WAIROA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3193, 22 September 1881, Page 2

WAIROA.

(FROM OTJB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) September 21, 1881. Messrs Taylour and Olunie, lessees of Dr. Ormond's Oranp-tirohia property, are making good use of the present fine weather. A cottage has been erected on the bank of the river, and already the ever-to-be-hated sweet-briar is disappearing. Mr Locke's supporters made a good move in trying to take the wind out of tbe other candidates sails by publishing that gentleman's views in extenso on tb_ morning of tbe day that Captain Porter was to have addressed the electors here. Mr Locke's platform is just the one to commend itself to the electors here, aud if he abides by what has been said for him he will be fairly supported. In the address alluded to a severe blow was dealt Mr McDonald, when Mr Locke stated that on the question of rating Crown and native lands be was at direct variance with the views of the sitting member for the East Coast. Mr McDonald has ruined his chance of reelection. If I remember aright be was elected on the Grey ticket, and then ratted to the Hall—Atkinson party. We know for a fact tbat he ratted from that party to Mr Ormond this se.sion,, and voted against the Government and the Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill, a measure that promised fresh life and new resources to tbe districts of Wairoa. and Gisborne. No, it will take a good many agents and a good deal of canvassing to cause the electors here to condone these offences. Captain Porter as I wired you, addressed a preliminary meeting of electors here on Saturday night. The meeting was not exactly a pre-election one, but held merely to enable the candidate to become acquainted with local requirements. Though not by any means brilliant, Captain Porter appears to understand exactly the requirements of the district, and what is needed to successfully settle the country ; and, if I am not much mistaken, these views will stand bim in good stead with the electors. We don't want legislative wind-bags to represent us. The Speight's and Waliis's of the

present Parliament may do for settled constituencies, but ice want practical men ■—men of action and not words—men who will push ahead our system of local government, and the country with it at the same time. The electors here are all holding back, bo far as I can see, and few pledges have £' yet been given, though some energetic " canvassers boast that their man is the one that shall win. I would not like to say at this stage who will head the poll here. A parallel to the separation of Captain Eusaell and Mr Sutton in your district may be found here in the separation of two well-known gentlemen who worked bo energetically last year to return Mr McDonald. This time ODe only is faithful to the M.H.R., for the East Coast, the other going for Mr Locke. I might quote Scripture, and Bay, " A house divided, etc." If the Wairoa correspondent of your contemporary represents public opinion here, in what a jerky unsettled state the popular pulse must be. Writing from here on the 17th he states that Mr Locke's committee assures him they are confident of large support for their candidate in Gisborne, and " owing to the way in which Mr Locke's people have been successfully canvassing, etc." Telegraphing to tbe same journal on the 19th—two days later—he states that no committees have been formed here yet. The electors will pledge themselves to nothing until they hear all the candidates." This latter information is quite correct, but I confess to being stupid enough not to see tbat the two statements dovetail somehow. Mr Locke arrived by the Boojum ! yesterday, and addresses the electors on Thursday night, Prasertown on Friday night, Mohaka on Saturday night. Mr M'Donald is expected next week.