Random Remarks.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 90, 10 July 1908, Page 4

Random Remarks.

[Contributions to this column are alwavs welcome from any p-.r'c of the district. The editor does not vouch for the authenticity of the stones, nor is he responsible for the criticisms.]

Patriotism is admittedly one of the highest virtues ; even the variety dubbed " local " is estimable, and indicates the pressure of a soul ready to rise above the sordid, and do heroic deed's in defence of hearth and home. Also, some districts are worth being patriotic over. Included among the worthy places I believe the Northern Ohura would be voted a position high on the list. It was with surprise that I saw my well meant contribution, with regard to the health and well being of the Ohura; had attracted adverse notice at the hands 'of a local patriot. To his implied charge of ignorance of the locality I freely enter the plea of guilty. I have never seen the Ohura —not even the northern portion thereof—and a yearning like unto that of Moses for the promised land possesses me. Some day, when conditions are propitious and the rain ceases to fall, I intend to journey to the land of my desire. In the circumstances, I am glad there will be a doctor handy. Some of the people are apparently akin to a certain brand of Scotsmen, who have never ibeen known to recognise a joke, and the strain of subduing my emotion may necessitate medical attendance.

A breath from the cherished past was wafted into the office the other day in the form of a story of the good old King Country days. Several years ago the discovery was made by Taranaki cattle men that the King Country was worth exploiting for stock, and drovers began paying attention to the territory. About the beginning of the invasion some of the older inhabitants happened to meet at Te Kuiti when a number of dealers were present. The morning train from the front brought a welcome addition to the gathering in the shape of a well known Ohura man. Immediately on his arrival a bland Te Kuitian inquired of the newcomer how his cattle were doing up country. The dealers pricked up their ears and sidled closer to overhear the colloquy. Little difficulty was experienced in this, as the Te Kuitian was deaf. From the remarks which passed it was gathered that the local man had a mob of two or three hundred bullocks in the bush and was anxious to sell. The new arrival reported the stock was in excellent condition. Thereupon ensued a game of diamond cut diomond among the dealers. Each was determined to secure the mythical mob of bullocks, and all the tricks and blandishments possessed by the wily ones were employed to bring about a deal. The process ■ was somewhat complicated owing to the deafness of the supposed owner, and enmities were born over those bullocks, which are in existence to-day. The details aire interesting, but space in this column forbids verbosity. Suffice it to say that more whisky was drunk in the couple of days during which those bullocks existed than the writer would care to deal with in a year. The climax was reached at last, when some truck loads of cattle passed through from Ohura to Ohaupo, and the dealers Vere informed that the prices offered by them were unsatisfactory, and the cattle had gone to Waikato.

" It is a mad world, my masters!" And a striking feature of the disease is that the older one .gets the more marked becomes the madness —especially in the rising generation. In the days when we were young, things were normal and sane, and entirely different as compared with the present state of youthful conduct. Also, our liver was not troublesome, and we didn't much care whether our feet got damp in wet weather. Moreover, the chances are that were we to become re-juvenated we should find our sympathies very near akin to the youth of to-day, and football, cricket, and the sporting life generally would bulk as largely on our horizon, as those things we call the " essentials of life "do to-day. Still, there is one thing essential both to youth and age and that is to "play the game." Youthful enthusiasm is apt to assign a place of too much importance to sport, which, in consequence, is pursued at times in a spirit of unhealthy rivalry. The generous sporting instinct is as ready to credit a meritorious victory to the opposing side as to rejoice in a win, and this is the spirit worth cultivating in the King Country. Football in New Zealand may be termed a national game, and by playing it in the proper sporting manner, our youths are doing credit to the nation and .to the game.

Man's gregarious nature is continu- 1 ally finding expressions despite the vaunted creed that individualism is the highest form of culture —and of football. The latest indication of the natural man is ithe formation of a club at Te Kuiti. In connection therewith it is hard to repress a sigh for the old time ideals. In ancient days the oldest inhabitant looked thirstily forward to the dim and distant time when a hotel would be established ; his imagination never once soared to the giddy heights of clubdom. Were I inclined to moralise (which the saints forbid !) there is an unrivalled opportunity at the present stage. However, with but a limited knowledge of clubs it would be unfair to the institution in embryo. Capital stories are told of clubs, which are supposed to be religiously foresworn by the man with matrimony in his eye. 'Tis said a woman can always guage the matrimonial eye in man,but a surer test by far is the man's conduct with regard to his club. The fair sex should therefore welcome the institution as a valuable assistance in forming an estimate of man's intentions. However, there a variety of opinions, in this, and in other respects as to the value of the club. From observations taken on general lines the writer has found clubmen to be, as the Scotchman said, "like Jean McCrae," and she was "just like ither folk."