Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa from 1873 to 1884, Volume 1 (1919).djvu/31

1874] the election was the return of a majority in favour of the ministry. The elections for the house of assembly took place in February 1874.

The new parliament met on the 28th of May 1874. The seven circles bill was introduced at once, and was carried in the assembly by a large majority and in the council by eleven votes to eight. By this act the colony was divided into seven circles, each of which was entitled to return three members of the legislative council, so that the country districts would be more equitably represented than under the old system of two provinces, under which Capetown and Grahamstown secured an undue proportion of votes. It was anticipated by the ministry that the new system would also have the advantage of putting an end to the clamour for separation of the provinces with a distinct government in each, which was still advocated by a large section of the English party in the east. The old principle of electing members was retained, that is an elector could give his three votes to one candidate or distribute them as he pleased, thus securing the representation of minorities. The members were to be elected for seven years, instead of ten as before, and were all to be returned at the same time. The chief justice remained president of the council by virtue of his office, and could take part in the debates. The first election under this system took place in November 1878.

In the session of 1874, which closed on the 31st of July, provision was made for an increase in the number of magistrates in the colony. On the 1st of April 1873 the Wittebergen Native Reserve, previously under a superintendent, became a magisterial district, and was named Herschel. On the 3rd of September 1874 Tarka was proclaimed a magisterial district, on the 19th of the same month Willowmore, on the 23rd of the same month Carnarvon, and on the 10th of October Port Nolloth were similarly proclaimed.