LOWER MATAURA.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 353, 1 February 1871, Page 5

LOWER MATAURA.

(From a Correspondent.) We have now had our share of electioneering meetings. Messrs Reid, Denniston and Kinross have addressed us. Mr Denniston's meeting wj.s quite a success in its way, though not very demonstrative. Our electors see that he is a very fair speaker, honesb, and ontspoken in his opinions. ' a friend to the Hundreds system and a foe to the Financial Scheme, so they vote him their confidence, and it is believed every liberal voter will support him. Had Kinross been a better man, and been better' supported in Southland, he might have drawn a fair share of the "Rough Reds," the " Irreconcileables " to his side but to vote for Kinioss being as things stand anonymous \fith voting for Bell, all prejudices are laid aside to secure Dennisfcon's return. , .Mr Denniston got severely crossquestioned on the Hundreds Regulation Act, and pasased through the ordeal very satisfactorily. Next Mr Reid gave us a flying call. He did not se'm to have a single opponent present at the meeting, for every hand, without exception,"-was raised in his favor. His audience" were roost enthusiastic -in their applause. Mr Kinross, -(perhaps rightly jndg-' ing thai; ho Tni.^ht find noinc di'Honlty in securing .. numerous ;iu3icujcb for 3, E^ecwl

meeting; for himself took advahtge -pf jfis ; Reid's gathering. I fear the result was nol gratifying, for at the conclusion of his address; members of Mr Dennisfcori's committee plied him with questions as to whether he would be willing to withdraw if he saw that his canvass was hopeless and was requested to do sio by a number of his avowed supporters. . Mr Kinross, notwithstanding his patriotism, seemed rather dog-in-the-mangerish. for he refused under any circumstances to withdraw. It is to be hoped, that he will re-con-sider his decision. To split the votes is now the aim of the squatting party, and we may be sure they only too, gladly hound on Mr Kinross with delusive hopes and expectations. It has occasioned some surprise here that the Returning Officers' advertisement of the Mataura election has not appeared in your columns. We are atill without any candidate for the Provincial Council. The Tapanui electors, I believe, favor Mr.Bradshavsr, but would prefer to see a local man elected. However, the liberal electors seem determined ta waive a point rather than to split the votes. I>r Menzies ia understood to have declined to izi&Tad'. .:. „ v ~ 'Our-h'arvest will commence very shortly now, the crops being everywhere very heavy. Settlers who have recently visited the Taieri and Tokomairiro say that in every way the yield promises to be better than in those districts. Several sections of unimproved land have changed hands lately at from 35s to L 2 per acre, and the prospects of the district generally seem very encouraging The annual Soiree of the Wyndham public School ia to be held on Tuesday, 7th Feb.