Birmingham Notes

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 2, 19 June 1890, Page 3

Birmingham Notes

[FROM OTTB O"WT* CORRKSPONDKNT.") The absorbing topic of conversation al Birmingham for some time past has been, and at present is — the weather. Not that there is anything special about the quality of it, but for lack of interest in anything else. There is very little interest taken in Y>ohtics it is certain, or there would have been a better attendance at Mr Macarthur's address on Saturday last. Whilst giving the few that attended every credit for so doing, yet I must say as far the district is concerned, that Mr Maearthur has been treated with great unfairness. Certainly he is not our representative but has annouced himself as a candidate for Eangitikei at the next election. Many people are prejudiced against Mr Maearthur on account of the action he took in connection with the Onepuhi bridge question. And when he desires to give an explanation on his side saying, with the poet, "Ply me, Try me, Prove, ere yon deny me." He is met by some 26 or 27 settlers out of several hundred that consider themselves worthy of the privileges of the franchise. I say to the districts round about Birmingham, " Pie on you ! Shame on you 1 If you do, unheard, condemn Mr Maearthur on local grounds. Can you not rise to the occasion and listen to him on matters of colonial importance." But stay, lam going too fast. About every five miles of the country constitutes what I will call a " social district," the inhabitants forming what might be designated a distinct system, revolving round some local luminary. And woe to the unfortunate candidate who ignores any one of these coteries or expects them to travel, it may be miles', to hear him speak. It will Toe actually necessary for the candidates, however many there be, to address the -electors in the Kiwitea Road Board district at the following places at least : — Cheltenham, Beaconsfield, West Waitapu, Harbor Board Block, Pohangina, Kiwitea, Birmingham, Feilding Block, Apiti, and Pemberton Block, and any other place -where half-a-dozen electors cm be got together. Talk about public spirit, I am ashamed of this portion of the district.