WAIROA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 987, 15 October 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

WAIROA.

[from a correspondent]. The telegraphic report of Mr. Locke’s address to the electors here forwarded to your contemporary, the Evening Herald, is singularly inaccurate, and tinged with “ party.” Let me note a few. “ When the Hauhaus arrived, to their surprise they saw the sentries on guard in this very town, which so surprised the local Volunteers that they turned out Another: “The loyal Natives met the Hauhaus, numbering 400 wellarmed men, and by sheer determination WE (the capitals are mine, please) drove back the rebels ; cut their flagstaff down, and started that course of victories afterwards that occurred up the East Coast. What a hero we have soliciting our suffrages ! My own opinion is that Mr. Locke is “wasting his sweetness on the desert air” of the East Coast electorate. I would say to him, seek a nobler victory than this. Go in against “the old man eloquent” for the Thames, or stay, oust my friend, the Major,” the beloved of Taranaki. Again : “ Waikaremoana should be the centre of attraction, as is Taupo.” Too thin altogether, Mr. Correspondent. What Mr. Locke said, in effect, was that if the Waikaremoana road were made we might soon see pleasure steamers running on the lake. How terribly innocent we poor ignorant electors must be, that Mr. Locke can be permitted to dangle such a bait before us. Poor old gentleman, I’m afraid it is a bad case.

Yet another error: In reply to a question, by Mr. Aislabie, as to how the County Councils were to carry on without funds, the Herald?s correspondent makes Mr. Locke reply that “ the Government will have to adopt some scheme of subsidy. lam not in their confidence (nor likely to be, says “ yours truly ”) so that I cannot say what their views are.” Mr. Locke made no such reply. He rose to do so, but one of his chief supporters seeing a difficulty, said, “ the Government will find the ways and means,” whereupon Mr. Locke sat down. Lastly : “ Mr. Large entreated the meeting not to pledge themselves.” This is a lame way of putting sensible advice. Mr. Large begged the electors “ to remember that there were other candidates to speak, whose views they had not heard ; that the House was yet in session, and no candidate could consistently state his political views. It was altogether too early in the campaign to pledge themselves, and he hoped the electors would not so commit themselves.” On the subject of these votes of confidence, it is generally considered by the electors that they have not pledged themselves to Mr. Locke, and I believe the next candidate who comes forward will get a vote of confidence too. At Fraser town, I believe, men, women, and children, friends and foes alike, held up their hands for the vote of confidence, believing it the polite thing to do. At the same time I may mention, Mr. Locke has few supporters there.