TE KUITI STATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 273, 2 July 1910, Page 2

TE KUITI STATION.

Reliable information has rtached us that the whple of the (reconstruction work in connection with Te Kuiti railway station will be commenced in a very short time. The estimates for the work reached Wellington a few days ago and the various officials are confidently expecting instructions to commence straight away. Some uneasiness has existed as to whether the present site would continue to be used, or the whole station moved further dowi. We are glad to say that there is no intention of. moving the station itself. The station buildings will be brought over to the Rora street side; the stock yards are to be banished to some more convenient place; and the goods shed", to be considerably enlarged, will be mpved to another site. There is npt the slightest doubt now that the urgency and importance of this work is fully recognised at headquarters, and it will be good news to the large numbers who have to travel by rail from or to Te Kuiti or receive stock or goods therefrom. It is now only a question of a few days before the long-demanded reconstruction is commenced.

THE A^^^^^^^^H My m^^^^^^^^^^^H age of (or for that "^^^^^^^^^| he or she likes, she does it —or protests cicntly Bafe distance from ancestral halls. The world is tolerant, very credible. I have washer-women who were from dukes, gardeners whose ancestolH were with William at the battle oW Hastings, cab-drivers whose great' great - grandfathers hugged courtbeauties (being of noble birth themselves) in the days of the Merry Monarch. I have seen and eaten with' —at the same hash-house —people of all races and creeds—and in ninetynine cases out of a hundred they have gone to great trouble to assure me that they wers descendant from nobility, that they were, in short, something *'wot they ain't." This, I repeat, is a life of sham, and the credulous populace takes a man at his own valuation, implicitly, believing his story, N and accepting his price. You all have met such people, lam sure. You are, however, a discerning community, and straightway put your tongue in your cheek and say aye or nay—and so goes life. It is not a commonplace world, either. It is pleasant for that. But somehow things have got twisted. There are too many aristocrats going thread-bare. The son of an carl now-a-days, serves you your bitter-! at evenfall; the lady who brings you your wretched soup knows of the people; your maid-servant affects fine linen, which, by the way, is a family failing. I once met a gracious lady—it was in Tasmania —who protested that she always allowed the servant to order the dinner joint because she did not know the different parts of cow, nheep or pig. I knew, and she knew that I knew, her father kept a butcher's shop in the early days. It was very amusing. The art of bluff is a great art. But few know how to play the game. One may easily bowl them out. After all, why should one do so. They know and we know, and life is very hollow.

PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE. ' The man with a purpose met me , when the world seemed glad. He came as a grey, gaunt mist and left me miserable. "Did it ever you," he said, "that n man's life is full of crosses nnd temptations?" I, admitted that it had once upon a time when I was very young. "He cornea into the world," said my visitor, "without his consent, and goes out against his will, and the trip between is exceedingly rncky." I agreed, cheerfully. My visitor was insistent. "The rule of contraries is one of the features of this trip," he observed. I acquiesced. He said: "When he \B little, the big girls kiss him; when he is big, the little girls kiss him," I assented. "It he is poor, he is a bad manager, if he is rich, he is dishonest." I corroborated. "If he needs credit, he can't get it," he continued. I nodded vigorously. "If he is prosperous, everyone wants to do him a favour." I said "yeß." "If he is in politics, it is for greed and if he is out of politics he is no good to hifl country." I observed that "them was my sentiments " "If he doesn't give to charity he's a stingy cuss, and if he doe*, it is for show,," I Bwore an affidavit that that was correct. "If he is actively religions, he is a hypocrite, if he takes no interest in religion, he is a hardened sinner," I affirmed the impeachment. "If he gives affection, he is a soft specimen and if he cares for no one he is coldblooded." I again agreed and thought of my creditors. "If he dies young there was a great future for him; if he lives to an old ago he missed his calling." I furtively wiped away a tear and thought of my wasted youth. He concluded: "If you save money you're stingy"; I cordially agreed. "If you spend it, you're a waster." I dissented with alarming vigour. "Ifycurget it, you're a schemer." "Not always," I murmured. "If you don't get it, you're a stiff," he ejaculated; "go what's the use." Then he left me, and I wonder now, "what's the use."