LATE WAIKAIA ELECTION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 159, 23 February 1871, Page 6

LATE WAIKAIA ELECTION.

(To tJie Editor.)

Sir, — How can I express my satisfaction that Mr. Bradshaw has gained a glorious victory in the Waikaia district. I don't mean a victory over Mr. Dean. I know Mr. Bradshaw too well to think he would be pleased that his supporters should crow over a fallen foe. No ; tlie victory is not over the poor schoolmaster, but over the people of Switzers, who could see no interest in the Waikaia district but their own, and would like to have a representative all to theuiselves ; so they cast about for a suitable one, but could find none. At one time it seems a Mr. Bailey was talked about, but that gentleman having declined the honour, I suppose the lot fell upon their unfortunate schoolmaster, who, by dint of the praises bestowed by a small coterie upon his eloquence and ability, persuaded him that he would become an eminent statesman, and actually induced the poor man to give up his billet as schoolmaster to enter the arena of politics. Mr. Editor, djes not this remind you of one of JEsop's fables, where tho vain self-conceit of a crow was so worked upon by the artful flatteries of a designing fox, that at last the poor silly bird was persuaded it could sing, and to put the question to the test dropped a fine piece of cheese it held in its mouth, only to find itself ridiculed for its inordinate vanity ? But I digress, Switzers being more of a miniug community than Tapanui, it would not have been surprising that they should have given the preference to a candidate who should represent their own particular interests as against what might be termed a settlers candidate, but Mr. Bradshaw has proved himself sincere in his consistent support and protection of the working miner, at the same time he advocates the most liberal scheme of settlement I have yet heard propounded ; aud from what I myself saw and heard of Mr. Dean's policy (?) it is amazing that he should have obtained a majority among a community which we have been in the habit of crediting with a considerable share of intelligence and enlightenment. Perhaps, Mr. Editor, you can explain the mystery ; it is fraught with considerable interest, and its solution may do some good. Mr. Dean, it seems, promised the miners the abolition of the gold duty, but was unable to show how he would make up the loss of revenue. Of the seven votes he obtained here, one at least may be attributed to the circulation of a pamphlet in Tapanui a few weeks ago, called " The French Revolution," by F. J Dean, This was a lecture delivered by him at Switzers some time ago, which was printed and shelved at the time, but was reproduced and circulated gratuitously here during his election canvas. Hearing some favourable remarks concerning it, I read it through and found that he had bad the impudence to palm off a lot of extracts from Carlyle and other writers as his own composition, and circulated the pamphlet with a view to assist his canvass. As I sdd above, I believe one vote at least was gained by this move. It is rumoured that this gentleman will stand for the Mount Benger district in tho Provincial Council. If so, you shall hear more from A Resident op Tapani. Tapanui, February It, 1871.