REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS.
The Revising Barristers have nearly completed their work both in town and country ; and seem to have done it satisfactorily. We notice a few points which may be looked on as decided ad interim. In respect of rates—calling on the collector with purpose of paying, if the col- lector were not at home, has been held a sufficient tender. Sleeping on the premises within six months previous to July, where the party's general residence is more than seven miles distant, is requisite to occu- pancy. Clerical errors in the rate-books, which were considered fatal, have, on more mature discussion, been allowed to be rectified. The decision of the House of Commons Committee on the Dorset Elec- tion settled this point. Mere initials have been held fatal to a claim; but it is not necessary to sign more than one Christian name at length. At Abingdon, the Overseers made out no separate list of 10/. house- holders ; the claimants were nevertheless admitted. In many instances, persons have claimed to vote for the county as proprietors of property giving a vote for a borough. Wherever this claim has been objected to, it has been disallowed ; but in some instances in the Metropolitan Boroughs, it was put down without objection ; and the Barrister had no alternative but to allow it. From a short notice in the proviaT1 journals, it would appear, that at Exeter, lodgers, under the joint occupancy clause, have been allowed to be registered. In the Metro- politan Boroughs, the Banisters have chosen in every case to interpret joint occupants--joint tenants. If this were the meaning of the Act, it is more stupid than ordinary in its attempt to express it. Upon the whole, the tendency of the decisions has been in the direction of the Bill—towards an extension of the franchise. Many doubtful claims have been admitted, and few good ones rejected.
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