RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 223, 8 January 1910, Page 5

RANDOM REMARKS.

~ > Founding a church, and laying down a cricket pitch are commonly held to be indubitable signs of, British" progress, in a new country. Founding a Masonic-lodge-comes after, but it just as sure and inevitable an . indication that progress in a new country •_lres reached a definite stage. Tuiat stage has afc|E||gth been reached at Te Kuiti and th%j|fplemn ;rites • and .1 ceremonies of Masonic installation are to be performed during this month. It is understood the goat for the occa- ' sion is to be specially imported, a fact - - which makes one wonder why a local ' angora Qpuld not have been used for the occasion. The angora is an animal of cleanly and dignified appearance and is calculated not only to inspire respect, but also to give as good a performance as any imported beast whose ancestors may have been quite .. common and ordinary. It is suggested " that one of the Tokipuhuki herd should be captured for the occasion and those who liave the matter in hand " Would do well to consider the proposal. --- Local industry deserves to be encour- . aged. Talking of founding things the idea of a Britisher founding anything new is apparently out of the question. His aim in life seems to bs to reproduce, as nearly as local conditions will allow, the things that have been common to his country since it emerged from medieval darkness. His individuality is so strong, and his patriotism so pronounced that he seeks to convert every country he claims into a new England. The church and cricket pitch are pointed -.evidence fo his passion, while the lodge—Masonic or otherwise—though of more recent popularity tends in the same direction. Even in his drinks he is hard to change, and beer becomes the thirsty man's beverage in what should be wine-producing countries. Like all virtues, this patriotism 'is laudable until carried to excesss, when terms such as insularity and narrowness are levelled at us by envious neighbours. However, the Britisher has something of a record as a .coloniser despite his failings, and New Zealand is not the least worthy example of his activities, _ albeit this portion of the Dominion would appear to better effect with ; decent roads. The question of roads having been introduced, a King Countryite is in duty bound to say something on such an important subject. Speaking generally it appears to the average backblocker as if much of the time of the \Qovernment was devoted to patting itself on the back for the interest it takes in encouraging the settler. Apparently, the satisfaction engendered by the patting process blinds it to the : real necessities of the settler, or perhaps it doesn't want to see the real necessities. Quite in a casual way, as : part of the game, it votes money for certain roads, and immediately sets to work to baffle the people, who are interested in having the money expended. Whnt particular gain or credit it hopes' to accrue by its weird conduct is hard to discern. Still politics is a funny game to those who know how. the strings are pulled. In New Zealand- .the finances are beyond the knowledge of the majority of politicians, and - sound finance mean getting good roads. To put it clearly, no v system of finance is sound which does not make provision for good roads. On the other hand it; is impossible to have good roads without a sound financial system. I have taken particular care to explain the position a la the , Colonial; Treasurer, and trust my readers will grasp the question of road%iand finance thoroughly. It will perhaps be some compensation for doing Without roads for another year as is evidently intended by the Government. "

S-J* kittle is heard about the liquor question locally just now, though, considering the weather experienced of late thirst should be rampant in the land. The queer thing about thirsts is the different brands- that are met with, and the " thirst of the bibulous one is not materially affected by the heat. A thirst to be genuinely respected must exhibit signs of permanency. "Hot weather should -stimulate it, and cold weather give it an edge, - while the calm and colourless medium climate should just keep it insisting upon, recognition.. Rain should rather aggravate it, while .a drought obviously would provide it with a sound excuse for keeping itself busy. The foregoing are all material attributes, tp which might be added a host of abstract reasons fpr the permanent thirst. However, there are : no. per(nanent thirsts in the King Country; they are Booked to arrive together with licenses. One of the matters to which -the Te Kuiti Borough Council (when the local body becomes a reality) will require to turn its attention is the dust ;■ nuisaßce. Every city of note has had V- to wrestle with the-problem, therefore it is but fitting that the coming Chicago of the North Island should have fo work out its own "dustiny." Te Kuiti (Just 'has .its peculiarities, and ¥- fo it? penetrating nature no-, L thing is secure from it. Various 5 remedies for the suppression of the infliction have been suggested, from ■£he obvious water cart to prayer for nightly or daily rain, Possibly the

city fathers "will subsidise the 'local [

fire brigade to hold daily early morning practices in the principal streets. Like most things that, require doing the chief consideration is thai of. finance. Somebody has suggested that tha Maori owners should contribute. But it is a far cry from the dust of summer zephyrs to the Native question. Besides, there is an undigested Native Land Bill to consider, and there is no telling what may happen befcre'next summer. '