Random Remarks.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 106, 5 November 1908, Page 4

Random Remarks.

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

The sporting instinct seems to assert itself in mankind at certain seasons, just as measles, and whooping cough, and other ills to which flesh is supposed to inherit, and just now we are in the vortex of an athletic ebullition which promises to eclipse even the general election. Much can be said in favour of games, but when Mr. Jennings becomes Premier itwillbe worth his while to enact that polling day should be religiously observed, and games of any sort prohibited in his electorate within a week or two of election day. Considering the enthusiasm with which cricketers, and bowlers, and tennis players, are infected at present, to say nothing of the complete absorption of the s : ngler, there doesn't seem room for election excitement. Nobody appears to know when the polling day is to be, and were it not for an echo from the outside world, the King Country might sleep* through November 17th., and wake up to find its people famous as those who had a true and beautiful conception of life, and were able to relegate politics to the proper position.

Talking of sport, it seems peculiar that the "Sport of Kings" should have no attraction for Te Kuitians. The racing club apparently died a painless death after a chequered existence. Possibly the supply of Kings to support the game ran short. However, it is stated on good authority that when Pepene Eketone is elected to Parliament next month, he intends to seek the cooperation of His Majesty Mahuta in placing the sport in its former position of eminence in the district. This is evidently one of Pepene's diplomatic moves to provide a harmless and engrossing recreation for the weary monarch after the rigours of a political campaign. Moreover, Pepene understands that Satan is ever on the look out for idle with which to work mischief, and a King with sport to attend to never ha 3 time for other sorts of mischief.

Spring has arrived, apparently with strictly hotforable intentions. Hangatiki, despite the willows, is once more above water, and even our roads are beginning to solidify, and on a self-respecting air. Crops and grass are growing at record rates; the birds are carolling joyfully, and the spring poet sounds a gleeful note in his verse. Still, there are spots on the sun, even in springtime, and the spring onion was probably created to modify the visions of the young man whose fancy in spring "lightly |turns to thoughts of love." This is a delightful combination to spring on a confiding public, but the writer was thinking sadly of the fate of the Hangatiki poet, who is said to have wrapped his poetic pen in flannel, and locked it away until winter. Some unfeeling people have expressed the hope that he may lose the key. However, the spirit of poetry is not to be trammelled by such as these. The ode to the Rain God certainly produced a deluge. Themistake occurred through sending the petition in winter instead of summer. Had the ode been dedicated in the drought the sympathetic tears of Jupiter Plurius would have served to extinguigsh the bush fires, ar.d do immense good. The choosing of the season for odes is evidently important.

The Wanganui River steamer service from Taumarunui and vice versa, in conjunction with the Main Trunk Railway service, will from the Ist of November be increased by the Thursday trip from Taumarunui, and the Wednesday trip from Pipirki being resumed. The service will be: Tauma-runui-Pipiriki and Wanganui down river Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, junctioning with the New Ply-mouth-Wellington express on the following days. In December it is proposed to still further increase the frequency of the river service, so as to cope with the constantly increasing tourist traffic over this favourite route. Steamers leave Wanganui at 7 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. A Maori lad, 8£ years of age, named Kotuku Te Manui, was admitted to the Waikato Hospital from Otorohanga. His father was engaged in getting logs out of the bush with a block and tackle and the little fellow began playing with the ropes when one of his hands was drawn in, and in trying to release it the other got caught, both being crushed above the fingers. He was speedily extricated and taken to the Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate both hands except the thumbs. The little fellow is doing as well as can be expected.

Farmers, save money, by using a Baltic Cream Separator. Did it ever strike you that every fraction of cream left in the skimmed milk should be added to the cost of the separator? Cream in the milk is money thrown away. This fact is demonstrated by the Secretary of one of the largest Dairying Companies, who states that if all the separators used by the Company had skimmed as cleanly as the Baltic (.02) the Company would have saved ISOOlbs of butter per month, valued at £75. In other words, £75 had been lost by not using the Baltic Cream Separator. Full particulars post' free from J. B. MacEwan & Co. Ltd., Sole Agents. Fort Street, Auckland.