WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3101, 18 January 1871, Page 3

WAIRARAPA.

[Fbom Oub Own Cobbesponbent.] election meeting at carterton. Mr Buimy addressed the electors at Carterton on Wednesday evening. There was a large attendance, and Messrs Andrew and Pharazyn also addressed the meeting. Mr Buuny's speech was similar to the one he had delivered at Greytown, with the exceptien that at Carterton he spoke strongly in favor of the Land Transfer Act. He also stated that he was in favor of an acreage tax on rural land for the construction and maintenance of road?, and that he would exclude townships from country road districts. He considered the Validation Act, so far as it related to rating under the District; Highways Act, a nullity, as the clause j referred to road boards making the rate whereas it was the ratepayers who did so. Mr Andrew and Mr Pharazyn then addressed the meeting, after which, on the motion of the Hon. Mr Waterhouse, a vot6 of thanks was accorded to Mr Bunny for his past services, when the meeting separated. MEETING AT MASTERTON. A meeting was held at the Schoolhouse, Masterton, on Thursday evening, 3. V. Smith being elected chairman. Messrs Reynolds aud Masters, M.P.C.'s, the hon. Mr Waterhouse, M.L.C., and Messrs Bunny, Andrew, and Pharazyn •were present, and addressed tire meeting on the occasion. Mr Bunny's speech, was similar to the one he had delivered at Greytown. At its conclusion Mr Masters put a number of questions to Mr Bunny on a great variety of subjects, all of which were, however, either of considerable general or local interest. Air Bunny replied to each question. He said he would never , support the ballot, and he explained the course he had adopted with reference to the Wairarapa Lands Bill. In answer to Mr Greaves, he said he would not resign if requested to do so by a large majority of his constituents. Mr. J Pharazyn then addressed the meeting at some length. He was strongly in favor of a general scheme of education, and was opposed to Mr Bunny's views relative to native policy. He found that Mr Bunny white heartily supporting the financial policy of the Government was opposed to them, as he had violently 1 attacked the most vital principles of their policy. He objected to the recommendation made by Mr Bunny that his supporters should plump for him, as if this advice was carried out Mr Bunny, though in a minority, might be returned at the head of the poll. He recommended the electors to give their two votes for the two candidates in whom they greatest confidence. Mr Andrew then addressed the meeting, and was listened to with marked attention throughout. He would support a bill for the annual election of managers of the Greytown and Masterton Reserves. Mr. Renall then addressed the meeting in favor of Mr Bunny, and with reference to the reserves in question ; and moved a vote of thanks and confidence in their late representative. Mr. Pharazyn objected to the word " confidence" being in the resolution on the ground that a public expression of confidence in a candidate was a violation of the principles of secret voting. Mr Waterhouse seconded Mr Renall's resolution, and charged Mr Pharazyn with having "jockeyed" Mr Pearce for the purpose of securing his own return, by representing that he would not stand under ./"any circumstances, when really all that Mr Pearce had said was that he would not withdraw his letter of resignation ; but the inference was that if the electors desired him to represent them he would do so. Mr Pharazyn, to suit his own purposes, had represented that Mr Pearoe would not stand under any circumstances, with the object of getting Mr Peavco out of the way, and promoting his own candidature. In his experience, extending over twenty years, he had never met with a more cunning and underhand pro-

