[From Our Own Correspondent] The question of the hour in this part, is, " Will prohibition be oarried at the coming poll." That was, indeed, looked upon as a. foregone conclusion a couple of months back but for some reason or other it is now the common opinion that feeling has to some extent lately veered round. Certainly the bung party is straining ;every nerve to out flank the^Jate local inanduvres of 1 the cold water do. Ths Rev G. W. Christian, Angli can minister, Milton, delivered a strong anti prohibition sermon in St. John's Ghurch, Milton on. Sunday evening last. I take the h'berty to cull one single " gem " from among many from the sermon as reported in the local paper. It runs — "This (prohibition) movement has been well described as an unwarrantable interference with the liberties of the people and unless they wished to be branded as so many sheep or cattle, they •would hesitate before committing themselves to a support gi Prohibition.". ..Notwithstand ing I am strongly of opinion that the requis ite three fifths will qualify themselves to be " Christianised "as above. At any rate re duction is looked upon as a, certainty. The contest for the Bruce seat is proceeding with ominous- stillness. Since Mr Mahoney's retirement it is thought Mr Auld will give Mr Allen a good tussle for the prize. On the whole Mr AJlen is pretty safe to win but it decidedly seems to be one pf those cases where it would bo safer to bet on the fore most horse, as Paddy says, after the numbers are up. ' Neither candidate depends on com mittee rooms as part of their; battle array, and scribes like myself, as well as others." too numerous to particularise," are lamenting that, two such appai'ently-hard^up candidates should happen to run " agin " one another for bur electorate. Oh for a true Liberal !. It is reported that ,a newspaper is to be. started in Milton in opposition to the Bruce, Herald. The name of Mr Gr. Mahoneyj who

is a reported smart journalist, is' freely men tioned as. a principal, -in- the venture. .Mr Mahoney is a/bromer. of -the. late candidate for the Bruce seat. By the way, it seems that MY C.Malioney fell foul of the Bruce Herald ■in his. speech at Waihola. 