DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 106, 25 October 1911, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondents). WAREA. The weather during the past week or two has been very rough and cold, and the milk supply at the local factory consequently has not increased much, and won't until we get a little sun to warm things up a little. A social was held in the hall on Wednesday night in aid of the Cape Kgmont Horticultural Society's funds. The night was wet and dirty, and the season being too far advanced, there was not a very large crowd. During the evening Mr. James Burgess, president of the society, congratulated the society upon having pulled itself together and possessing a credit balance. He hoped everybody [ would put in exhibits so as to heip the society. Dancing was kept up until shortly after midnight. An excellent I supper was provided. The music was supplied by Mr. Knowles, and Mr. W. Thornell acted as M.C. Our local storekeeper, Mr. Ken Andrews, thought living by himself was not the thing it was cracked up to be, and so he decided to obtain a partner. The ceremony took place, at Eahotu on Friday last, and the happy couple left by motor-car for New Plymouth, en route for their hrmeymoon. I understand they will return on Tuesday. Most likelythey will have a number of young friends j awaiting them, each with a short stick I and a kerosene tin.

URENUI. Mr. C. K. Wilson, the Opposition candidate for Taumarunui, addressed the electors here on Saturday evening, about 00 or 70' electors being present. Mr. C. N. Rowo presiding. Mr. Wilson stated that he had .nothing whatever against Mr. Jennings, the sitting. member, and he was going to contest the seat in a friendly spirit. He declared himself an out and out Oppositionist. The (lovern- , ment, he believed, had decidedly lost the confidence of the country. They did not recognise their duty ,to the State. They had been kept 20 years in power iWy a servile majority. Mr. Hogg was turned out of the Ministry over his advocacy of [a State note issue, and now Sir Joseph I Ward was proposing in the Budget the , same thing. Mr. Fowlds resigned because he could no longer work with them. Sir Joseph Ward would have prc- | ferred that Mr. Fowlds did not resign i until after the elections. Native lands | were lying waste and preventing settlement. The time has arrived when some ! scheme must be framed for the immediate settlement of these lands, and the i natives should pay taxes as well as the | Europeans. The various titles should be i individualised. He mentioned that 328,000 acres were vested in one native land council, and only 438 acres settled. Sir I James Carroll did not want the native .land question settled. There were too j many Royal Commissions. Look at the | futility of the Land Commission, which i cost thousands of pounds. The natives , hold the lnnd near the railway line and j the European was well back. They wanted roads made into the backblocks. Too much money was spent in the towns on public buildings and not enough on land settlement. He was an out and out freeholder. Sir Joseph Ward said he could not get any land for settlement, it .being too dear. What about the Mokau block? There was plenty ot other land besides. The present Minister of Railways was too autocratic and seem- i ed to get carried off his feet. The South Island lines were not paying interest, whilst the North were. They "should iput lines where they were mccesF/n/ry and look after the farmer. The cost'of living had gone up 5 per cent. The Education Department had been certainly starved to death. Look !t t the schools (or tents) in some of the backblocks and buildings 40 years old; little children standing in a tent iu mud! Was that right? Look at Paemiako-Mahoemii! Things there were not much better. Send men, he said, into the Ministry : tl.bvt will spend the money properly. ' Sir J. Ward had borrowed five millions last year, yet no one knows what the raising of the loan cost. In conclusion, he urged upon the electors to return men to power that will be true to their trust and the country, men who would stop the dreadful waste of money going on. Mr. Wilson resumed bis seat amidst applause, In reply to questions. Mr. Wilson said he was in favor of fieedom and not in favor of preference to unionists; he would leave the prohibition question to the people; he believed in free, compulsory anil secular education as at present. Mr. F. D. Greenwood proposed a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. Leicli seconding. This was carried, some of the electors not voting. A vote of thanks'" to the chair terminated the meeting.