WANGANUI.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 17, 9 June 1875, Page 2

WANGANUI.

(from our own correspondent.) June 5. Things have been so dull lately that I have not attempted to make bricks without straw, but I suppose even a few of the items of news current here will perhaps interest some of your numerous readers. We have had the Electoral Revising Officer (Mr Moorhouse) here, and a lot of names have been struck off the roll, while a lot more also objected to by a Mr Gouger have been retained, on their owners proving to the Revising Officer that they were still owners or occupiers of property of sufficient value to entitle them to the right of voting. It can hardly be supposed that Mr Gouger took the trouble to object to so many persons right to vote, without first being assured of payment for his services, and this being so, people have been wondering who has been so patriotic as to pay Mr Gouger and Capt. Jordan for objecting to so many people here and at Rangitikei. It is very wrong to stuff a roll, and it is quite as wrong to unfairly deplete it; and I think the present system of lodging objections is in want of revision, as there is nothing to stop Mr Gouger or Mr any-body-else from earning a few pounds by objecting to a lot of names on an electoral roll whose owners are put to a lot of trouble and annoyance thereby, in order to retain their right to vote. The Government ought to see to the purging of the roll itself, and not leave to some interested political party the duty of making objections, as it is a duty some of the said political parties are apt to perform in a manner highly conducive to their own interests, by objecting to only those whose votes they know would be against them.

We have also had the Annual Licensing Meeting, and the usual admonitions from the Bench, whose members are known to be down on drinking and gambling. Mr O’Hanlon got a license for his new hotel opposite the Corporation Wharf. Mr Harding, the photographer, presented a petition against the license being granted, but it had not enough signatures to it to compel the Bench to grant its prayer. Some amusement was caused by one member of the Bench asking Mr Harding if ho had been paid for getting up the petition. Mr H. admitted he had been guaranteed something as a small equivalent for his loss of time ; but he stoutly refused to reveal the names of those who had promised to reward him for his zeal in the cause of temperance and the other Jiotelheepers ! Our cattle trade is looking up again, as the firm of shippers who bought the St. Hilda when the W.S.N. Company dissolved have now purchased the Wallabi, of which boat Daniels of your town was so long master. She will be employed in the West Coast trade, and the St. Hilda kept in the Auckland, as the latter draws too much water for the other trade.

The Rangitikei Amateur Steeplechase Meeting was a great success. Mr Mcßae's old horse Butcher Boy pulled off the big money cleverly. He was ridden by Mr Kilgour, who at one time resided in your district. We are going to have a big meeting at Aramaho on the 29th, as Shamrock and Islesman are expected from Auckland and Tommy Dodd from Nelson to compete. Butcher Boy is backed m short odds to win the big event. Pheasant shooting has been vigorously carried on since the Ist, and the long-tails have had a warm time of it. Some guns have been very successful, seven brace having been bagged by one gentleman in a few hours on the Ist instant. I see some one up your way is frightened at the Californian quail getting too numerous in the Patea district. He knows very little of

their habits if he thinks they are destructive to crops. They are thick enough about here, and no one complains of them. Football is again in the ascendant, and I suppose the usual match between your players and ours will be shortly arranged. I see they are getting up a counterpetition to keep Major Edwards here. What with one section of the community to shove him out, and the other to keep him in, he must have a time of it. The number of new clerks that have occupied the clerkship to the TI.M. Court here is something strange. Lately they have averaged one a month! A Mr Deighton at present reigns. How long he’ll stop is a fftvourite subject for betting. The odds are at present 5 to 1 he don’t stay till Xmas. We have a gem of a “ peeler ” here. He puts one in mind of the intelligent foreigner who, when asked by the Bench how he had arrested the prisoner, whose •face bore marks of severe punishment, replied, “In the usual manner, yer Warship.” “ Pray, how was that ? ” returned the magistrate, “Be the throat, Sorr,” promptly replied the crusher! Building is still actively progressing. There seems to be a new house going up in every street continually, and yet one can’t get a house if in want of one. This is a healthy sign at all events. The butchers have been trying to outdo each other in the article of fat mutton, 3®r Hogg showed a wether to-day that tipped the beam at 155 lbs ; “ heavy weather my lovely lads,” as old of Nelson used to say ! Talking of heavy weather, we have had some very cold and disagreeable days and nights lately, bringing the fact of it being winter forcibly home to the understandings of people prone to chillblains I