Hawke's Bay Herald SATURDAY, JANUARY 20,1877.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3827, 20 January 1877, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1877.

Mr. Buchanan's failure to put in an appearance at the election meeting at Petane on Thursday occasioned a good deal of surprise, and a good deal of speculation as to what the reason could be. Mr Villers said he had received a note of apology in reference to the matter. We understand, however, that the note of apology was not from Mr Buchanan himself, but from Mr Bheehan. Mr Buchanan will shortly be out of the running altogether, if he does not take care. Indeed, we should already be disposed to bet on Mr Rhodes for the second place. The obvious reluctance of the former gentleman to come out with any programme is damaging him with all parties. He has Mr Sheehan and his friends straining every nerve for him. Afc the same time he is endeavoring to remove from the minds of Mr Ormond's friends the impression that he will oppose him. "We do not think that he is altogether insincere in the latter professions. He is, it seems to us, very likely to co-operate with Mr Ormond, in matters in reference to which it would be desirable that he should oppose him, and to judge from his backers, he is quite certain to oppose him in matters in regard to which he ought to co-operate with him. Mr Rhodes somewhat misinterpreted the views expressed by the press in describing it as alleging that it was a crime tobe rich. "What we said on the subject was in the way of prediction rather than in the way of admonition. Afc the same time we may say that we do think that, in the existing circumstances, other things being equal, a moderately well-to-do man is preferable for the position of third Hawke's Bay member to a very wealthy landholder. If Mr. Rhodes were not a wealthy landholder himself he would be the first to tell us, in the blunt downright fashion that we sincerely ailmire, that " the farce " of political disinterestedness "is pretty well played out," that where the interests of the very rich and of the struggling settlers come into collision a member who is very rich is certain to go for the former. If we are to have a large landholder, we could wish none better than Mr. Rhodes, as we believe thoroughly in his independence. The arrangement for the purchase of the ss-land at Patangata, which, we believe, was brought up by Mr. Burton at the "Wairoa meeting, and since that by Mr. Sutton afc Petane, is telling seriously against both the candidates who were engaged in it. From all that we can hear, those who do not like Mr. Sutton and those who do will both have to make the best of him. He is getting, unless j we are much misinformed, almost uni- j versal support at "Wairoa, also very I large support, especially since Mr. j Stuart has retired, at Meanee, Tara- j dale, and Puketapu ; the Hastings j vote will be mainly in his favor, and it may be fairly anticipated that he will poll two -thirds of the town. His native transactions, taken in connection, especially with the present position of the Omaranui Block, will no doubt turn much support away from him, and that, support of a character which any candidate would be very desirous of seeing at his back. At the same time, with many of those who raise this cry, we are disposed to question its hona fides. Captain Read was nofc understood to be too particular in his native dealings, yefc the circumstance did not deprive him of the support of what may be called the Conservative element, which is now to a i large extent dead against Mr. Sutton. !

The tangi, it will be remembered, was ' to have taken place on Wednesday, and j would bave taken place, had it j not been for the rain. The seven 1 or eight hundred natives who wore ' in town had to be housed and provided for. The authorities are indebted to the Union Rowing Club for giving ' them the use of their boat-shed, where a number of Tareha's people were put up.

Uenata's people and tie rest were housed in the immigration/ cottages near . the railway station, at the Government Maori Hostelry on the White Road, in Paul Kaiwhata's house on Gough Island, and in tents adjoining. The natives had altogether only 130 stand of arms with them, and these they stowed away for the most part, in the evening, in Inspector Scully's office. We Hear that Mr. Douglas M'Lean's speech, created a very favorable impression on them. Karaitiana Takamoana was the only chief of any degree of prominence who absented himself. He had made a false move in staying away from the funeral, and apparently did not see his way to retract it. His j brother, Henare Tomoana, was present;.