Random Remarks.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 83, 22 May 1908, Page 3

Random Remarks.

! -o | [Contributions to this column are i always welcome from any part of the district. The editor does not vouch i for the authenticity of the stori 2s, nor j is he responsible for the criticisms.] Somebody once wrote that three things were not understandable. I forget the little list save that "the way of a man with a maid " was included, but have always had a sincere admiration for the writer's courage, whatever opinion one may hold of his discretion. A person with such definite convictions riuist have a fearful lot of illusions ready for shattering. Imagine the writer mentioned coming to New Zealand, with his neat little list of preconceptions, and applying his theory to the simple every-day events. Even in Te Kuiti he would have a few specialties to deal with. Take the railway station for example. It has just been built on the wrong side of the line, with.its back to the platform, and is (so they say) to be shifted to its proper site —later on. The goods shed is also to be shifted across the line later on, and evidently, with a view to making the removal process easier, the shed is being enlarged to about double its old size. The reason for these innovations may be understandable to those gifted with occult powers, but Te Kuiti residents do not claim an3 r distinction beyond ordinary human attributes. Te Kuiti is becoming possessed of a sense of its own importance, and is going in for " the latest " with a reckless disregard of all feelings of modesty and propriety generally. A loan proposal of £2,000, which after six or seven months' strenuous labour was polled for 011 Monday last, was the first sign of awakening importance; now a telephone exchange is a necessary adjunct to its dignity. An electric car service is mooted, and a ferry service in Sheridan-street. But harking back to the telephone, most people would have been satisfied with the diversion obtained from the telephone at the local post office without yearning for a closer acquaintance with the tinkling bell, and the dulcet strains from o'er the wires. At any time during the day can receive entertainment ai*l enlightenment by standing outside raeftost <*fice. " M for Martha, P for Peter, XYZ for Eliza," and so on ad libitum. It is related that upon one occasion a tired traveller listening earnestly for a ; welcome word, and hearing it not, j intruded his head round the door, and growled out: "Say mister, what stands for whisky ? " The decision of the Government with regard to the placing of a stonecrusher in the district will be hailed with widespread satisfaction, and is evidence that the authorities are at length awakening to the fact that a clay-patching policy on main roads has its disadvantages. It is sad to see old friends departing, and old methods being superseded by new, still a change in our old roading methods will cause but few griefs. Sack cloth and ashes will not be worn by the settlers, and even the carriers will join in the general acclamation. In one respect oniy will a loss be ; recorded, as it is stated -on reliable authority that the vocabulary of many was largely enriched from lime to time, when the roads began to break up. Human nature is frail, and a man in charge of a hopelessly bogged waggon rareiy pauses to choose his sentences. If the anathemas which have been prodigally lavished on the authorities, at different times and places in the district, only began to take effect, there would be gaps in the political ranks which would take more tilling than the deepest hole on the road in the deepest depth of a bad winter. But with stone-crushers at work the scene will be changed, our settlers will be able to arrive in town during winter in spick-and-span condition, and in years to come the pioneering reminisciences of the oldest inhabitant will be listened to with open incredulity, or good-natured tolerance.

Loans are now in the air, and it is stated on authority of questionably, reliability that the Ohura people are meditating a loan for the putting through of a railway to Ongarue on their own, in case the deviation through Waitewhenua is carried ; while the Waited residents are said to be contemplating a borrowing scheme to tunnel through the range, and bring the deviation (when it comes) through to Te Kuiti. In case of success, they are believed to entei\ tain strong hopes of shifting Te Kuiti railway station into their own fair valley, instead of merely across the line. The Hangatiki settlers are considering a proposal to float a willow clearing loan, before the willows succeed in floating the settlers, andMhe poet is now engaged upon an ocle to Jupiter Pluvius in the hope of engaging the attention of the rain-making diety throughout the coming winter. Desperate situations require desperate remedies, but poetic efforts are not universally successful in placating the gods, who are proverbially fickle. Should the soul of Jupiter Pluvius be turned to wrath, instead of joy, over the ode, the Hangatikians will probably become web-footed before the loan can be floated. Otorohanga is considering several loans, but pending the carrying through of the Greater Otorohanga scheme, which will incorporate its present suburban areas of Te Awamutii and Te Kuiti, the active prosecution of the borrowing scheme is at present suspended. ■ The strenuous life is popularly supposed to be confined to city dwellers, but occasional instances are met with even in the King Country. Be it known also that the feverish energy to achieve is not confined to business or politics, and the humble dungaree hides many an aspiring soul. A brilliant example was shown on the Main Trunk line last week by one of the ballast gang. • The ballast train had run in to Otorohanga, and stopped for a few minute*. One of the men took advantage of the ;mporlimiiy m. have a timely word '-vil ■ hi* be* L eel There was more be emu imm a mere farewell, and the train weul «>n without warning. The man yelled frantically, but the engine .rumbled ahead. Nothing daunted the " left "

| member hitched up his dungarees and | spurted after the train. An hour afterwards a perspiring individual was met near Hangatiki by two wayi':;;vrs. and enquired of them if they had seen a train pass that way. All engine toot in the distance interrupte;! him, and with a jump the man was int) his stride again in pursuit of the Heeing engine. As an instance of pertinacity this is surely striking, but deep reflection leads me to the conviction that success in the strenuous life requires something more than fixity of purpose.