RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 292, 7 September 1910, Page 2

RANDOM REMARKS.

_.*._..- . - (By "Onlooker.") Te Kuitians, apparently unsatisfied with the phenomenal rate of progress already shown by the. King Country centre, are reaching for stiil higher honours in the politics] world, and mean to send their Mayor to Parliament as representative of the Taumarunui seat. The statement is made advisedly, and with a full knowledge of all the interests involved; for when Te Kuitians start to awaken they don't lose any time yawning and rubbing their, eyes: Of course, there is the usual "formality of an election to be gone through, unless Mr .Jennings grasps the opportunity of exchanging with Mr Boddie his seat in Parliament for the higher and more dignified position of Te Kuiti's chief Magistrate. In addition there are one or two other contingencies, chief of which appear to be the fact that Te Kuiti has in this instance departed from its usual procedure and has begun to awaken extremely e3rly. Whether this indicates a soulful de sire to lead the simple life, and abjure its cherished old-time dissipations is uncertain. If so (more in sorrow than in anger, I must say it) the contract is too steep. We are at best but erring mortals, and a virtuous spell of more than twelve months is too much to expect, even from Te Kuiti. After all, the election may prove interesting.

It is difficult to account for Mr Boddie's action in consenting to stand for Parliament. A gentleman occupying the proud position of Mayor of Te Kuiti should surely have attained the highest pinnacle of soaring ambition. But it is difficult to account for men's actions. In the present instance Mr Boddie may be fired with the zeal of the reformer, or he may be simply tired of mud. Parliament meets during winter, and members contrive to make life bearable in session time. It is also well-known that Mr Boddie has a habit of missing the train from Wellington, and this sort of thing may become chronic. However, the reformer's zeal is much required in politics at present from the King Country point of view. What matters it, therefore, that a train be missed seeing that the delay is in the cause of reform, and the settlers' interests arc being watched with unwinking eye. But, joking apart, to a slothful journalist, the task of representing an electorate such as Taumarunui seems like "knocking oil' work to carry bricks."

Imagination is truly a gift from the gods, but there is something weird and startling in the imagination which outlined the projected railway construction policy which was published recently. Among other lines under the heading of "railways suggested, but not yet authorised," appear various King Country projects, such as Kawa-Kawhia and WhangamomonaOtorohanga. The estimated cost is carefully placed opposite each project, but considering the total comprised in the little list aggregates untold millions, the publication of the same is likely to have rather a depressing influence than otherwise. I endeavoured to cast up the total, but not being specially gifted with imaginative powers, fell into a state of coma before reaching the result. The Whangamomona - Otorohanga line, which I am informed is to be. started immediately the present Government is ejected from office, would open up a fine tract of country, and and a highlyinteresting controversy regarding the best route to adopt. The country will keep, but let us have the argument as soon as possible. I would suggest that work should be started at convenient points along the route, such as Paemako, Tamata maire (spelling rocky) or other favoured spots, and pushed vigorously ahead east and west. This would be following the usual Governmental methods, and conserving the true interests of the Dominion as a whole, and would benefit the settlers of the back-blocks amazingly. The only point J do not like about this suggestion is that it leaves no field for argument. The advantages set forth are incontrovertible. However, discussion is invited.

! "Codlin's the friend, not Short," is j a phrafe which naturally occurs to one's mind from time to time, and incidentally much edification may be obtained by a disinterested observation of a controversy. In the heat of argument history is apt to be manufactured, and geography dismayed in a manner shocking to conscientious people. However, to the enquiring mind the effect, while exhilarating, is also largely educational. One rarely realises the depth of his ignorance with regard to his surroundings until he hears the merits or demerits of the said surroundings proclaimed by the voice of the partisan. As a rc-f-ult of a recent controversy 1 have acquired much valuable information about; Kawhia, its history, its present greatness, and its bright destiny. Other places, of course, have been mentioned, such as Marakopa, Te Kuiti, and Kiritehere—but, why dwell on insignificance when our only port is the subject in question. For, be it known, it is as a pert that Kawhia founds its claims upon futurity, and its citizens, though possessing a worthy pride in its present greatness, yet bear themselves with becoming modesty. But their limitless faith in the future of their port makes them long with an infinite yearning for the elixir which will give them perennial youth so that they may be on hand to participate in the luminous destiny. It is pathetic to think that a destiny of such magnitude and brightness should be indefinitely enshrouded in futurity, but Rome was not built in a day, and many things require to be touched by the seasoning hand of Time before achieving their full development. Space forbids me to chronicle what further information I gleaned from the controversy, but I am privately informed that there are no snakes in Kawhia—at least no real ones.