WAIPAWA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3228, 3 November 1881, Page 2

WAIPAWA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) November 2, 1881. The juvenile cricketers' entertainment came off on Tuesday evening last, at the Oddfellows Hall, in a very creditable manner. The youngsters each went through their parts, each doing his and her best. Boys and girls generally have a good opinion of themselves, and to say that they deserved all the applause they, got will be quite enough praise for their easy digestion and the information of the public generally. , The hall was filled with children past and present. It is hardly safe to say who will consent to be nominated as a candidate to represent the tiding of Waipawa, ia tb«

future County Council... Electors seem* to have been so satisfied with the generally received opinion that Mr Rechab Harding could and would stand without! opposition that it was considered settled.' At noon on Saturday next the die will be' cast. To conclude my notes on the present political agitation (Part IIL) Mr W. C. Smith is a respectable tradesman, who has occupied the position of a well-to-do storekeeper in the village of Waipukurau for sonde years past, quite long enough to establish bis claim to all the virtues necessary to constitute a candidature for the representation of a portion of our nationality in the political arena. At a former election, when Mr Ormond was addressing an audience at Waipawa, a man, thinking he was disparaging the speaker said that, although Mr Ormond was then a gentleman of fortune, he knew him when, like himself, he had to drive his own bullocks. To the man's astonishment Mr Ormond smilingly admitted the soft impeachment, saying it was quite true, and he was quite able and willing to do it again if required. No doubt that man altered his mind and voted for Mr Ormond. So much for antecedents. Mr Smith is chairman of one of the most respectable Road Boards in the provincial district of Hawke's Bay. He is also county councillor for the riding of Waipukurau, and has frequently made his presence felt in that assembly in a manner which has convinced the other councillors that he is all there. He is certainly a painstaking student of the duties of local government, and in all probability, after the expiration of another parliamentary session or two, will have gained that exI perience of a ripened character which will enable him to relieve Mr Ormond of his onerous and responsible position as the member for Waipawa. From my acquaintance with Mr Smith, I think he has permitted himself to be brought forward simply as an introduction into public life, in anticipation of ultimately occupying the honorable post which is very properly the height of his ambition. Mr Smith is not a self-made man, neither does he belong to the fraternity of the working man. His abilities, fortunately for himself, came beneath the notice of one of our most astute colonists, and under his culture and training he has shaped into his present prominent position. To Mr Smith's credit he may be looked upon as a cheap edition of the Hou. H. R; Russell. He displays his wisdom in wearing the mantle of bis Elijah i the garment may bean ornament to him in time, when he also attains to the dignity of " His Lordship." It is said the Government is anxious that Mr Ormond should not be returned, and wish to have all the strength of his opponents interest centred in one candidate. One thing is certain, Mr Smith's pluck will never yield to any man, so Mr Johnston must go to the wall. Will he do it ? The spirit of Waipawa must feel somewhat gratified to think that the Ministry is watching with nervous attention the use it will make of its excptional power. Will the ultimatum make them look / serious and set to work in earnest or ] will they have a hearty laugh and adjourn I to Bellamy's P