RANGITIKEI ELECTORATE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12668, 2 December 1905, Page 5

RANGITIKEI ELECTORATE.

Mi*. J. R. Sommerville, the Opposition candidate, has just returned from a sixteen daysr trip amongst the electors of the north and eastern portions of tho electorate. The district is a very largo one, and most difficult to work. Mi*. Sommerville somewhat envies the candidates in the Wanganui district, for tho easy manner in which they come in touch with the electors. Mr. Sommerville has already spoken at fiftyeight places, and has yet to finish up at Utiku. Mangaweka, Ohingaiti, and Hunterv-lle, the latter the.night before tho election. -: ; Leaving Wanganui" on the 13th, Mr. Sommerville held meetings at the following places:—Mangahoe Valley, Braemore, Otiri, Pukeroa, Pohonui, Koeka, Ruanui, Turangarere, Rangiwahia, Waioura, Karioi, Ohakune, Pukerimu, Raetihi, Mangaturoa, finishing up at Pipiriki on Tuesday night. Mr. Sommervillo has had capital meetings at all places, notably at Pukerimu, where he addressed four hundred cooperative workmen, who gave him an excellent hearing. He is well satisfied with his prospects, and if the co-opera-tive vote is not too strong, he thinks 1m can win tho seat, as the~.settlers are with-him all oyer,the electorate. .Mr. Scmmerville, in addressing the meeting at Pipiriki, said he had travelled over many. roa/da in the colony, but never had he seen a worse coach road. Ho knew that the Government had not the slightest sympathy with the unfortunate people in the back-blocks, but ho did think that for the honour and good name of the colony the Government would provide decent roads for tourists. What a splendid advertisement such a road must be for the colony! So good for invalids suffering from enlarged livers! Such a credit to Mr. Seddon's little Paradise, for tourists. Mr. Sommerville, speaking as a man with • considerable experience in tho matter of roads, would simply say that such a road was a standing disgrace. £761,000 of a surplus, and yet tho main tourist road in the colony is a disgraco jfco New Zealand.