COUNTY POLITICS.

Patea Mail, 23 August 1881, Page 3

COUNTY POLITICS .

I quite expected that Mr Bridge’s letter re County representation would have brought some of those that wore in favor of Wanganui to the front, and let us know the great advantages we were to gain by remaining part of Wanganui electorate, over that of Patea. It was mooted before and after the meeting, by the knowing ones, that Waverley might as well be at the tail end of Wanganui as Patea. Had the meeting been at Waitotara, 1 could see the drift of that argument, but Waverley being almost alongside Patea port, there seemed no sense in it. Again, they had two good members, and Patea only wanted to get in one of their own residents. Well, we will allow that wo have one as good as goes to Wellington in the person of Mr John Bryce: the other, the less we say about him the better. He was once tried in harness and ha jibbed : his Ministry was turned out of office—the best thing that ever happened the country and ever since ho is to be found in the ranks of the opposition with Grey and his followers. I would adopt the bee-keeper’s

plan, to watch tiie door of the hive and kill all the drones as they came out; his reason for doing so was that they were never satisfied but when eating the honey and opposing the others working. As for the Patea man getting in as our member, the County would not have him. Others seemed a little jealous of Mr Bridge, that what be was driving at was to get in, and that ho stuck too hard and last to his own ideas for to make a member. But a man like Bridge, who can form a good sound judgment, I admire, ihe more that he can stick to it. We would have the less to fear that he would be led by any party. Should it be his intention to stand for the Patea County, if we are fortunate enough to get a member of our own, he is the best man ever sat in our Road Board by long odds, and I am doubtful if you ever had a better man in your County Council. I have watched Mr Bridge for years as a public man, and I find he generally steps in the right direction ; and with the exception of Mr Bryce, for a County candidate, he would have 1113' vote before any. However, I think we ought to stir up this County member business, and not let it rest. Unity is strength, and we often boast we have the finest County in New Zealand. Whj T don’t we lay all party grievances aside and pull together?—instead of tiyiug to cut it up into mincemeat. Hawera is trj’ing to be at the head of a bit of a County, and lead Wairaats a dance. Should they succeed, Waiinate 1 will soon find out how they have been done. Then they will Want a Count}', B}’ and h}’ Waver I e}’ will follow suit. We growl at the heavy taxes now : what will it be when each small district has a separate staff of officials to maintain ?—I am, &c., Elector. Waverley, 19th August.