Blue Metal and Yellow Metal Bribes.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 624, 13 December 1890, Page 7

Blue Metal and Yellow Metal Bribes.

Government candidates have a choice of metals wherewith to purchase votes — blue metal in the shape of promises to make local roads, and ' yellow boys ' in the ahape of Government payments which are most opportunely made, through the agency of candidates, while the election is proceeding. Everybody knowa how certain electors openly and unblushingly waited upon Mitchelson a few days ago to try and get some road metal gifted to their district, and at Swanson the other night every soul that voted confidence in the Acting Premier was certain to benefit by the expenditure of .£2OO in making a road in their locality which the Minister was expected to see placed on the Estimates. So muoh for blue metal. The yellow stuff crops out in Franklin, where a Government payment of .£lO compensation to a settler was made by the hand of Major Hamlin, for no other possible object than the influencing of the settler's vote. Honest Ben Harris heard of this incident, and referred to it at Paparata. An elector challenged the statement as untrue. 1 Very well,' said Harris, ' I shall be glad if you -will give the correct version of the affair.' The elector fell into the trap and went on to tell the yarn, with some slight variations, to prove that Harris was taradiddling. But plain Ben simply said— 1 Oh, that is another -£10 altogether ; that's not the case I referred to.' There were roars of laughter, and the Franklin electors now want to know how many Government 1 tenners ' have been flying around of late.

A dissolution of Parliament may be expected within a year.

The closest contest was in Inangahua, whera Drake polled 1,111 and Reeves 1,110.

About 20 members of the new House of Representatives are pledged to the Land Tax.

1 Tea ' Thompson had a lot of coffee stalls rigged up as committee rooms on polling day.

Thomas Thoncpson (City) is a Paddy from Cork, while Bobt. Thomson (Marsden) is a native of Belfast.

Dominie Grant polled 5 votes at Manukau ; ex-police-man Thoreau polled 9 at Timaru. £20 gained to the colony.

James Kelly, the Labour candidate eleoted for Inveroargill, is a Scotchman from Cariuke, and a cousin of the editor of the Obsebveb.

The rowdiest meeting of the campaign was held at Onehunga the night before the poll. Why was it not reported in the daily papers ?

It was O'Rorbe who hoped to poll the inmates of the Old Men's Refuge ; now he will have to go to the Eefuge himself, as Legislative Councillor.

•Tis said the Star folks and Kidd had a little ' commercial ' arrangement over that limelight display, which caused extra demand for Eidd's special brew of Brown and Campbell's only and best. £20 was the figure mentioned.

' Manukau Elector' writes: — I notice you were not very far out as regards the result of the Manukau eleotion. Would you kindly inform me what is the amount of salary paid to the late Speaker's son, and what services young O'Korke gives in return ? I have often been puzzled whether this young gentleman is the person who assumes the role of a jookey on some of our colonial racecourses, and sometimes even when the House is in session. - [We believe Mr E. O'JKorke recoives £250 a-year, as Bill Reader. The duties of that not very onerous post used to be performed for £50. Mr O'Rorke, jun., is a gentleman rider in horse races, and we have Been the name in the report of a Canterbury meeting at the time the House was sitting :— Ed. Obs.]