INVERCARGILL.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 361, 29 March 1871, Page 7

INVERCARGILL.

(Prom oar ow | (Unavoidably held over fr6m onr last issue.' Theindflenis-ofthe week have noh beer much varied. The interest has chiefly centred on the races, which have come off, aric I .suppose I must say Satisfactorily, to those ■who are fond of the sport. For my ownpari although! confess to be an admirer of ' : th« noble animal," and to have done a little in horse .flesh, I am not a patron of- the turf, and not being acquainted with its rules or phraseology must refer you for information to the records. The nomination for the election of a member to serve in the Provincial Council for the Whaihopai district, took place here on Wednesday last, the candidates bein? Messfs John Blacklock and William Wood, both being men long connected with political life, and Mr Wood-having for several years had a seat in the House of Assembly. The show ! of hands having been declared in favor of Mr Blacklock, a poll was demanded by the proposer of Mr Wood on his behalf, arid the Returning Officer gave notice of the time and places at which the polling would take place, whereupon the assemblage commenced to disperse, the time of day having arrived at which men, according to their wont, do lunch or dine. The somewhat ludicrous episode which immediately ensued was however, held to be sufficiently grave in its probable results to retard and justify in retarding for a while the masticatory process. " May I ask, Mr Returning Officer, have the proceedings closed ? " asked an elector. "So far as the nomination of candidates is concerned," was the reply. " Well then," was the rejoinder, " I call upon you to declare Mr Bkckloek duly elected as the Act provides that the poll shall be demanded by the candidate himself or by not less than two electors on his behalf." This intimation of the provisions of the Act greeted with cheers on the one side and blauk dismay and elongation of the visage on the other was found to be coi-rect, and the Returning Officer w?s thereby placed in an awkward dilemma, only one elector having demanded the poll. Mr Wood himself then demanded a poll which 1 suppose will take place. Under the circumstances it would have been wise of him to have at once withdrawn as there is but small chance of his success, and in the event of it there is a possibility that some of Mr Blacklock's supporters may be disposed to test the validity of his election. .The election for the Aparinta district has terminated in the return of tire better man of the two candidates, namely, Mr Bastian, by a majority of seven. Mind you, I don't ' think very much of him, but [ know that he will not bring the office into contempt, and I am not sure that I dare say as much of the rejected. I am not aware lam accused of cynicism, and I may possibly set my standard rather too high, but as I shall probably some day ask you to travel with me over the ground along which 1 have travelled by myself. I have no fear of the judgment which time wilJ pass on my present judgment. Your obedient servant, to change the person, flatters himself he has measured and can measure to a shade the political characters and political aspirants in this quarter of Her Majesty's dominions. The meeting held on on Tuesday last for the establishment of a municipality, was a success, and the thing will be done under the Otago Ordinance. I may tell you in confidence I will not be Mayor To have greatness of that sort thrust upon me would spoil me altogether. Doctors report a case of Scarlatina this week, not Scarlet Fever, and with the qualification that it is very mild in its character.