DUNSTAN ELECTIONS,&c.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 283, 3 July 1873, Page 6

DUNSTAN ELECTIONS,&c.

(To the Editor.)

Sik, — It- just went rambling across my mind the other day that it must be a very long time since you had a scrape of a pen from me, and I must admit now I have roally got very little to communicate to you of either good or bad report about the district. At the very best of times, I am sorry to say, none of us are over rushed with business. For the last fortnight business has been almost suspended, and we have become would-be politicians in our own small way. The first move on the board to arouse our policical cravings wa3 the arrival of Mr. Reid's right bower, in th°. form of Mr. G-illies, who was aping for the Superintendency of the province of Otago. He delivered a very rusty rambling address in the Clyde Hotel Assembly Room, tie commenced with the truraptedup constitutional question, which I really believe almost every man in the room put down as nothing else but electioneering bunkum. He dwelt at some considerable length upon the actions of the late Goldfields Secretary, and called him almost everything but a gentleman j and spoke of progressive measures regarding railways some ten or eleven years ago, and wound up in his usual style with some sickening yarn about his land policy. During his address, he used the Reid pet word, " thwarting," to as many measures as- would almost fill a "Hansard." Previons arrangements had been all completed to propose a vote of confidence in Mr. (Militsi, .fete, extent was engaged for

the honor, so when his time came, up he starts with unblushing conu'dence in his abilities to complete the job, because he had had twelve years experience in the west of England proposing votes of confidence in gentlemen at kindrid stump meetings. It did not matter lo him what the man was, whether Whig or Tory, so long us he got tlie job. The vote of confidence was proposed, and as at all similar meetings where the case is weak and hopeless, it readily found a seconder ; an amendment wus proposed and seconded to febe contrary, and. when put to the meeting, the show of hands negatived the motion by four. However, to send the would-be Superintendent away with, the impression upon his mind that he had made the Clyde people all right, the Chairman gave his decision that the motion was cai*ried. Our sport then commenced ;in popped the Queenstown mail contractor, but he was just one minute too late to give us a sample of his elocutionary remarks regarding the golden policy of his much-esteemed and bosom friends the i£ei<Utes. Some ill-natured folks will have it that our Queenstown mail contractor wus at one time* in compmy with one of our Taieri politicians cutting colts together, and that is *he reason his brain has got muddled up to such an extent with their policy, and I udhers so strenuous 1 )* to tha Celtic clan | of the Taieri plains. Mr. Macandrew not appearing iv person to advocate his own cause, he snt>:>iemented the gap by forwarding his printed addresses und posters, which were duly circulated all round the town and Leaning Kock district. There was a strong committee formed to keep a sharp eye after his interest, and I aiu quite sure, from what T observed on the day of the polling and the final airangempnts made previous to it, that every legitimate move was brought to bear, so as to debit the account of their champion with a large majority of votes. I have just been informed th.it the Committee adopted a new mode of electioneering. They actually placed one of the lower animals (a cow) in a very prominent position in advocating Mr. Macandrew's return. A. gentleman who resides at the Oly<"l« pound was one of the most enthusiastic members ot tho Committee. He keeps a quiet domestic cow named Leverick. Clicks were firmly fastened all round Leverick and bills and addresses posted thereon, and for two days Leverick was to b e - seen trotting about the Dunstnn Flat an.l A Via Keri JCeri Valley, as earnestly advocating the cause of her candidate, as any oilier man, and who could blaaie her. The Superinfcondental election over all attention was turned towards the choice of a member tV the Provincial Council. Mr. Jas. rL\>z!ott\s Committee v/as very energetic, determined to use ail legitimate means to return their man. Their ambition must have been agreeably j satisfied. From the " Star," I observe a correspondent from Clyde appears to think the election was not conducted in a manner to satisfy his 1 vislics. This individual says that Mr. ILiLlett's Committee brought in some 50 votes from the Nevis and Bannock1 burn districts, which is one of the most cruel and untruthful statements that ever emanated from the pen of a correspondent. Certainly there were 8 voters came to the poll favorable towards Mr. Ilazlett's return as their representative, but only G were qualified to vote. Everything during the da) went ofi quietly. In the evening there was a bit of a baruej. John the ! Mason, one of the pugilistic adventurers, must have got into hot pinching quarters by his assailant, becau-e 1 heard him "ive tongue which sounded to my oar somewhat in urison with the usual key-note of a guinea-pig ; but after all tho brawl was over, very little bark was lost. Our I next event will be the election of Mayor and Councillors. Your correspondent of Juno 19th, and under the l heading of " Clyde Town Council, the Bridge, and the Ferry," speaks rather sarcastically about our Clyde Town Council — appearing to suckle " twr. calves ;" the one is the bridge, the other is the owner of the punt. "What does he mean ? I may here inform your correspondent, that tho latter calf, (Donald) is a nice sonsie over-grown stirk, and all the surplus milk the Clyde Town Council can pour into his pail will be quickly lapped vp — even without the aid oF a finger, aud will then not be satisfied, but will turn round wagging his tail and rout for mair. The closing remarks of your correspondent ai'e certainly very uncalled for. He hopes the press will succeed in arousing the sleepy Councillors. We have had really a progressive, good steady team in this year , they have worked harmoniously together, and pushed on public works with wonderful success. In this life unforsoen things will happen ; but we cannot call the Council to task for that. It may be, that John Frost w'll apply his monkey wrench in a few weeks to the retaining wall in Springstreet ; but, however, to prevent this, another touch of Councillor Auckland's green paint and putty, and perhaps a slight mixture of glue, will put all imminent dan^r at defiance. With the exception of the loss of the Councilors' model rake, I hear of nothing to dissatisfy the ratepayers with tlioir choice of Mayor and Councillors ; and I really cannot conceive what business your correspondent has to do with the working of the Clyde Town Coun?cil.-*-I RBV, 4&C.^ - &9QQ3&SS.