NOTES FROM THE WAIRAU.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 222, 19 September 1887, Page 4

NOTES FROM THE WAIRAU.

(From our own Correspondent.) There is scarcely anything fresh to report with regard to politics. The Wairau candidat ;b have finished all tbeir addresses, and are now taking a rest preparatory to speechifying again on the nomination day, whilst, the Waimea-Picton aspirants arc rapidly getting through their formidable looking lists ss advertised in the papers. The meetings being-over, public interest iu the result of the elections appears to have subsided somewhat ; but this is only a temporary lull, and theiexcibtment will break out wiih renewed vigour a8 the polling day approaches. There is a little wagering going on over the resul s bub very little ; and I have heard of 4 to 1 being offered and takeu on the double Dodson and Seymour. These odda (-peak for themselves. At present I see no reason for altering the " tips " I sent you in my last letter, although I hear Mr Harkness bus gained a lot of ground in Marlborougb, where he came an almost entire stranger. I see Mr Seymour has had an adverse vote of a very pronounced character at Havelock, which looks rather awkward, but then in must be remembered that Havelock is Mr Mills' s'.ronghold— and about, the only cne, ioj, by the way. By the by I noticed a letter in the Colonist of August 16, signed " Wakatu," takiDg exception to my tip for the Waimea-Picton electorate, and apparently greatly favoring Mr Mills. It is not difficult to detect who " Waka'u" is, his V(ry signature betrays him, and as he s»ye, the truth should be told, I will ask him why on earth he does not bod the example by telling it himself. Again I should liko him to know that the runuing will be between Messrs Harkutss and Seymour and the contest promi-.es to be keen and exciting. Although "WakatuV champion, Mr Mills, will secure a good many votes, 1 am afraid '• Wakatu " will find that the number polled in his favor will nob le sufficient to "place him even second in the race. In writing as I have above on the WaimeaPicton eleotion, I had quite overlooked the fact of a fourth candidate being out for that seat. I must beg Mr John Godfrey's pardon. That gentlemen has issued in a late number of the Times a most elaborate address to the electors occupying about twelve columns, and this by way of a preface to future meetings. I cannot say for certain yet whether Mr Godfrey intends going to the poll. If he does there is some speculation whether he will secure a couple of dozen votes. But even this number may alter the result of the election amongst the other candidates. Poor Kichard Winter has gone to his rest, and in his death the press generally has sustained a severe blow. Although possessing extreme views on many subjects, what he wrote was always worth reading, and although many disagreed with what he said, there were few who could deny that his sentiments emanated from a clever pen. It was only in myiast letter I told you of Mr Winter having left tha Express and gone to the Times, which paper changed in politics to suit the new editor, and now I have to write about his death. Truly in " the midst of life we are in death." Speaking from a local point of view,' Richard Winter's early death is a great loss. Beside^ being a clever writer, be was a brilliant speaker and debater, indeed it was generally admitted that at the luncheon given to the Governor oh his late visit, no one delivered eo able and interesting a speech as Mr "Winter. The Debating Society almost owes its existence to him, and he was certainly its moving spirit, not only in the matter of taking part in the debates, but also by striving in every way to advance the Society. Besides this he took an active part in all manner of sport, particularly athletic sports of every description, and he held the position of officer of some sort in various Clubs. Speaking generally it will be a difficult matter to replace him. By his death Mr Macalister will also sustain a great loss. He was his warmest supporter, and his pen was ever busy in advanoing Mr Macalister's claims, and in picking to pieces the other candidates for the Wairau seat. The fire which was the cause of Mr Winter's death was a deplorable one. By it we lost an able man, and also an old settler well known throughout the district, and we cannot afford to lose such men as these. The result of the inquest on the body of the unfortunate man burnt to death was not by any means favorable to the landlord of the South Star hotel, and the rider the jury brought in was a severe one. The evidence disclosed the fact that a great deal of drinking had been going on, some of the inmates having gone to bed drunk. It also came to light that although the Licensing Bench had ordered the landlord to place fire escapes, in the shape of ropes, in every room upstairs, this order had not been complied with. As might be expected therefore, an attempt is being made to have the license cancelled. Nearly all the legal gentlemen in the place were engaged in the case when it came before the Licensing Bench the other day, as of course those who had any interest in the hotel were opposed to the cancellation of the license. The case was adjourned for a fortnight, and in the meantime the Bench refused to grant permission to the landlord to Bell liquor in temporary premises. This looks very much as if eventually the license will be cancelled. It is very certain the hotel is not required at that site. It is only a few minutes walk from the centre of the town, where there are plenty of hotels which can offer far superior accommodation to that which was provided at the South Star. The wool returns are gradually coming to the district, and it is very much to be regretted that they are very far from being satisfactory. Each mail brings fresh tidings of woe." Some of the returns that have oome in show that Marlborough clips, which but a year or so ago realised as much as from Is 3d to Is s£d per lb in London, have this year been Boia at 9d to 9Jd, and at the present time there does not appear any chance of the market rising. Ido not know that it would not be better for equatters to give wool best and go in for rabbit breeding ! Wool at 9d per lb in these times does not pay ; but rabbit skinS at nearly 2s 6d per lb (that is about the price' now) do. Perhaps with a little care and attention the breed of rabbits might be so improved that they would double the present price. And talking about rabbits reminds me that many men have lately been earning capital wages by trapping and catching rabbits for the Meat Preserving Factories now at work in Blenheim. One factory, rejoicing in the name of Boga, (not Bogus, I hope, for the Bake of the owners) has .tinned nearly 40,000 rabbits during the last few months, and for these they were paying 38 per dozen. Now another Company has got under way and raised the price, so that employees can now get as much as 3s 6d per dozen at either of the factories. The result of so many rabbits being " consigned to the pot " is that within a few miles radius of Blenheim " bunny " is becoming decidedly scarce. Although a good many men are engaged in catching them the factories can do with more. But I expect in another month or so, when shearing begina and is over, so many store sheep will be sent to these establishments that rabbits will be put on one side until next winter, when the skins begin to inorease in value, and that the factories will be busy preserving and boiling down many thousands of sheep from the neighboring runs. There seems to be generally a good demand for preserved meats of any sort, so our local establishments should flourish. I hope they will. We are to have a Poultry and Dog Show in Blenheim next month. This has been talked abont for some time past ; but it is only lately an Association haq been formed for tho purpose of holding annual shows— of course the prizco this year aro naturally small ; but then Ido not suppose anyone owning first olasa dogs, or fowk«, or cauarics fee, buowb them for tho eako of tho monny, but more with a hopo of eventually becoming tho proud poKßuaaor of prtao Block of sonic eorl. Judging from tho auiouub of interest taken in the present Bbow uexfc mouth, I do not think there ia much doubt but that it will be a great success. Such an in'crcsting sort of exhibition should meet with large support from the public. There haabeen a narrow escape of another serious fire in Blenheim, and had tho outbreak on Saturday occurred later in the night, there ia no doubs the greater part of tho eastern portion of tha town, left intact by tho late big Ibhze, would have disappeared. Blenheim ia evidently trying to imitate Auckland in the matter of fires, and I fear before, very long we shall find the Insurance Companies putting the tcrew on in a very unpleasant manner. %. Buildings are rapidly appearing on the site of what is commonly called the " Criterion "