NOTES FROM RAKAIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1308, 19 July 1884, Page 2

NOTES FROM RAKAIA.

[From our own Correspondent.] Now thit a gentleman has come forward to oppose Mr Ivess for the Wakanui seat some little excitement is running in this township and district. Mr Ivess addi eased the electors in the Town Hall on Thursday evening and received a vote of thanks and confidence as already reported, and last night Mr Oigg came forward an' l met with the appreciation he deserves, a vote of thanks being almost unanimously carried. The manner in. which this gentleman answered the questions put to him, in spite of the annoyances caused by Mr Ivess’s supporters, is worthy of notice. To show the ability of the late member’s supporters one of them brought up a motion to the effect that Mr Grigg was unfit to represent the district before a single question had been put to him.

" What with election matters, sporting events and being a little absent-minded it is rather astonishing what some will do. The other day a resident, well known to the township, procured a copy of the Lyttelton Times, and after reading all the latest (?) news, turned to the advertisements and found under the heading “ wanted,” applications for the billets of headmaster and mistress for the district school. Thinking this mast be a hoax, after calling the attention of several gentlemen to the matter and enquiring why the present teachers should be dispensed wich, ho came across the Chairman, who pointed out to him that he had been reading a Times of September 4th, 1879. One scarcely knows whether to put this down to too much sporting, electioneering, or the dulness of business in the township. For some considerable time there has been some little excitement and life here owing to the largo sale advertised by the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., of stock, implements, furniture, etc, in the estates of McKerrow and Co and the 'late John Mann. The number of hands employed in collecting, cataloguing, and arranging ths items for sale was considerable and the attendance at the sale large. The heavy rain on Wednesday night made the ground sloppy, and the management could certainly not be called good, some of the stock advertised for sale not being on the ground. One attender coming from south of Dunedin thought he should have his expanses paid, as there were only soma 35 horses instead of 150, as advertised. The auctioneer’s ■ defence was no doubt true, but stock should not be advertised unless certain to be on the ground. Some of the shares and articles sold went cheap, others above their value, the sheep sold remarkably well. On the second day the sale, I should imagine, was a great success everything going at its full value, and in many oases over the mark. Owing to the lateness of the hour the furniture coula not be put up, and will be submitted-on the last Monday in this month, of which due notice will bo given to the public. On the first day of the sale a most disgraceful fight occurred on the ground, between two residents of Newtown, in the absence of the police at lunch. Had it not been for the timely interference of Mr 0. Harper, J.P., no doubt a general fight would have resulted. writing about Rakaia it would perhaps be as well to mention that another inconvenience has again occurred through the Resident Magistrate not appearing he”e on the day appointed (that gentleman being detained up North),-and no J.P. being piesent. Many coming from considerable distances on Court busme.sa found that their time—which meant money—was lost, and they had to come again, and pay the expenses them- ( selves. Our nearest JP. li'6B some four miles t way, the next six, and it is high , time that one was appointed nearer to the township, who would be of great benefit to many in all resT'ects