WAIKAIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2152, 23 May 1895, Page 22

WAIKAIA.

May 20. —0n Monday last Mr W. Fraser, M U.K., nddiesscd his constituent! 1 , at Bell's Hall. The weather was favourable, and there was a large attendance of *lectois. Inter alia he stated that he would lwve been among them sooner, but that lie had been waiting for the Minister for Mine, whom he had intended to conduct over th« goldtields of his district. Afc tbe last moment he found that the Minister (Mr Cadinan) could not come. He bhowed that to the Opt osirion and the Upper House were mainly due the thanks foi the amended forms in which many bills had become law. He dealt with the Consols Bill, and mentioned that whereas the Government hud introduced it apparently for the purpose of giving the people a safe investment for their tavings, the leal rea-on was to enable them to raisa money ; and as bearing out his contention ho said that the Government had, as far as tho public were aware, ooly disposed of £150 000 worth of these consols. They sold them tn tho Bank of Now Zealand, and the proceeds were lodged with the Colonial Bjnk. He gave a histoiy of the Advances to hettlers Bill, mentioning the various stages through, which it pasbed before it became law ; referred to the question of local govcM.ment and charitable aid, dealt very fully with the Horowhenua Block scandal, and touched on the several Labour Mils. He 3tated that he had done his beit with regard to t&O Swi zers-Riversdnle railway, having had their petition parsed through, ou which a favourable report was given, winch lie was sure would bo of us- when the time came for allocating mo i-vs for projected railways. On the conclusion < f his addiess, and after some questions hao been asked, Mr Eraser received a warm vote of confidence. Band of Hope —Some little time shire a Band of Hope was inaugurated in our midst. The Rev. W. H. Gray was appointed president, Mr H. Gr. Clarke vice-president, and Mi«s Matheson hon. secretary and treasurer. They meet every alternate Friday. At the last meeting some hymns were sung, and the following members and others contiibuted songs and readings : — Mrs llobson, Misses Violet Taylor, W Hirdrnan, E. Sptoat, N. Watson, A. Robson, Mr Aitkin, and Masters W. and H. Tretheway and W. M'lvor. Mining.— At the last sitting of the Warden's Court Mr George Munro was granted the right to prospect two miles of the Waikaia river near a spot locally known as the Landslip. The dredge on L'oinc Creek i 3 still at work, but with what success is not generally known. Changes —A rumour is current to tho effect tint the local policeman, Constable Heihhy, is to be lemoved.