GLYDE.

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

GLYDE.

jjecimoer ji.— ihe election ovor, we aie again in a position to appreciate the usual-hum-drum of everyday life, and mayhap congratulate ourselves upon the manifest good fortune which debarred us being active prin-,piV-als on the Opposition side in the recent campaign. Here r.t Clyde the day of election was an unusually quiet one, the close holiday observed by the hotels havh.«j the effect of adding to the general tone of quiet x'hich prevailed even up to and including the time at which the various returns • for the electorate A - ere made public. Of'course the upper end of the eleciorate makes a boast of upsetting the aims of the electora at the south end — the fact being that *Mr Rawlins secured a big majority in the southern portion of the electorate, where, I presump, the merits of the two candidates were best known, and moat likely appreciated at their true value. From Roxburgh southwards Mr Rawlins was favourite, securing a majority throughout, which it was hoped he would maintain in the northern end. No feuch luck, however, was in store for him, the result of tlif polling in the northein end giving Mr Bennet an overwhelming majority. From the outset it was apparent that the Government^party hoped to score a decisive victory even in this electorate, but the most sanguine scarcely thought it possible to inflict such a hopeless defeat upon Uie Opposition as tliut w24sii lias

been announced from the polling booths throughout the colony. So much for the unexpected. Like good colonists we are still prepared to face the chances consequent upon aiiotber Seddon regime, relying, as we well may, upon our ultkaate power of veto when the colony awakens to the gravity of the dangers now threatening it through its political mill.

An Appreciation.—Allow me to say that, -amongst others of your many readers, I fully appreciate Major Kennedy's '" Notes on The War." The "notes ' are admirably descriptive, where the vagueness of the cablegram tends to mystify, and the knowledge of military tactics possessed by Major Kennedy is such as would constitute him a reliable authority upon the movements of troops in active warfare, though he were thousands of miles distant from the scene of action. The Daily Times and Witness newspapers deserve congratulations in their acquisition of so desirable a contributor to the absorbing topic of the day—the Boer war. Greeting.—To you, Mr Editor, and staff, and to my fellow country correspondents, I send Christmas greetings and good wishes for a happy New Year.—[A greeting which we heartily reciprocate.—Ed.]