ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1128, 16 September 1879, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

September 14, 1879. The two elections here, last week, are ' have left no bitterness of feeling existing on either side^ The Native Election fo? the Western District was, as might been expected, a very one sided affair, Major Te Wheoro polling all the votes, which I Wer( k h , owev , er > no* so numerous as they would have been, had not Tawhiao interdicted his people from taking any part in the election. For the Waipa Candidate, there was, in the early part of the day, great energy displayed by the supporters of Messrs Whitaker and <Gpuiingham, to secure the native votejf,' who were generally the first to roll up to the poll, the winning candidate's, friends, I am inclined to think, however, succeeding in their endeavors, and polling them to a man. All went off quietly, without recrimination or wrangling, until half -past four o'clock, when the result was declared, which was received with cheers, as well as the returns that were received from other places, as they arrived. I observe you have, as well as the Auckland papers, in your list, .placed- Major Te Wheoro down as an entire supporter of the Government. I fancy he should, from a speech made by him to some of his supporters and Europeans here, on Friday last, rather be classed as an independent member. It was to the following effect, and has given great satisfaction here, the people generally considering that the Waipa Constituency has now two Members, instead of one, to advocate our interests : — He said: — "'He most heartily thanked the electors who had placed him at the head of the poll, as the respresentative of the Western Native District. He had not been placed in that position by any undue Government or other influence, or by the means of money, but only by the spontaneous unanimity of the people themselves in his favour. He would have been above securing his election in any but a straightforward manner. He did not, on the present oocason, intend to fully explain his political views, but would do so on Monday next, when more of the people would arrive." Major Te Wheoro then addressing the Europeans present, went on to say that, "When he first arrived at Alexandra, the di strict was in a most unsettled state, in constant apprehension of the natives. Now, he was glad to say, they all mixed together in friendly relations. They all sat together, talked together, laughed (together, eat together, drank together, and slept together. (Laughter). Although he was returned to parliament, as a member to represent the interests of the native race, he was going to do his best for both races, and he hoped, ic conjunction with the pakeha members for Waipa and Waikato, to advance the interests of this district in particular; and if the pakeha wanted good roads, or anything for the good of the district, that would not interfere with his duty to the native racei tue y would always have Ms support." Mr Finch, on behalf of those present, spoke a few words, expressive of the good feeling that had always existed between Te Wheoro and the inhabitants of Alexandra, and thanking him for his remarks. Three hearty cheers for the Major terminated the proceedings. To-day a number of Maoris are expected up from the Thames and other places, when a dinner is to be given to the Major by both pukehas and Maoris here. A daaca will wind up the proceedings.