Redistribution, Wellington, Wednesday.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1422, 13 August 1881, Page 3

Redistribution, Wellington, Wednesday.

The fallowing information has been , gleaned re proposals for redistribution; The table shows the proposed electoral district in each provincial district, the number of representatives on the assumpr . tion of a total representation of 91 members, and tho proportion of representation to which each district would be entitled to, the basis of population making the quota from country districts to be loss than the quota for town districts by as nearly as possible 25 per cent. The following proposed rleotoral districts have been taken as town districts for purposes of the above computation : — Auckland North, Auckland South, Auckland East, Newton, Napier. Thorndon, Te Aro. Wellington South, Nelson, Christchurch North, Christchurch South, Sydenham, Timaru, Oamaru, Kaikoura, Roslyn, Dunedm West, Dunedin East, Dunedin Contral, Dunedin South, and Invercargill. Auckland, approximate European population, 98,955, 19 members proposed ; Taranaki, 14,849, 3 members ; Hawke's Bay, 16,502, 3 members; Wellington, 60,863, 11 members ; Marlborough, 8220, 2 members ; Nelson, 24,374, 5 members ; Westland, 15,034, 3 members; Canterbury, 113,195, 21 members; Ofcago, 130,248, 24 members. Waikato has 4743 Europeans population, and Waipa 4863. The boundaries of W.iipn, commenoe from tho mouth of the Waikato, following the webt hunk of the river to the junction of the Waipa and Waikato. Thence along the capfc bank of the Waikato, taking in Cambridge West, and ■west to Taupo. Thence by line due south to Lake Taupo, and thence by a line to west of Mokau river. The Waikato district commences at Mercer, extending by a line running east to Kauaeremo near Shortknd. Thence by a line running Bouth of Whakamaru range, and thence by the eastern boundary line of the Waipa district to Mercer.

Telegraph Returns. The following is a note of the transactions of the undermentioned telegraph offices for the year: — Hamilton: Beceipts, £-566, of which £280 was for private and press messages ; cost of maintenance, £232, of which £238 is for salaries. Cambridge, receipts, £927 ; £710, cost of maintenance £327, £292 of which is for salaries. Ngaruawahia, receipts, £159 ; cost of maintenance, £205, of which £169 is for salaries. Te Awamutu, receipts, £94 ; cost of maintenance, £130 of which £122 is for salaries. There are 3758 miles of line opened, and 9587 miles of wire ; 227 stations were open, and 1,301,712 messages were despatched. The total value of the business done was £100,478, the cost of maintenance being at the rate of £6 6s 7d per mile. The balance in favour of the credit account of the deputment for the year is -£100. Wellington, Last Night. The Law Practitioners Bill. Grey's Law Practitioners Bill, for throwing the sacied portals of the legal profession open to all comers, had a most triumphant passage through Committee. A stand was made against it by the profession, but their opposition was of no avail in face of the large majority determined to place the practice of law on free trade principles. The leader of the Opposition, Downie Stewart, a practising barrister of Dunedin, prides himself on Ins advanced liberalism. The sequal proved, m common with many others, that hbeialism is based on the theory of shedding the last drop of his brother's blood, while, at tho same time, he cavefully conserves his own. Although its passage through the Lower House has been triumphant, it has still to run the gauntlet in the Legislative Council, and amidst the highly conservative principles which predominate in that quarter, it is more than probable the bill will get into tribulation, or rather come to grief. Unquestionably the popular mind is in favor of the step indicated, and if it don't become law this session, it is likely to do so before long. Mr Seddon. A complete extinguisher was put upon the irrepiessible Seddon hist nipht. He i* pre-eminently a man of talk, his speeehps, as legistered by IFan&tnd, beingmeasmed by the lineal foot. So much is this the case that he has been, not inaptly, described as the big bellows that can be made to blow without working 1 the handle. A most objectionable measure came down from tho Upper House, entitled '* An Act to Amend the Vagrant Act." The motion for the second reading came on a few minutes before 12.30 a.m., the hour beyond which no new busines-s can be taken up. Next on the Order Paper was the Abolition of Gold Duty, a measure fathered by Seddon, who was, anxious to have it brought on that night. Annoyed at the Vagrant Act not being mado to stnnd aside to suic his convenience, Seddon iiunouncecl his intention of inflicting an hour's speech on the House. At that time of the night it was nothing chort of an outrage. No sooner had he Set a-going than tho word wns passed round, and from being a moderately vrell filled House, the Chamber was instantly deserted. A count-out ensued, and Mr Seddon was forced to abandon the situation without the miserable satisfnotion of hiving relieved his over-burdened feelings. Mr Murray's Bill. Murray's Duration of Parliaments Bill was literally laughed out of court. It was originally understood that it propo?ed to extend the triennial term to four years. The real purpose, however, was to leave the term wholly indefinite, providing the constitution with the means— somewhat cumbeisome, by the way — for getting rid of a representative who might become objectionable. On coming up for second reading it was, as stated above, literally laughed out of 'existence. Had the proposal been to repeal the Triennial Parliaments Bill, passed two sessions ago, and return to the five years' duration, I am not prepared to say that it would not have been a- popular move.