WAIROA (Hawke's Bay).

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 40

WAIROA (Hawke's Bay).

December *1. — Residents of Otago, who for so long have had such conveniences as a regular^ railway service, cannot poseibly realise the inconvenience suffered in this part of the Dominion by business people^ and the travelling public. Our only modes of travelling are by steamer and by coach — the former most unreliable and the 'atter dreary and expensive. Of late we have had little room for complaint. Howover, a little variation was provided last week. On Sunday the Tan«?aroa, which was timed to leave'the wharf on Saturday, ibut had been prevented by heavy seas on the bar, loft the wharf at 9 o'clock. On nearing the mouth 6he ran aground. Billing worked astern the boat was soon got off; but in a few minutes she was again stuck fast, and it seemed as if she would be unable to get out. However, the vising tide proved of service. On crossing the bar she was struck by several heavy seas, the water apparently dashing right over her. The passengers were extremely lucky in getting away when they did, as in a very few hours a heavj; southerly gale sprang up, with the Usual a-esult, that the bar is not negotiable, on account of the amount of shingle drifted (inside the mouth.

Rowing. — Our river Is not now held up to us as a means of reproach for our neglect of its excellence as a boating river. The Boating Club is catering well for the pleasure of jte members* and the fouroar racing skiff and pair-oar pleasure boat? are in constant requisition. On Saturday the competition for the Oman medals produced come excellent, racing, considerable improvement in style being noticeable in most of the crew 3. The medal? were won by Henderson's crew (Henderson, Green, Pilcher, and Flint) from that stroked by Foster, whose consistent training put them into the final. *

Tennis. — The Tenis Club's tournament is now in full swing, and affords proof of the great inprovement effected in the play fey the steady and consistent practice indulged in br members. The Ladies' Singles liave been completed, the winners of the first and second prize trophies being respectively Miss Holis and Mis? Foot. Each of these ladies has shown wonderful improvement since the commencement of the •eason.

Bowlinpr. — The Bowling Club's opening 'day is spt for Thursday, and with fine •weather is certain to attract a large number of players and friend?. Elections.— Now that the contests are over it is interesting to review the results of the recent electoral and local option ballots. The Government has held its own in Hawke's Bay, this province Tetuminj? the four sitting members — all Ministerial — for Gisborne. Hawke's Bay. Waipawa. and Pahiatua respectively, and a new Ministerial aspirant for political ihonours in place of the sitting member 'for Napier. The Hawke's Bay electorate was one of tho few places in the Dominion where the second ballot proved favourable to the Government. Sir William Russell, who headed the list on the first vote, succumbing to a Liberal majority on the second occasion. The local option »rot-c» r ot-c proved that no-license is. not yet favoured *by a majority of the electors of thi= province, although particular parts of each electorate exoeeded the necessary threefifths majority. Surely it is something of an anomaly when liaJf-caefcee, living in purely Maori fashion in the pas, and quite unable to read or writer — men whose votp; can at any time be bought for a pint of beer and whose characters are. in many cases, of the Jowesfc type— should have tho gams right* as educated and highly-prin-cipled White men; while to the educated

T and respectable Maori, living in the most approved European fashion, the right to vote on this most important social question is denied.