INCIDENTS OF THE LITTLE RIVER ROAD BOARD ELECTION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 261, 17 January 1879, Page 2

INCIDENTS OF THE LITTLE RIVER ROAD BOARD ELECTION.

(Communicated.)

On the morning of January 6, 1879, a tall specimen of humanity might have been seen on the road between the Little River school and the bush going in the direction of Garwood's House, Hill Top. He was of angular build and slouching gait, somewhat past the middle age, and was driving an " old grey mar " with a vehicle attached. The first impression that his appearance suggested to the observer was, that he beheld a veritable and original sample of the costermonger of the old-world metropolis. But the '' conveyance " was empty. Men eyed the turnout with doubtful and enquiring aspect, until an inquisitive individual, no doubt inspired by the spirit of Hamlet, averred that—

"Though thou comest in questionable shape, I will speak to thee,"

And speak he did. The transformation scene was something to be remembered. The gabble made by the classic geese that roused the Roman sentinels was nothing to the torrent of bush rhetoric that saluted the astonished bystanders. He had a grievance ; he had had the same grievance for several years ; he had stated his grievance, and sung the same song to the Little River Road Board time after time, but coiila not get anyone to understand his grievance, nor, if they did by chance understand it. could he get them to take an interest in his grievance. Further, that he had come to the final conclusion to take his grievance into his own hands, and contest the election for a seat on the Little River Road Board, and this accounted for his unwdnted appearance,- and he

further expressed his extreme solicituda for free and independent electors who would support him, and moreover would take them in hispoultrj' cart to the polling ' booth, free gratis, and for nothing. for the " old gray mar ;" 'an&alasTrfor-tJie hopes and aspirations of her- : ambitions owner. Notwithstanding that he plied his whip and his platitudes ; and notwithstanding an alliance entered intp, and concluded with another unfortunate mortal enveloped in grievances, a few days, previous, he was doomed to disappointment. The perverseness of the ratepayers in "listening to him without hearing him, and looking at him without seeing him, could not be more

convincingly exemplified then by the fact that he polled 4 votes. A forlorn individual might have been seen about 8 p.m. that evening crossing a certain bridge near the Little River school, and to all appearance the same man that crossed in the morning. But the inward man was changed —his confidence in the species was gone for ever, and he sorrowfully disappeared somewhere in the fastnesses of the Okute Valley, to thresh out grass-seed, and lament over the obstinacy and crooked ways of the present generation.

Another gentleman, portly in appear? ance, might have been seen in a well-ap-pointed quadriga—a turn-out, in fact, to which the costermonger's cart was as the light of a farthing rushlight to the.planet Jupiter—wending his way to the convincing ground at Kaituna, confidently relying upon his prestige as umquhile contractor, to secure the honor of a seat on the Board, and the privilege of being heartily abused once a year, and grumbled at all the year round. Happy man! his disappointment will not disturb his rest.

Then, if tbe traveller had included the Tai Tapu in his peregrinations ; he would have seen, abont the hour of 330 p.m., a large cask of beer on tap near the library, with a goodly compauy doing justice to the liberality of a candidate. No doubt the lucky traveller would have been invited to drink, and asked- no questions, and the liberty of the subject would not be interfered with, inasmuch as be .would have been allowed to draw his own conclusions as to whether beer meant bribery in the present case, as it was merely an impulse of the benevolent candidate, in consideration of the extremely dry weather. The donor will no doubt have concluded in his mind by this time, that beer is not all-powerful at election time, and that he is the victim of misplaced confidence. Possibly his Committee will contribute a graceful mark" of their admiration by payiug for the article. Moral: Do you see it? Never invest on a doubtful issue.