The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1883.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1269, 9 May 1883, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1883.

An impression having got abroad that foreigners, who are registered on the electoral roll, cannot vote without producing letters of naturalisation, it may be useful to make it known that no such thing is the case. Every man whose name is on the roll has a right to vote, whether he is a foreiguer or not, or whether he is naturalised or not. This point was conclusively settled at the last general election. . Mr Allwright was returned for^Lyttelton by a small majority over the Hon. Mr Richardson. The latter petitioned against the return on the ground that nine aliens had voted for Mr Allwright. The fact was not disputed, but Judge Johnstoue and Judge Williams decided that these aliens, being on the roll, were fully entitled to vote, and Mr Richardson's petition was dismissed with costs. Mr Wakefield's meeting in the Oddfellows' Hall on Monday evening last was undoubtedly the most brilliant achievement of the present campaign. A closely packed and attentive audience were favorable incentives to a more than ordinary effort, and the candidate proved equal to the occasion. Mr Wakefield spoke for two hours, in the course of which he dealt fully with the whole of the accusations made against him during his absence. That he did so successfully was abundantly shown by the enthusiasm of the meeting which he earned with him to the end. The regulation noisy man, who has no vote, but who always turns up at election times, was of course there, and gave the regulation amount of anoyanceto the electors of both sides, but the meeting bore patiently with the infliction. Mr Waken 1 eld addressed the electors of Boatman's last night, the meeting being the largest ever gathered in the district. Mr Somervel occupied the chair. The candidate spoke for an hour, and at the conclusion Mr D. Quigley moved the vote of confidence, which was seconded by Mr Gilbert and carried, there being only one dissentient. Mr Waketield proceeds to Ahaura to-day. The Grey River Argus of last Monday says : — Our Reefton conteaiporary which advocates Mr Shaw's return contradicts an alleged report that Mr Shaw is receiving the entire Catholic vote, and says the rumor is false. We are very glad to hear it, for Mr Shaw's chance would be infinitely better than it is if he had that vote. It is odd how such a rumor could get about, as our contemporary says it has, for our Catholic friends are a deal too sensible to back a man in that straight out manner with whom they have nothing in common. On the education question, which is of vital interest to them, Mr Shaw takes up most extraordinary position. He holds two seta of views — one for public purposes, and'the other for private. He is an outand- out secularist on the hustings and in the House — when he gets there ; but in a dark- corner of his mind .he has .hidden away some sort of denominational fetish from which he appears to derive infinite solace. As qualities of opinion are not generally tolerated by straightforward people holding one earnest view, it is difficult to see how anybody, least of all our Catholic friends, can discover -any affinity between Mr Shaw's view and theirs. No, the only class from whom Mr Shaw can expect to receive anything like hearty support are those gullible people who smallow promises, and at making which Mr Shaw appears to be an adept.