The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 111, 8 January 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1879.

Mil Wakefield. in addressing his constituents at Temuka last Saturday evenin,"' must have fidt that lie was undertaking n task of doubtful issiv'. Hu must have felt the meeting to he the stillest of any meeting - lie las yet attended in this district. A certain amount of distrust exists in all parts of the electoral district, and not the least in Tcmuka Hiding', winch Mr Wakefield has not removed by his address on Saturday. Mr Wakefield shows more ability in obsfrnction than in construction ; he has never yet been the originator of any schema worth recording. True, he did bring- forward one proposal some years ago regarding' a division of

the revenues of the colour, hut Mr •Stafford got the credit of being the father of that abortion. There never has been a set of men in office during the few years the member for Geraldine has been in the Assembly but what be has at length opposed, although lie setout as their supporter. The pr'seiit case is not, Iheretoro, an exceptional one. (Jim remarkable feature in our member's speed) on Saturday night was the groat change pmceptiide in the maimer S ; r George Greyer the other members of the Government were dealt with. I he absence of abusive language or anything that could give offence is a hopeful feature. The speech, except that portion of it which referred to local matters, was simply a rehearsal of the ‘ Herald's ' production for the last six mouths, which had become so nauseous that it is not to be wondered at that it called forth no marks of approbation. One exception there was to this. In dealing with the educational question lie struck the right chord. Mr Wakefield knows how to take advantage of a favorable opportunity, and did not in this instance miss the chance of turning the applause of a limited portion of his audience to the best account. So much so, indeed, that many were ready with the word “ hnncnm,” which we have often heard repeated since (lie meeting took place. The candid, manly way in which Mr Talbot, (he Chairman of the Temuka .Road Hoard, protested against In’s views with regard jo denominational education east, a damp r on his successful sally, which was so warmly received by a portion of h’s audience. This must have convinced him that the great majority of the settlers in this part of the district are not prepared to alter the constitution of the public schools. Mr Wakefield’s picture of the Milford Inrhoiir scheme was also overdone. Although we are willing to give him credit for having done his best for this project during the last session, we vet cannot see in ‘ Hansard ’ any mention of the great labour of weary nights and days lie spoke of. The. mcetmg seemed to be of the same mind, for, notwithstanding that the ease was handled with great power, it failed to call forth much applause. The reason for this is not difficult to understand. A suspicion exists, underlying the whole, that oven in this matter Mr Wakefield is not heartv. Mention was made of a letter sent In him by one of the members of the County Council who, ho'said, was in favour of bringing the Act into force, for the very purpose of assisting the Milford harbor scheme. Not one in the room seemed to believe one word of this statement. We have asked the two members of the Temuka Riding, who both deny having written to Mr Wakefield upon ihe subject, or ever dreamt of such a thing. We would like to see tin's letter. ’ One thing it showed to all, that it was more than likely the member for Geraldine made this letter a text for his sermon on the Counties Act whim discussing this matter with the electors of the other ridings. Touching the Counties Act movement Mr Wakefield claimed a right to act as he pleased, independent of his constituents. This, wo think, is carrying the rights of the citizen a little too far. If a gentlemen, who has no pecuniary interest in a district, manages in some way to get himself elected as its representative, surely it is not too much to expect that he will guard the interests of the community who place such confidence in him. Not so, says Mr Wakefield, and lie acts upon this opinion or statement in a way that is calculated to turn out most injurious to the electors of the riding, and plainly tells the ratepayers that it is his right and privilege to do so. This way of setting tho electors of the Geraldine provincial district at defiance is not reassuring, and will go far to settle the question whether or not he is to be our member any longer than till a dissolution of the Assembly. The member for Geraldine, as we have said, has a great gift for holes in other men’s works, but ivo seldom find him giving them credit for doing any good. The present Government —although by a far-seeing policy it stepped in in time, by the District Railways Bill, to secure tho remnant of the Crown Lands of the Middle Island being swallowed up by the hungry North Islanders—never receive one word of praise from the member for Geraldine. On the contrary, that scheme is delineated ns being a scheme for (In benefit of the districts where the different Ministers are pecuniarily interested. Otago is blamed, or rather Mr Macaudrew is blamed, for looking out for Otago, forgetting that the area of Of ago is nearly twice that of Canterbury, and that compared with it we are, as regards railways, well off'. It cannot he denied, however, that we are at the present Rum uot h; this i—spect working satis-

