HAWKE'S BAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1309, 12 December 1911, Page 5

HAWKE'S BAY.

'CONTEST AT FEVER rIEAT." ''" A MINISTER'S FRUITLESS EFFORT , .-. (By Toleeraph.-SDCcial Correspondent.) Histings, December 11. ; Election matters are now at fever heat ■ locally. The Simson parly are working with desperate energy to turn defeat into victory, but tho thousand-vote margin is , a tremendous obstacle. Their chief energies are being concentrated on the obtainnient of tho Labour vote, but the work- : ijig man is not so easily gulled. All day ■ rumours havo been afloat concerning tho projected visit of tho Hon. R. Mivonzie. An air of great mystery was preserved bv local supporters of tho Government. I who seemed fearful lest the dreadful . truth'should leak out and become known , to the Opposition. .However, tho arrival ■ of tho express to-night settled all doubts, for Mr. M'Kenzio was aboard. It is pro- ■ sumod that the Minister will bo asked to ■ address a meeting of "Liberals," which ! was convened in tho morning's paper, : and that he will be asked to use his influonco to siring the local Labour vote to Mr. Simson. As a mattor of fact, tho committee of the unsuccessful. Labour candidate (Mr. Clapham) meets to-night, and it will bo asked to receive a deputation from Mr. Simeon's committee

Tho Reform candidato had n, splendid reception at Havelock on Saturday night. On Sunday ho left for Wairoa, whoro he speaks to-night. Be has been accompanied by Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, tho unsuccessful Government candidate, who, it is understood, will support the Reform candidato in preference to Mr. Simson. It is rumoured that tho Minister for Public Works will speak at Wairoa tomorrow night, and tiio Hon. J. Carroll in Hastings. These, however, are unconfirmed rumours. Ono thing is certain, any Ministerial oration hero at tho present juncture will bo looked upon as inopportune, 'and is likoly to bo vigorously reseated.