DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 54, 29 March 1909, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS.

WIIA.VCIAMU.MOSa. (From Our Own OorrespoTident.) The meeting 0 f tin, Kiiliuiiiliilii Bella tiny Society held Inst week was the stormiest on record, the subject tor delate being, "I'olitics mid rrecedenco." A Whangaim mti settler opened tlic l)iill by charging the member fur the district that lie did wilfully, knowingly and with malice aforethought muse the dust 11 ml ||ie, to settle on the Minister for Itoads ini.l liridges when he came to Whangamoinona, thus spoiling the district's chances when the Minister next allocated the vote for roads and bridges; also that lie spoilt the marble of two local budding politicians who were energetically pushing their barrows iaito tile political arena. With regard to the first charge he maintained that .Ministers of the Crown should be treated with deference ami respect when they visited the district. Their visits were few and far between, and everyone should do his utmost to make their visit as rosy and eoml'ortnbl,. as possible when tlrcy did iavor us with a visit. Willi that end in view the local building politicians referred to had engineered the bamjuet at Wliangainomona ill hoaor of the Minister's visit. The banquet, was given by the Liberal - party in Whanga. to the Minister, and the Liberal party certainly had the right to invite whom they liked to meet the Minister. The ".Man from Kohuratahi," in reply, maintained that the charges wciv frivolous in the extreme. In the first place, a Minister who really wished to lind out tlic wants of the district should not come out here wlren the Hies were about, lie should come out wh.'ii the roads were at their worst, and then he might possibly get some idea of the dillicultics settlers had to contend against, lie should he b charge of the member for the district, who is the proper person l u point out io him the requirements of his district. The statement that the banquet was a party one, ami that no insult was offered or intended to the member for the district ill omitting to invite him to the banquet was false. The tickets for admission stated distinctly that the banquet was given by the settlers and residents of Whangamoinona. invitation.-. in Stratford, the address writt-n by one or (lie building politicians referred to. local supporters of the Opposition bought tickets and were present, at the banquet, and yet rn the face of all this they said it was a party banquet, and no place for the member for the district. With regard to the charge of spoiling the chance- of local budding politicians there might be some truth at the bottom of it. but budding politicians were, generally speaking, like Hies in a chrysalis state, and should be crushed with a broad foot. The charge should not all he laid at the doo r of the member for the district, though. The men themselves spoilt any chance they may have had liy their' conduct since last election. The meeting was broken up by a half-sober gentleman from Whanga. interjecting that no Minister should come out here in midsummer, liecam-e he would get Hies and dust in his beer. The meeting was postponed to allow members to bring up fresh arguments and sticks.

"A GOOD NIGHT'S UtllA'ili," A correspondent writes to the .Stratford Post: There has been considerable discussion here regarding the adjustment of accounts between the Stratford and Whangnmoniona comities. A petition was crcnlated on Wednesday, ami largely signed by both sides, asking Mr. W. A. Alei.ntclian to call a public meeting to discuss tlie whole thing. The following is the text of the petition sent to -Mr. AlcCutchan: Dear Sir,—We, the undersigned electors and ratepayers id' the County of Whangamomona, would respectfully urge upon you the ncees-ily of calling a meeting in the Whnngamoniona or Koliuratahi hall at an early dale to clear up certain statements anil rumou's in reference to the adjustment, of accounts that took place between tile Stratford and Wlianguinomona counties, there being considerable dill'ereiiee of opinion between dill'erent sections of the community on account of certain statements made publicly by Messrs. lline, Bacon, Coxhcad, and yourself. It is in the interests of the whole district that these dillcrcnccs of opinion should be openly discussed at n public meeting, and we would ask von 'to specially invite Messrs. lline, Coxhcad, and Bacon to attend the meeting and explain certain statements made publicly by them." We should have a good night's debate, as both sides are c'onlident they are right, and Air. AlcCulcliiui has, 1 hear, left a cheque some time ago with Mr. .1. McCluggagc to give to the Stratford Hospital if he is wrong, provided Air. C. Bacon will do the same if his statements arc incorrect.