Random Remarks.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 101, 9 October 1908, Page 4

Random Remarks.

[Contributions to this column are always welcome from any part of the district. The Editor docs not vouch for the authenticit3 r of the stories, nor is he responsible for the criticisms.]

"Sparc time" is a commodity which I have never associated with the life of a back block settler, and the announcement that a Mangupapa resident was devoting his spare time to constructing a flying machine filled me with amazement, not unmixed with admiration. If the report be true the settler in question is deserving of the whole-souled admiration of his neighbours, whatever his reward in : another direction may be. To attain a reasonable degree of happiness we are often told to devote time to some useful or instructive pursuit. The average man, whose time ,is mainly taken up with earning bread and butter for his family, with an occasional hat for his better-half, is content with a humble and inexpensive hobby, which rarely attracts outside attention, but serves to add to the sum of his earthly happiness, while earning for him a certificate of merit for his future state.

But that is the beaten track, and it is only occasionally illuminated by bursts of radiant thought and action, which serve to sustain the race, and give promise of man's ultimate redemption from the commonp-lace. As yet Mangapapa has few claims to fame, but just imagine the difference if an enterprising settler solved the secret of the air, or discovered perpetual motion; or that the sun revolved on the earth's axis round the moon; or that radium was really a product of papa rock; or probed the depths of any of Nature's mysteries and revealed to the wondering world something which hitherto had been among the things which are not understood of man. Truly such spare time were well spent. The fact that to such research a man's whole lifetime proves less than sufficient need not deter the ardent man. It is well known that all great discoveries are the result of. accident. Certainly the accident usually occurs after a century of effort and merely provides the necessary link to perfect the chain. Let others provide the rest of the chain; to him who provides the final link shall come immortality. There is little doubt that the amateur who tinkers with aerial navigation will provide both accident and immortality for himself. .

Stock sale day is with us again, and once more the settlers may emerge from the back blocks, and meet on a common ground of mutual interest, and there exchange views upon the thousand and one subjects which make the sum total of the settler's existence. The country stock sale is undoubtedly of the highest commercial importance, but in addition its influence as a social factor can only be understood by those who live their lives far distant from the towns of asphalt streets, and electic trams. Sale time draws all classes together and usually provides a little excitement in the way of seeing life. Neither time nor place enter into the contract as far as the back block youth's experience is concerned. These things in any case are merely matters of comparison, and the country town compered with the bush holding may well seem to constitute a centre of gorgeous luxury and giddy frivolity. It is told of such a youth some yeara ago, when departing from Te Kuiti up the Awakino road, that, casting longing looks to the hamlet in the valley below he murmured: "By Gosh, that's the place to see lifg all right!" ** # * The recognised political principle to provide a stone when asked for bread appears to apply to the Native Land Bill at present before Parliament. As usual, the promises of the Native Minister were comprehensive, and calculated to satisfy the most captious of critics, but in searching the Bill for signs of fullfilment the absence of effort to make the promises is a startling feature. The Bill, however, is still in Committee and for all the use it is it may just as well stay there, unless some aspiring Committeeman, desirous of earning renown, smites it hip and thigh, and infuses some commonsense into it , The most striking feature of the measure appears to be a provision for lessees giving their leases to the Board. No mention is made as to what use the Board is to make of them; the public is left to conjecture whether the leases are to be framed for ornaments, or treasured as relics in commemoration of the fact that the Native Minister once went far enough to enable leases to be passed.