The Wairarapa Daily WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3803, 6 May 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1891.

As we predioted, no outsider ba entered the field to disturb the purely party character of the borough election. Nine anti-Renalliiea are nominated, and nine come forward as Renallites, Two of the latter duplicate themselves with an outer and an inner ward, but fchjs probably means that there was a difficulty in arranging their fighting men, and this was confirmed by the wild rushing about for candidates and nominators which the party exhibited at the last moment. On the other side there were a plethora of eligible candidates, and the team was made up without the slightest trouble. In the west .ward Messrs E. E. Chamberlain, Capper and W. Perry, three of the old Guard, have to oppose Mr Graham and JKnigbts Cullen and Spackman. Should the Renallites carry a seat in this ward we trust jn the general interests of the town that Mr Graham will be placed. In this ward too, it is on the cards that Messrs L. J. Hooper and A. W. Renall may displace two Of their own candidates, but they Can only do this by giving away the outer ward. In the' eastward Messrs T. Dixon, E. Feist and G. Heron meet Messrs Eton, J. B. Hooper, andT, Wagg. Of the three latter Mr Wagg has the best chance, although Lieutenant Hooper will probably have a warm support from his captain, who evidently wants his fighting man in the Council Chamber. The outer ward presents perhaps more uncertainties than any other, though we anticipate that anti-Renallites like Messrs T. £. Chamberlain and J. Hessey ought to be pretty safe. Amongst the Renallites Mr E. Johnston will command a good deal of support, and if the grand old man and Mr L. J. Hooper decide to cast in their lot in this division the fight will be a pretty (close one. We might congratulate the burgesses upon having such a fair choice between Benallite3 and anti-Renallites, if we were batisfied that in the event of the latter being beaten their chief, would not seek to burst up the borough again.

The Governmental David,' who goes forth with a sling and a stone against the dummy Goliath, deserves credit no doubt, but it is possible even in btalking dummies topay too dearly tor one's whistle. We learn that in connection with a recent inquiry a coach load of village settlers were brought down to. Wellington to give evidence against an imaginary Goliath, but that when they were called up to say what they knew it, was found that virtually they had no evidence , ghc. Some were exnminsd, others it was thought unnecessary even to call and an impression, was created that the villagers had a little holiday trip at the Government expense in order that they might Bee the fun. Probably the cost of convening a* crowd of useless witnesses to Wellington and back would eat up the freehold yalue ofabhj bush section, but in these matters expense does not appear to be studied. No doubt when the House meets some inquistve member will ask for a return of the

expenses incurred by the Land Board in the late abortive inquiry, and it would be well if the enthusiastic liberals jn this district who write letters to the Government, telling theni about the dummy giants of the bush, would first ascertain whether they have . any evidence to support their accusations, or if they are too enthusiastic in the work to judge on this point srrely the Government ought, before undertaking a costly i enquiry at the' expense of the Colony, I satisfy itself that there is a prima facie case, A holiday trip for villagers may perhaps be worth paying for, but it should not be defrayed undet the delusion that it means the procuration of evidence.