WAIPAWA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3221, 26 October 1881, Page 2

WAIPAWA.

(from our own correspond_nt.)

October 25, 1881

In politics I am a Liberal—too liberal to be tied to any party. My vote and interest are therefore at the command of any better candidate than Mr Ormond. But I fear that that is just the sort of man who will not come forward and offer himself for dissection by any constituency. No sooner is a name mentioned for the honors of an M.H.R. then all his defects, real and suppositions, are pounced upon by his opponents party. Emulation at retaliation follows, and the result is, if we allow ourselves to listen to the rot, that we had better vote for the Devil, as a resident sober sbeepfarmer remarked, than for such blacklegs {vide Smith'a Tracks for the Times.)

Well, as to this better man. " First catch your hares." That's the little game the new-born electoral district of Waipawa is after. Why should chubby Waipawa hold on the old Olive's leavings. Mr Ormond has been our representative for many years, but what has he done for it? Wait till be stands on the platform of the Oddfellow's Hall and tells his own story. He has done those things which be ought not to have done, and has left undone those things which he ought to have done, and if any man asserts that he is not under tbe same condemnation there is no truth in him. Hitherto his reign has been autocratic. Mr Sheehan was the only Nihilist who has tried to shell him out. Mr Ormond has always had to depend upon his own judgment as to his action for the welfare of his constituents- -no one ever thought of interfering with his policy. If he attempted to hold a public meeting at Waipawa, Hampden, and other places, the people were quite content to let him alone, and rest in confidence that he could serve them best in his own way. So if he we_t wrong no one attempted to put him right. And Olive's representative is not a cypher in the House, tbe fetters of party are not handcuffs to him. He doggedly believes in one party—so did Oliver Cromwell —and there was and is no mistake about its unity.

Mr H« (our local political agent) says he has caught the hare as required. Tbe rabbit pest being so prevalent and pernicious, a careful inspection must be made in a future communication as to the genuiness of tbe genus. (To be continued.)

Pro bono publico. The dry bones of Waipawa are beginning to resuscitate. A little agitation rouses circulation. Some people don't like the healthy invitation at first, but after a time they quite enjoy it. Our billiard mem is again thrown open to every true Briton-; Tbe public table of the Empire Hotel is covered with the principal illustrated papers and other literary attractions so tbat the loss of the public library is to onme degree mitigated. Another good :ffbrt of a gentle bint hi's resulted in the fact that the public offices will have tbe regular attendance of the officials, who have very judiciously decided to give pv?cedence to the claims of the R.M. Court md County Council before their other subordinate appointments, which demand some a'tention. In confirmation of 'he adoption of this arrangement one of tbe gentlemen was overheard stating to his intimate friends tbat he fully appreciated the suggestion of your correspondent, which he considered verb sap, but the.t he declined to hamper the finances of the Council with half-a-crown a week for a cadet. Your country readers will be glad to know that for the future the County Council office will be open daily from 10 to 4, when the rate collector will be in regular attendance, and that the R.M. office will ako be equally attended to by the clerk on the days fixed by his chief on Wednesdays and Fridays irom 9.50 to 4.30. Out of the romance of the Waipawa M.-ori ccare, r.latcd in our last, has been sifted irom Ihe most reliable ru ho.Ly, the following unsentimcn'al narr. Live of a very simple incident. On tbe night'(Tuesday), 18th instant, Mr B. C. Mounbr, late agent of the Union B t ..k of Australia at WaipukuiT.u r wes privately entertained at the Tavbtock by a few friends previous + o his dep.rture to a better billet. Tbe brnking community and other gentlemen of Waipawa joined in the festivity, as recorded in extenso in our Local Velvet. On the return of tbe Waipawa party (all mouuted men) about midnight, Mr Baker _ steed, on nearing home, rushed ahead. The party having often experienced the forethought of hie generous nature concluded that he was gone before to prepare a for his followers. So let him go. On rv.'iviug at ibe Empire Hotol not a gound was heard, nor the slightest twinkle of a light "seen. Giving the usual signal, a gentle voice enquired, " Who's there P" In reply, "Has Mr Baker arrived?" Answer, "No." Sterne's recording angel dropped another tear and blotted out the remembrance of the losing fib. An accident had happened ! Gallantly the troop retraced their steps, searching the river bed, then scouring round the Maori pab, and breathlessly enquiring of each other, "Where is be? Where is be?" My first informant berne: of a timorous nature thought the wordi were "Te Whiti! Te Whiti!" The search being futile they returned to the hotel, and, again signalling, they heard a well-known J voice from beneath tht sheets. Mr Baker had ridden straight

home, where be was met by bis best friend, and immediately put into his little bed, and he waa comfortable. The Bachelor batch retired, and were soon in the grip of old Morpheus. Finis. Doctors in difficulties. A short time ago Dr. Hitchinge was reported to have met with an accident whilst driving. Recently Dr. Reed, of Waipukurau, was thrown from his horse at Tahorite, delaying his expectant return to the hospital for some hours. Late on Saturday night Dr. Todd was thrown from his horse near Hampden, whither he had gone late in the evening to attend a patient. The horse stumbled and fell violently forward, throwing the doctor heavily to the ground, causing a severe contusion on the right shoulder, which will prevent the use of the arm for some days. On Sunday Dr. Ton Mirbach was thrown from his gig in Corkscrew Gully, and fractured his collar bone. It is to be hoped tbat all will progress favorably.