The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Issue 173, 3 September 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1879.

Mb. Wakefield, the Conservative candidate for Geraldine, is not it appears to have it alibis own way. Mr. Henry Peldwick, a gentleman of considerable literary attainments, and possessing a thorough knowledge of the wants of this district, offers himself to the electors as a candidate for their suffrages. Mr. Leklwick is no stranger to us, and, being accustomed to mix with the working-class of farmers and» others, he may be relied upon as their true.’ riend. There is none of the la-dc-dah about , him, nor any humbug. He is, moreover, a man of truth and honor. Tin’s is wbat we need, hair promises we hare had by th 0 bushel, hut it was well-known that at' the back of these with the late member there lurked’a secret ambition for political honors and power which holds such sway oxer the possessor as deprives him of thrt freedom of thought and action so essential to success in local matters. Indeed, it is a notorious fact accepted by all that Mr Wakefield only makes the Geraldine electorate a steppingstone to power. Progress is no part of his policy. Love turned into hate his ruling pas, sion, love of applause his daily sustenance, with pride of family, ’and contempt o all who, in bis estimation, are east in a lower mould. Any generous bestowal of praise upon soch is considered by him an act of the greatest courtesy. In short he is a “ gentleman ” (?), or thinks himself one, which is to h’.m the same thing. Ho therefore lookaynpon it as great condescension on his part Itjs representing ns in Parliament at all, and’bvere it not that ho is buoyed up with the hope —a j forlorn one—of being invited to join the new j Government, ho would not trouble himself j about our little matters. It will he seen from our advertising columns that Mr P eld wick is a liberal in every sense of the word. His actions in the late Assembly prove him to ho a man of progress ; the land for the people being his watchword. It is a pity that Mr. Feldwick makes his ap- 1 pcaranco so late in the day. Defeated by two " votes in a bard contested election at Invercargill j his readiness to servo ns is proof that, ho i ■ a t «ok of deeds, and nA words. Mr. Wake- t

field’s went of popidavif j in tlio Temuka and Milford districts ensures a large support in those places for any honest candidate who isprepared to discharge his duties faithfully We can therefore promise him in these a laiige majority. We cannot say so much for Geraldine. That picturesque little town has become proverbial for its subjection to an “ uppish clique,”! which, although not numerous, has been sufficiently powerful to keep the inhabitants in thrall hitherto. It remains to ho seen whether or not they have sufficient independence remaining to enable them to shake off this yqko of bondage, blow that another chance is given them of choosing a man who has a fellow-feeling with them, or whether they will be cowards enough to place their nocks once more'under the yoke.

Mr. Feldwick will make the most of the short time allowed him in visiting the different parts of the district, of which duo notice will he given. Now that the Gladstone electorate is in arms against aland monopoly, and have determined to have a Liberal member ivqo will represent them, surely the Geraldine electorate will nob rest content under a Tory reign. Space prevents us from entering into the various questions manfully debated by Mr. Feldwick. Suffice it to say iu the meantime that he is a staunch guardian of the people’s interests, and as such ought to be supported by all who dcrire to have a fair footing in the land’they have adopted. Mr Feldwick is a strong supporter of the Local Option Bill.

Sir George. Grey.— The Premier, GSir George Grey, passed through Temuka, en route from Dunedin to Christchurch, by a cpecial train on Sunday afternoon. He did aot stay here, as was expected On Tuesday, August 20, an entertainment was given in the Wesleyan Church, Geraldine, in aid of the new harmonium fund. The minister of the circuit presided, who, after expressiog regret at the paucity of the attendance, called upon Miss Mein to open the entertainment by a pianoforte solo, which was performed with considerable taste and skill. The choir, under the able leadership of Mr T. Sherratt, rendered several anthems in a very creditable and efficient manner. The remainder of the programme was filled up by a pianoforte solo, from Miss Mein’s skilful hand, excellent recitations by Miss Maslin and Mr T. Sherratt, two readings on matrimonial life by Mr King, in his usual elocutionary style, and a short humorous address from the Rev G. Barclay. The rev gentleman promised to deliver on a future occasion a lecture in aid of the harmonium fund. Votes of thanks to Miss Mein and the other ladies, to Mr Sherratt, who had been most assidions in his efforts to make the concert a thorough succe s, to Kev G. Barclay, and to Messrs Hughes' and Sherratt, who had kindly lent the piano and harmonium, and •the Bingiiig t National Anthem, brought a very-interesting meeting to a close. ;•*.

News was received here, to-night that a -party near Te Aioha, at a blocirhumed Perihnna, had been shot at by a party of natives, and it is feared some have been killed. A half-caste named Powdrell came into Pari ora yat to-night with the. news that,a surveyor’s assistant named McWilliams had been shot in the thigh, and wasjma,king the best of his way to Pariora. Assistance was sent out at once. Ho stated that he and surveyors Crump and Bayldon were cutting lines, when they observed,, a party of Maoris in in the bush with rifles pointed at them, and at once shots were fired. The wounded man, McWilliams, ran towards a hill, and under cover of some scrub got away. He did not know what the result of the shooting was, and after going away he heard further shots fired. Information was at once sent into town by a mounted messenger, and the police went out with a surgeon, to render assistance. Messages were sent on to-night to the Native Minister, in Auckland, and instructions are expected early this morniug. The Volunteers hare placed their services at the disposal of the Native Minister, and will probably proceed to the Te Aroha district in the morning. The Minister is to be here in the afternoon, and will at once go to Ohinemuri to inquire into the matter.

It is reoorted on good authority that a desperate fight had taken place on Sept. 1 between Maoris at Hatatarama, near Hai Kohi, Bay of Islands. The fight was over the dividing lines. Eight men were wounded, and one chief killed. : Three .pahs are being erected, and furtrouble is'feared. Two Irishmen engaged in peddling linen-, bought an old mule to aid in earning the burdens. One would ride awhile, then the other, carrying the bates of .linen on the mule. One day, the Irish Aim who was on foot got close to his mule ship, when lie received a kick on one of his shins. To be revenged, he hurled a stone at the mule, but by accident he struck his companion on the hack of the head. Seeing what he had done, ho stopped and began to groan and rub his shin. The one on the mule turned round and asked what was the matter. “ The crater’s kicked me,” was the reply. — u Be jabers,” said the other, “ he’s did the same to me on the,‘back of the head,”