town of Timaru." Such a claim would not be allowed, as there is no such electoral district recognized by the Registration Act. Timaru J district and Gladstone district are the only two which we can claim for.

In again drawing- attention to tills matter we wish to impress upon all parties the necessity of claiming their electoral privileges. Those who have had occasion to canvass the town m any election, well know that there are a very large number m Tiraaru, who possess the requisite qualification, whose names are not on the electoral roll. Had such been the case, when the late re-adjnstment of the representation of the colony tools place, we should now have had three voices m the General Assembly, instead af two. This | circumstance of itself should be sufliicient to induce all men to take the very little trouble necessary to give them a vote. The qualifications required are three-fold : the owner of freehold property, the householder, and the leaseholder, all of whom are entitled to the franchise. To the working- men of the town, who are extremely apathetic m this matter, we would specially direct our remarks, for tve believe there are an extremely larg-e number who possess the necessary qualification to become electors, b\it who think the trouble of signing" their names is not repaid them by being enabled to exercise the privilege of a voter. There are other working men who are not aware of the necessary steps to take ; but we may say that if any of our readers desire to lessen the trouble connected with the registration of their qualifications, if they will call at our office, or the stores of the principal merchants of the town, they will be supplied with a form gratis, which it is necessary to fill up; and an}* other information will be afforded them. Further, they will be saved the trouble of walking into the Registration Office. More than this no one can do to

heip them, but this much will be gladly done by us and others who make it their mission to lead the public to the right discharge of its social and political duties.

It will be observed from the letter of our Christchurch correspondent that the Railway to the Rakaia is progressing, and the first length of it, we believe, will be opened during the present year. But as the revenue of the country has fallen off to a large extent, and the debentures cannot be sold, we may be allowed to ask where the money is to be found to pay the contractors ? Will those gentlemen not have to take the immense block of land authorised by the Provincial Government, as part payment, and the balance m debentures. It is rather an important matter to this district ; for should the contractors take up a block here, the district would reap no benefit whatever, as no land so disposed of is considered to be " sold." What with reserves, land granted m exchange, and that given m payment of public works, we may expect our best lands soon to be taken up without any expenditure being made m the district at all. Ever since the repeal of the ±S ew Provinces Act the Canterbury Government has not only been uncourteous, but even insulting to this district; as will easily be seen from the letters sent to the various Road Boards here, and published by us at different periods. We trust that the requisition for the formation of this district into a county will be signed by every person having any interest m the place. Unless some energy is shown m the matter we shall undoubtedly lose the opportunity offered of securing a small portion of our estate, and be left heavily saddled with taxes.