ceeding, and he had come to Masterton expressly for the purposes of exposing it. From what I can learn, the facts briefly stated are these :— Some of the electors of Masterton, notwithstanding Mr Pearce^s resignation, were resolved upon supporting him. Mr Pharazyn, finding this to be the case, telegraphed to Mr Pearce, telling him the fact, and adding that he had lost ground with the electors by sending in his resignation, which would result in split votes, and Mr Bunny's return ; but that if he positively declined to go to the poll he (Mr Pharazyn) end Mr Andrew would probably be elected. He asked for permission to publish his answer, with the view, of course, of securing, 6hould it be favorable, the support of Mr Pearce's friends. Mi Pearce replied that he would not withdraw his letter, upon which Mr Pharazyn represented that he had received a telegram to the effect that Mr Pearce would not on any account go to the poll. Mr Pharazyn made the same statement to myself, upon which I said his chances of being elected were much greater than would otherwise be the case. Ultimately a vote of confidence in Mr Bunny was carried by a large majority, and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. On Friday evening a meeting was held at the house of Mr Angus M 'Masters, which was well attended. Mr Andrew and Mr Pharazyn were also present. Mr Bunny received a vote of thanks for his past services, and, on the whole, the speeches were of a similar character to those delivered at the preceding meetings. If no other candidate appears in the field, Messrs Bunny and Andrew will be elected. Mr Pharazyn has scarcely any supporters, and the votes he will obtain will be given by those opposed to Mr Bunny, though ho may obtain the votes also of Mr Bunny's and Mr Andrews' supporters, and thus occupy a higher position on the poll than would otherwise be the case. But it is not impossible that a candidate to run with Mr Bunny may be found previous to the nomination. THE ANNIVERSARY, As usual the anniversary of the province will be celebrated in the Wairarapa by races and other rural sports, which will come off at Featherston on Monday the 23rd instant. This is the day which has also been appointed for the nomination of candidates for the two seats in the House of Eepresentatives, which on the present occasion will take place at Featherston, though heretofore Greytown was very properly recognised by the authorities as the principal polling place in the district, and no good reason has been assigned; indeed no reason at all has been vouchsafed, for the alteration that has been affected, which neither suites the wishes nor the convenience of the great bulk of the electors of the district. This year the inconvenience of the course adopted, will be lees sensibly felt, as the nomination will take place on the Anniversary, which, by common consent has always been celebrated at Featherston. This being the case, your reporter will be able, as it were, to kill two birds with one stone. GREITOWN ANNUAL EACES The Wairarapa Jockey Club having decided not to hold their annual race meeting on their new course at the Tauherenikau this year, a number of sportsmen interested in the subject have resolved that the annual races should be held at Greytown as usual, and have convened a meeting to be held at the British Volunteer Hotel on the 21st inst., to arrange the programme, to elect stewards, and to make the other necessary arrangements for holding the races on the old race course, near Greytown, on the 22nd and 23rd March next; and I am authorised to state that the programme, when finally decided upon, will be published in the advertising columns of the Independent, so that persons outside the Wairarapa may be informed sufficiently clearly of the arrangements. Whether as regards to character of horses, or the attendance of visitors, the Greytown annual race meeting of 1871 was a complete suc^ cess, A LUNATIC. Some alarm was felt by the residents near Morrison's Bush, owing to the report that a man who had been in the employment of Mr Palmerdon, surveyor, exhibited evident symptoms of insanity. Left in charge of Mr Maunsell's house during his temporary absence, he proceeded to nail up the doors, barricade the windows, and to perform other antics of a still more threatening cha racter, amongst which was the flourishing of a formidable knife, which he appeared tojtake a malicious pleasure in pretending to sharpen. He subsequently visited the house of Mr Burling, to whom, as his antecedents were well k,nown, he was for some time a most unwelcome visitor. He gave information of Mr Constable Byrn of the circumstance, and in the meantime the lunatic returned to Mr Maunsell's, who, with his wife and family, was then at home. Becoming violent, Constable Donneley was telegraphed for to Mas> terton, and, on his arrival, after some difficulty, the poor fellow was secured and conveyed to Featherston, where he was bxamined by Dr. Spratt and Dr Smith, who certified that he was insane, and unfit to be at large. He was sub sequently transmitted to the Lunatic Asylum, Karori, of which he had pre. viously been an inmate. The lunatic's name is Blake, and he is well known tc old Wellington residents, having some -fifteen years ago been sent to th< Asylum, from which he make his escape and was not captured until he hac proved that it was dangerous to life t< permit him to he at large. In his san< intervals he shows a docile and amiabli disposition. It is supposed that he ha< between £20 and £30 in bank notes ii his possession, which, before his arrest he had succeeded in planting. He ha< also planted his watch, which has sine been recovered.

THE BOILING DOWN WOKKS. These works at Tauherenekau are advertised to be let. No sheep have been at present boiled down there this season, and it is doubtful whether so large a quantity of sheep will be again reduced to tallow as was the case last season. This will be owing in part to the reduction made then in surplus stock by the boiling down process, and in part to the establishment of boiling down works on the East Coast and elsewhere. EXPORT OF HORSES. I am informed that it is the intention of Mr Hastwell to export shortly to ; Canterbury, a fine stud of draught ? and saddle horses, many of which are admirably adapted for market, trap and . farm purposes, and some of which have . been bred and broken in specially for the Canterbury market; being of a character in great demand in that pro- , vince. Recently a small stud of horses were exported from the Lower Valley to Canterbury, which, on the whole, realised good prices. MAIL OONTKACiP. - A The contract for carrying the Lower Valley mail to and from Greytown by mail cart, has this year been obtained by Mr A. Gillies. Previously this mail was carried on horseback by Mr D. Haggerty, but the want of some means of conveying parcels and passengers, as well as letters and newspapers, having been long felt by the settlers in that district, they made it a condition that the mail in future should be carried by trap instead of on horseback. Mr Gillies, I believe, has undertaken to perform this service, twice a week, for the sura of £140 per annum, one half of which is paid by Government.