WAIROA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2996, 1 February 1881, Page 2

WAIROA.

(from our own CORRESPONDEMT.)

January 26,1881

A meeting of hotueholders, &c, to elect a committee for the Wairoa public school for the ensuing year took place on Monday evening in the school-house. Canvassing had been brisk all day both in the township and outskirts, and the greatest interest seemed to be taken in discussing the merits and demerits of tbe various candidates. One general idea seemed to be that the Presbyterians wanted to run five candidates, and that the Church of England people and Roman Catholics had arranged to run four, two from each body. The school-house waa crowded. The proceedings were commenced by Mr G. B. Flint being voted to the chair, and kindly explaining to the meeting the meaning of the word " householder " as used in the Education Act. He then read out the balance-sheet and committee's report, and informed the meeting that as two thirds of the children attending the school were young children and girls, a mistress was preferable to a master, and also that an applicatian had been made for a new school building, which had not been acceeded to. It waa proposed by Mr Williams, and seconded by Mr Large, that the Education Board be requested to furnish a return of the amount spent on school buildings during the past three years in other counties compared with Wairoa. Tbe committee's report was adopted, and it was decided to proceed to appoint a new committee. In all there were fifteen candidates proposed and seconded. Six of these had the good sense to withdraw, leaving >me to be voted for. One hundred ballot papers had been printed, and volunteers were called for to fill in the names. This was soon done; three scrutineers were appointed, and it was announced everything was ready for the voting to commence. The chairman, Mr Flint, was a candidate; he also seemed to be returning officer ?nd master of ceremonies in general. Leaving the chair, he placed_ himself in g conspicuous position, standing with his back against the door of the pollingbooth. A lady, a married woman (whose husband was up the country), now came up to vote. Mr Flint admitted her. There was then an ominous silence, when another candidate appeared, leading another married woman up to vote, whose husband was not up the country. Mr Flint refused to admit her, and then the fun commenced. For fully half-an-hour there was a tremendous uproar, and every prospect of a general row. It appears the two ladies belonged to different persuasions, but Mr Flint's explanation was that he ruled any married woman could vote whose husband was absent. What Mr Flint, being chairman, returning officer, and candidate, had to do with the matter was not at all clear to a number of voters. The din and confusion increased, with cries of " protest" "kirk," "unfair," "shame," &c, till some one yelled out " all disputes are to be settled by the Board in Napier." This quieted the multitude, and the voting went on without further interruption. The polling lasted till 10 p.m., when the poll was declared as follows:— Williams, 112; Flint, 11; Mayo, 58; Hill, 52; Gemmell, 51 ; Taylor, 37 ; Shaw, 34; Parker, 16 ; Moloney, 11. The first seven were declared duly elected. There were ten informal ballot papers, which simply meant seventy votes wasted. It may possibly be through these said papers that the Catholics are now unrepresented on the school committee. There 6eems little doubt but that the whole_ election could be upset, at the same time it is hardly likely that any person will take the trouble to protest against it. The office of public school committee-man is neither lucerative, interesting, or pleasant, and the excitement which obtained at this election simply shows the brotherly love and friendly feeling now prevailing in Wairoa, and that we are_ evidently advancing to a high stage of civilization. The Library Committee met on Tuesday, and elected the Rev. J. Hill to fill the vacancy caused by Mr Carter's death.

The Board of Reviewers under the Property Assessment Acts sat in the Council Chambers on Wednesday, but as the proceedings were strictly private I am unable to give an account of them. A quantity of barley and oats have been harvested this week, and complaints are made about the amount of grain eaten and destroyed by the sparrows and linnets. Poison will have to be resorted to to reduce the number of these pests. If they were imported to eat caterpillars, the remedy is worse than the disease. From the quantity of smoke visible in all directions, there must be a deal of burning off going on just now. The flat round the township is as dry as tinder, and had the Council, in their infinite wisdom, had all the stock impounded off it, we should now have stood a good chance of meeting with the same fate as Sodam and Gomorrah.

There is an idea afloat to endeavor to have the Armed Constabulary stationed in this district employed in working on the Wairoa-Gisborne-road. Tbe A.C. seem to do little else on tbe West Coast but make roads, but then, you see, this is not the West Coast, and that makes all the difference. However, as orders have arrived to re-occupy the old and important post of Onepoto, there will not be any men left for roadmaking. Ever abandoning Onepoto was a decided step in the wrong direction. No matter what amount of cheese-paring may be required to make both ends meet, there are several

itations in this Island that will have to be held on to for years.

The notices are published for an election of the Wairoa Harbor Board. lam curious to see who will come forward as candidates, as there is nothing for the Harbor Board to do, and no means to do even that witb. I don't expect there will be much ot a contest over this election.