WAIRAU ELECTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 23, 27 January 1912, Page 7

WAIRAU ELECTION.

ENQUIRY IN MARCH. No definite date has been fixed for the hearing of the petition against the return of Mr. R. M'Callum as member for Wairau, but it is probable that the enquiry will be heard at Blenheim on 18th March and subsequent days, if necessary. Probably Sir Joshua Williams and Mr. Justice Chapman .will occupy the Bench.

As the result of the long spell of dry weatKer experienced on the East Coast, the Tokomaru freezing works have had to cease operations owing to the shortage of water. The fresh water supply used by the works was drawn from a dam constructed in the Waihi Creek above the works. This dam, which , formed a reservoir, has a capacity for 30,000 gallons of water. With the con- , tinuous dry weather — a gentleman from the Coast stated they had only had . some light showers for five' months — [ the creek has dried up, and consequently no fresh water is available for the 1 works. 1 One of the members present at the ; meeting of the Farmers' Union on Thursday, at Palmerston North, men- ■ tioned that since the increase of pay > had been granted to mates on coastal vessels there had been an increase in a the freights on wool on the East Coast s at the rate of 6d per bale, and general "•oodfl at the rate pi &s 6d £er ton. "