WAIPAWA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3245, 24 November 1881, Page 3

WAIPAWA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) November 22, 1881. The campaign of the battle of life in Waipawa during the past week has no! been particularly exciting. At the close of the exhibition of the third specimen o! political oratory on Wednesday evening last at the Oddfellows' Hall the curtain fell, and after an hour's Imperial relaxation, shouting ceased, and there was peace in the land. Accidents nnd concerts have given a little interest to enquiring minds. Kaikora musically won some money _ for scholastic purposes, and Waipawa aided the Stubley family by a full-priced entertainment with moderate success. A child or two has fallen through the railway bridge on to the river bed beneath without much damage, and probably the Barne thing will happen again shortly. One of our reputed townsmen got a nasty kick from a nasty horse, cutting the flesh to the bone near the knee. He succeeded in mounting the brute, rode from Waipawa to Kaikora (four miles) in twelve minutes, conducted a large sale there, returned home, and took to crutches. He is rapidly improving, I am glad to say. One inebriate has been fined 10s, or 48 hours' imprisonment with hard labor. On my travels I interviewed Norsewood a day or two after the declaration of the state of the poll for that county riding. I am much pleased with the display of Scandinavian spirit by some of the electors. My informants are quite reliable for the following : — The Rev. Mr Sass conceived it to be his duty to advocated _ the election of Mr Wilding amongst his fold rather imperatively. Some of the constituency, who stated they intended voting for this candidate, resented this interference with the principle of the ballot, and, making no secret of the fact, gave their votes to Mr M'Greevy as a free and independent member. Moral: This may be a caution for Mr Smith against sustaining a similar loss, lest that which has been " Sass" for the goose may be " Sass 'Vfor the gander. The six hours occupied by the three candidates for electoral honors in the delivery of their sentiments as to the political future were very barren of any novel suggestion of a scheme which would improve the present embarrassed position of any of the important subjects on hand, finance, education, labor, land. Mr Johnston's speech was little else than Ormond-shearing; as a Catholic his opinion as to Bible reading in schools was a foregone conclusion. Mr Ormond addressed bis audience in quite a novel style ; his long and extensive experience had taught him to cast aside the instincts of party, and to follow the reasoning superiority of a thinking man. Some men, blind as bats, call this ratting. Novices, like the other candidates, must keep on their swimming belts for a time, but Waipawa cannot afford to wait whilst they are taking lessons in Parliamentary tautology. It was most refreshing to hear him so frankly admit bis altered and improved views as to the property tax. His confession of being caught asleep when the estimates were in committee ought to gain the reliance of every man; it was so natural. The truth was told without flinching, and the leotle slip of the tongue overlooked by the reporters of the Dailt Telegraph and Herald, but so chastily and blushingly repeated by the maiden editor of the Waipawa Mail. There was not much of the Pharisee about this. However, he don't make fiat of the working man ; he don't work them in gangs. If Mr Smith had only arrived at maturity thirty or forty years aero New Zealand land would have been like the oft quoted " loaves and fishes," enough and to spare for all comers. He would bestow a freehold estate on every immigrant now and for all future ages. I cannot admit him as my. ganger on such a contract, and although I don't think much of the working man (be ia quite capable of thinking for himself) I doubt whether he wili feed ou such chaff. The rest of Mr Smith's speech seemed quite homely to me—just like an old acquaintance. I think I must have beard "Jack" rehearsing it. The rising generation took a great interest in that speech. Tho lads applauded, clapped, and voted most manfully.