WAIMATUKU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 30

WAIMATUKU.

- December 11.—The great day has come and gone, and left-some of-us lauientiug that \ye have again voted in vain, others rejoicing in having "our man returned. ' I have heard it said that Mr Gilfedder owes his success to the removal of the county council offices from Rivterton to Otautau, for the 'Rivertonpeople carried their animosity so far as to vof.c against Mr Carmichacl,. who was instrumental in the removal of these offices, or they did not vote at all. Be that as it may, certain it is that if the centres—Riverton nvd Orep'uki — !had supported Carmichael as the county places did (in most of these he had a substantial majority), Wallace would now be represented 'by one of the few, instead of one of 'the many. But behind the scenes it it not a question of the Liberal or Conservative party so much as the introduction of the thin end of that wedge that will split up our New^Zea- ■ 'land Parliament into a still stronger party Government than at present; and the first blow given to this wedge will drive it to the neck into our education system. Floodß.—Although the Oreti and the Apa-' rima Rivers were flooded last week higher than they have been for years, we on the WaimatiikiT Flat escaped with the very low-lying •places being covered with water and the re-. "tardment of turnip-sowing. I heard it jocularly remarked that the flood was conveying the County Council offices back to Riverton lor election day.