STRATFORD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1136, 8 December 1893, Page 16

STRATFORD.

The great day has come and gone which has decided upon the member who is to represent us for the next three years. The result shows the effect of energetic personal canvass, and of personal feeling in swaying an election. The believers in the present Government are numerous in Stratford. They know that it is doing the best for the people, and they do not favour land grabbing and speculation, or meddling with the schools, and yet they have returned the man who favours these things, and they have rejected the man with the soundest views, but it was not on account of his views, but for other reasons. Mr McGuire’s followers were immensely active in his behalf, and on Monday, the day before the election, ladies were making a house to house canvass, promising to those who wished it to bring vehicles to drive them to the polk

No such efforts were resorted to by the friends of the Government candidate, who appear to have relied entirely upon the excellence of his political addresses. The McGuirites provided themselves with quite other arguments in the shape of eggs and flour with which they tried to convince people of the superiority of their candidate. It is sad to relate that they even had the indecency to pelt a house where several ladies were lying ill with the measles. Perhaps a certain amount of license must be allowed at election time, but it ought not to extend to waste of food and inhumanity.

All day on the 28th voting went on quietly but unremittingly, traps of all kinds arriving at the polling booths, also equestrians and pedestrians, men and women, all quietly voting entirely undisturbed. At Stratford the streets were thronged but quiet until night, when the darkness favoured the larrikins with their eggs and flour. Extras were published at the local printing office as the election returns were sent in, and at last it became known that Mr McGuire was again elected.

Inglewood appears by the returns to have had to vote not only for Egmont, but also for New Plymouth. The schools in this district are under-

going examination, but cannot be expected to show very good passes, on account of the extraordinary amount of illness and bad weather that prevailed through the year.

Mr Murray, the Inspector, had a very narrow escape from a serious accident on his way to the Rowan Road School. His horse came down with him, and then dragged him a short distance until he extricated his foot from the stirrups. Several horse accidents are reported to have happened during the week, but the details are not confirmed.

The glorious weather we have been enjoying turned to rain on Thursday, and heavy dull skies, with intermittent light rains, have continued since.

Besides a mail coach which Mr McGrath has started between. Stratford and Toko, Mr Hewer announces that he will run a daily express, and Mr Marshall announces that he will run an express on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and oftener if business requires. Traffic between Stratford and Toko must be pretty considerable to warrant all this.