ROXBURGH (from our own correspondent) July 14.

Otago Witness, Issue 1704, 19 July 1884, Page 11

ROXBURGH (from our own correspondent) July 14.

Tub Election.— Tho dissolution and geu^.' a ' election having followed each other S3 cicely, we n.">ve scasce'y hid tltno to thii.k of the momentous importauce of tho questions at kaue Tho election of a new Parliament should be considered a very important e^ent, a-.d no doubt it is in most parts of tho country. I sic by the DOWHpapcn !ha the conte&'t in soveral of the elutricts ia likoly to be a hot ono. I wish such w 8 the case hero ; but we have, unfortunately, eot into Buch a stato of apathy that tha world and the different events tho*eon re^olvo without our aid. Mr Vincent Pyke delivered an addteas on Friday last to a goodly number Of people, although I have seen much larger g .tberifacjs in Roxburgh on similar occasions. Mr Pyke epolfe for an hour and a-half on mdny of tho differoi-t topicj of the diy, find throughout his speech he abustd both tho Miuiafcry and Oppo- { sition in turn, and designated the late Parliament A3 in a state of rotten 1 Corruption. Ev* rj Body was dishonor, and nobody had ally policy* 1 hhOuld Efty it must be very unpleasant., indeed, for Mr Vincent Pyke to sit with such a brdy of men. I should imagine that if he believes

what he Fays he would be very careful fo get his pockets sewn up after receiving his hono r arium until out of Wellington anyhow. I am afraid Mr Pyke'a Loca! Government Bill wi'l not find many suppoitera in the House; at least it is to be hoped not

We have quite enough government already, and the fact that the bill cannot work with large boroughs is sufficient to condemn it. Borough Improvements.- Our Borough Cou icil are going to erect a few lamp-posts about the town, and a 1 jo intend to improve Scotland sti'eet — improvements which are much required, and will ba a boon to pedestrians. Bridge.— The contractors havo completed their contract iv connection with the bridge in a very creditable manner. The superstructure has yet to be built, but whore tho money is to como 'rom is the query. TbU work, when completed, will be a great boon to the district. Mining is progressing 'favourably, though water is not plentiful in all parts of the dioti iet, the season bo ng a very dry one. Weather — The winter so far has been oxcfptlonalle finp, hard dry frosts and lovely days bjing thy general rule.