factorilv. In thN wi> are ourselves somewhat to hhum;. All through JVlr Wakefield's address thuv is to he scon the germs of it future opposition to Sir George Grey find the present Government, which it will be well for its to watch. Whatever fault the presi nt Premier may have, no one can 'accuse him ot legislating' for Ins own interest or that of his friends. So far as this district is concerned lie has been the best friend that we have met with. He not only promised to do what he could for our so much needed Milford harbour, but he has also, with Ids Government, most liberally relieved ns of any more expense in connection with preliminaries, surveys, &c. -Not only did the Grey Government do this, but with a wise foresight they reserved the 40,000 acres that is available for (ho purposes of construction when Sir J. Goode’s report comes to hand. We mistake the feelings of the people of (ho Temuka Riding if they are in sympathy with a gentleman who takes delight in (Tying the present Government down. Wo sha'l also he surprised if Mr Wakefield is ever again elected as the member for this district. These remarks are not dictated through any vindictiveness, hut purely in view of the fact tha t it will not suit this district to have a member whose interests are so centred in Tirnarn. The interests of Timam are not identical with ours, and although w:■ have managed hitherto to get along together in some way, it cannot ho denied that if Mr Wakeiiehl had the same interest in the ladings north of Timaru as he has in that township, wo would have had .a much more useful nvinher. Lookinghack to the last three sessions we find all that he lias done for us, barring the Milford Harbor Rill, may be termed nil. We feel certain that the great majority at the Saturday meeting came away stronger of opinion than ever that, ns regards the High School business and the County Council business, the member for Geraldine has been serving the interests of Timaru and sacrificing those of this district.

Temuka Mechanics’ Institute. —The usual monthly meeting of this Institute was held on Friday, ihe 3rd last. Present, Messrs Meudelsun, Wareing, Martin, and Fildes, the latter in the Chair. The Librarian’s report, announcing three new members, was read and considere 1 The matter of repairs to binding, recommended by him, was deferred until the next monthly meeting. Satisfactory evidence was brought before the Committee proving that one hundred copies only of the combined rules and catalogue had been order'd from the ‘Timaru Herald’ Printing Office. It was resolved that Lo 10s, the contract price for that number be tendered in payment. It, was then resolved that Messrs Macfarlane and Carlyoii be nap tested to act as auditors for the past year ; that the annual general meeting be held on Friday, the 17th insr, end that the same be advertised once in the ioc.il paper.

The Land Tax. —The followingvaluers under the Laud Transfer A t are gazetted for Louth Canterbury John Bell Newton for Waimate, and part of Mount Cook Distrids ; Andrew farter, for Makikihi ; Francis John Wilson, for the Borough of Timaru ; Fram-is Worcester Rtu’ihs, tor the Geraldine Road District, Leva’s Road District, pat t of Mount Reel Road District, Temuka R.nad District, and part of Mount Cook District.

Wrestling. —Tyson; the Champion of Otago, again defeated Tiiomas, of Victoria, on Monday.

Board of Education, Timaru. -Wo would call the attention of School Committees to the fact that several members for the above Board will have to be elected by the counties before the 31st of this month, to fill the places of Messrs Bellfield, Barclay, and Tate, who retire by ballot, and also of Mr Grainger, who lias i-esigned. As it is a matter of importance for country districts to have representatives rvho will look after their interests, wo would advise them to be looking out for good men to fill the vacancies. 0a dit, the old saying “ When rogues fall out honest men get their own,” is likely to be verified once more. We hear of a rupture likely to take place between the Timaru School Committee and the Board. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

R. M. Coxjiit.— W, Boyle was yesterday charged before Mr Campbell with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting the police. P Thoreau proveal having found him drunk and disorderly. On the way to the lock-up prisoner delliberately assaulted him, kicking him severely on the shins. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and expressed his sorrow for what he had done. Promising to return to his work up country, and having been locked up twelve hours, he was dismissed with a

caution. Holloway's Oixtmext —Bad legs, wounds, ulcers, and all descriptions of sores are cured by the proper and diligent use of these inestimable preparations. To attempt to cure bad legs by plastering the edges of, the wound together is folly, for siiouid Ihe skin unite, a bogey, diseased condition remains underneath, to break out with tenfold fury in a few days The only rational and permanent treatment, as indicated by nature, is to reduce the infiiuuation in and about the wound, to the neighbouring nerves, to cool the heated blood as it courses along its vessels, and to render its watery, ichorous discharge consistent and healthy. Holloway's Pills should likewise he taken to purify the blood and expel the noxious humour frmn the system.