MARLBOROUGH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10215, 8 December 1893, Page 6

MARLBOROUGH.

Havelock, Nov. 30. 0£ course the telegraph has conveyed the intelligence that our local contestant for political honours has again won a great victory over his opponents. Me Everett’s supporters felt aura of winning tho fight, the “ wish being father to tho thought; ” but the supporters of Mr C. H. Mills had the tangible fact to back them that ea their client had shown by his past three years’ work that he had accomplished more good for tho whole of hia electorate than any predecessor the practical sense of the constituents would tell its tale through tho medium of the ballot bos. Had the Eev J. G. Andrew held different political views (being a well-known and able man) ho might have made a better score, but the Liberal policy ot the past Government has spoilt the taeto of the people for Conservative representation, eo that ho only polled seventeen votes in the Marlborough portion of this electorate We have heard a great deal lately of the Mormons amongst tbs Maoris in this district, and as a gathering of tho Native race was announced to ha held at tho pah bayoud Canvasfcown, to celebrate the opening of their new social hall, and to join in the mission services of the Latter Day Saints last Sunday, quite a large number of Europeans assembled to witness the proceedings. If they expected anything of an unruly nature they were grievously disappointed. What they saw was a large assemblage of cleanly-attired and well-coc-ductcd civilised people, dark in skin, but polite and courteous to strangers. A Mormon was concluding his address, a hymn was sung, in which even tho youngest joined, and whatever the words it must have been a hymn of praise. After this service of devotion dinner was served in tho new hail in thoroughly European style, grace being said by one of tho elders. Afternoon service was held for tho benefit especially of Europeans, 'and the elder spoke very fluently on the object of the mission and tenets of their creed. Certainly in this discourse no doctrine was declared that could offend tho most fastidious Presbyterian, and the silent attention of a hundred and thirty people was sufficient evidence of the interest taken. In a conversation I had with one of these missionaries, he said that in accordance with the dictates of our Great Master, Christ, they were sent all over the world, two and two, to preach tho gospel to the heathen without scrip or paras, and after five years' service, funds were sent them to enable them to rattan to their friends and home. Whatever prejudices may exist against these missions, it is evident that they ate influeuoing the Native raco to good actions, and abstinence from drink; and this suggests itself to my mind: What are the churches in our midst doing in the. same direction? Suroiy, when we have need of such mission work at home, it is a f shame to send labourers to other fields until tho harvest here ‘is'gathered in, and Maoris and whites led to join in one common service to our Maker without distinction or difference. .Blenheim, Dec. 2. The election is over, and, Mr Buicfc, “barring accidents,” is now our representative for the next three years. Conclamatum cst, pocu’atum est, we have shoaled, wo have drunk (especially tbs latter), and it now only remains to congratulate Mr Buick, and having regained our mental equilibrium, keep it till the next elsciiou. Tho large majority of over 300, gained by the winning candidate, shows that.he has gained confidence' among the electors, and it is also evident that the Liberal Government is very'popular in this place. Such an easy win came somewhat as n surprise to most people, and. all the more eo since both papers opposedMr Baick’a return. And he furthermore succeeded in tho, face of 'the fact that two block voles were given, 1 or supposed to bo given, 1 to his, opponent Mr Sinclair, viz., the Catholic vote and that of the Licensed'Victuallers. Last Sunday in tho Catholic Church Father Macharaara said that, in tho Catholic interests, ho would like to see Hr Sinclair returned, and this expression of opinion by the priest to hia flock at once raised.the spirits oi the Sisclamtes, and they made perfectly sure of success!. There can be no doubt,: -however, that all the Catholic electors did not vote for the chosen candidate. Mr Duncan, tho other candidate, was a long way behind Mr Sinclair, indeed he gave up all hope of success at. noon on tho polling dsy. It is supposed that he came forward this time only as a preliminary for his appearance at the next election. The ladies are to be congratulated on their first appearance at the poll. Their presence seemed to have a. refining effect during the whole day. Mr Buick thanked the electors from the window of the telegraph room, and received a perfect ovation. Ho expressed sincere goodwill to ilia late opponents. Mr Sinclair, in thanking the electors through tho newspapers, eeems to take his defeat badly. He expressed a belief that there would be aaoCher election in a few months, and he says that if a Conservative candidate had not split the votes, the electors would nob ba in their present position—uara presented in Parliament. On Wednesday last tho Marlborough Dairy Factory, lately built at Spring Croak, was formally opened by Mr Buick, M.H.E., in the presence of one hundred people. The management of the factory is given to Mr Marshall, lately of the North Island, and in bis hands success is doubtless assured. Tho arrangements, machinery, and the whole working of the factory are really excellent, and great praise is due to those farmers and local men who have for some time past been agitating for the institution of the industry. The factory haa now commenced operations. At the Supreme Court, in the case of Lammas for assault with intent, the prisoner was found guilty of common assault, and Sentenced to twelve months’ hard labour in Wellington gaol. The civil business was finished on Saturday morning. A heavy rain has been falling for twentyfour hours, and will prove most beneficial to the crops. A “ fresh” was caused in the rivers, and this " Antipodean Venice” was very nearly converted again into a watery waste. However, the rain haa stopped, a bank has broken, and the waters have subsided. We breathe again.