RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 156, 17 May 1909, Page 5

RANDOM REMARKS.

Th.T<- ar. <;uiu a number of interesting pursuits which, to the amateur offer no difficulties, and instil no fears when duty demands their performance. Among such pursuits the making of watches and similar branches of skilled industry are naturally not included, though there arc some presumptuous mortals who would even try their prentice hand on watches with every degree of confidence. Others, again, there are possessed with the fire of the reformer; men whose asthetic taste has been outraged by the amateur efforts of others, and, who, fired with the altmstic spirit, wish to plan and perform a work which will lead their less conscientious brethren to the highter path by force of example.

Of this class was my friend Jones, and when the work of laying off a football ground presented itself, the opportunity was eagerly seized by Jones to do the work, and do it in such a manner that even the heated and perspiring footballers in the intervals between scoring tries and kicking goals, would be moved to admiration of the manner in which the ground was planned. Compass, and tape, and flags were brought int-i requisition, and with the aid of an intelligent assistant, chosen for his fitness to imbibe the gospel according to Jones, my friend proceeded to business. Observations and measurements were taken; the "compass was boxed, and everything went beautifully until the last side of the ground came to be measured, and it was found to be many yards too long. Jones scorned to calculate in yards on such an important occasion. The compass was consulted with meticulous care, and after deep and abstruse mental calculation Joncsl announced the ground to be a certain number of degrees out. Further observations had to be taken to remedy the matter, and by nightfall Jones .triumphantly declared he had bottomed the mystery. Each peg had to be moved a certain number of degrees in a given direction, and the footballers would live to acclaim Jones a benefactor to the race. The problem was attacked again next morning, but the degrees still bothered the workers, and when the time for starting play approached it was decided to step out a ground, and resume the operations the following week. Jones maintains his high reputation as a scientist and was requesetd to lay off the squares on the Te Kuiti golf course last week. But that is another story.

The proceedings in connection with the appeal of Pepcne Ekctone regarding the recent election have been watched with interest. Pcpene is to be credited with making history, as there is little doubt the case will revolutionise the methods hitherto adopted in Maori elections. The learned judges termed the election proceedure comic opera. Of course they were right; nearly everything is comic opera from a certain standpoint Burlesque is always fatal to dignity, but it often provide-i that subtle touch which makes the whole world akin. The whole of the Native legislation may be termed comic opera, notably that which makes Native lands rateable and the rates not collectable. Then again, the liquor law as applied to the King Country, is comic opera from a certain standponit; from other points of view it is anathcmiscd in more picturesque language.

Modem conditions apparently demand that man shall strive unremittingly, and exhibit a feverish energy in the pursuit of his daily crust. Such is the custom, and we have tho &]«ectacle of people in t»wy walk of lite endeavouring to maintain an air of bustle and concentration in chasing the elusive dollar. Naturally, such an existence makes for nervous unrest, and demands continuous excitement for the individual. Possibly this in a degree accounts for the various booms we have from time to time, the theory evidently being to supply a fresh boom to replace a burst bubble before thprc ia time for a reaction to set in. Land booms, building booms, industrial booms and mining booms, all occupy prominent post tions in the history of the Dominion, and, in rare cases, in the affections of toe people. At present there is a mining boom in Auckland, and the echo thereof has reached even unto Te Kniti. Several of our principal financiers have been drawn into the vortex and some have left for the scene of action in order to be present when they become millionaires.