RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 340, 25 February 1911, Page 6

RANDOM REMARKS.

■© —©■ -- (By "Onlooker.")

To state the obvious is simple; in fact nine-tenths of us go through life content to remark only upon those things which require no demonstration. The style; the time; the place, and the frequency of statement concerning any given subject are the things that count, and- make people think. The importance of the subject to the well being of the people is of secondary consideration from the fact that what benefits one section of the community is frequently detrimental to another section. When not directly detrimental it is immaterial and without interest. The present spell of dry weather is a case in point. Judging from common talk one would imagine our settlers were all lamenting the drought and inclined to feel a grievance against Providence for not providing copious rains in summer and a nice dry spell in winter when it would be appreciated. However, the optimist is always with us, thank Heaven, and even our back-block settlers from their surroundings of smoke and fire and dust can draw consolation from the general discomfort. On sale day I met a number of settlers from out-back, and from my store of human sympathy attempted to commiserate with then:. Soon I discovered that things were not so bad as they seemed to the surface-thinking townsman. In many cases second fires.were wanted in bush clearings and the dry spell provided a very necessary opportunity for cleaning up dirty burns on bush farms. In such cases the settlers are content to look severely on what at first glance may appear to be an unmitigated evil. In other cases where men are growing crops, and depending upon rain to provide the much needed winter feed an entirely different story may be told. However, a neighbour's misfortune is never quite so serious when our own ends are being served. Besides, it may be our neighbour's turn next year. Still the bushman's turn should be served by now, and this reminder to Providence may not be amiss when the occasion arrives. Comparatively little has been heard this season with respect to departmental lethargy in pushing ahead with the metalling of Te KuitiAwakino road. Time was when this particular work was a fruitful source of agitation, and the days of our longsufl'ering member were rendered vexatious by reason of demands and complaints against an unsympathetic Government. The reason of the change is buried in the shadows of obscurity which surround much popular agitation. There is as much reason as ever for the rigorous prosecution of the work, and probably less departmental activity than in past seasons. Nevertheless, our member is not harassed, nor are the waking hours of the Minister of adamantine mind made hideous with appeals, demands and threats. The solution of the riddle is difficult to discern. Possibly our settlers are too deeply interested in the weather; possibly they have abandoned hope, realising the futility of making an impression on adamant; perhaps—yes, perhaps they are becoming lamblike in their methods,- and have determined to turn the other cheek to the blow, until they have a chance to get in a knock-out hit of their own. But, joking apart, it is ridiculous that a great and important work should be handled in such a crude and unsatisfactory manner. Three months in a year is about the average time spent in actual metalling, and apparently we have to be thankful to get that amount of attention.

The question has again arisen of the creation of a special education district for the King Country. This time there appears to be a tendency to treat the proposal with the serious consideration which it merits. The matter has on more than one occasion been brought before Parliament by Mr Jennings, M.P., but the King Country was evidently deemed of little importance in those days by the powers that be, and our member's patriotic proposals were coldly regarded. A separate education district and a separate land district are important items in Mr Jennings' ambitions for the King ountry. And who shall say they should not, or shall not be? Cinderella always comes into her own, and with the Robe Potae on the high road to achieve the brilliant destiny we all have prophesied there is little doubt as to the ultimate fulfilment of our member's ambitions. Incidentally there are one or two other items equally important on in the scheme of King Country ambitioiH, and with an equally signicfiant bearing on its destinies. The pushing through of the Main TrunkStratford railway from King Country end is deserving of the dignity of special mention, while the great native question rears itself unabashed in our midst despite the benign and smiling assurances ot' the Prime Minister and the Hon. J. Carroll. — Nevertheless and notwithstanding, despite our many disabilities we are progressing. Moreover, we have a cheeerful and unshakeable confidence in the future of our district. We are buoyed up by the knowledge that in the garden valley of the Ohura nestles the future capital of the Dominion; that Taumarunui and Waitomo will outrival Rotorua as tourist centres; that Te Kuiti will be the Chicago of the North- -not the Chicago of "Jungle" fame, but a great city rendered clean and sweet by the efforts of her patiotic and far-seeing public men; that Otorohanga's suburbs will extend to Hangatiki and the system of railways will reach the coast. In those days also the dreams of loyal Pio Pio residents will have materialised. The education of her children will not be conducted in the shade of the hedge rows, under the blue vault of Heaven, or in hired buildings, or even in a gaudy marquee. Handsome and durable structures will exist, filled with the teeming multitude of her children, while hard by will be

seen a palatial limestone structure surrounded bv the broad acres under cultivation which constitute the surroundings of an up-to-date agricultural college. A cheering thought bids me hope that at the entrance to the spacious grounds will stand a j statue suitably inscribed with the j record of the great and noble work ; accomplished by the pioneer educa- j tionalist of the district. Waitoino is intoxicated; actually ; and unashamedly inebriated. At i least if it has not reached that delect- ; able stage there is cause for wonder, and the caves district has earned a i reputation for level-headedness, for : it undoubtedly carries its liquor well. ; At the recent official opening of the new cave the christening ceremony j was carried out on orthodox lines, and [ a whole bottle of champagne was | spilled at the entrance. Everything j considered I should "hae ma doots" i about the proceeding, but the record , appeared in cold print, and is now a j matter of history. The district, how- j ever, has received a shock which has j shaken it to its social core. Imagine j the thirsty King Country visitor approaching the new cave for the first time. How lightly and carefully he will tread across that hallowed threshold; with what veneration he will seek to discern the very spot that was l damped with the precious nectar; j what visions altogether disassociated ! from the caves and cave men will the circumstance revive. Champagne! ; Spilled in the King Country. And , they say the Minister is Scotch! The j name is certainly redolent of heather j and brose and sundry other Caledonian ; attributes, but he must have left home very, very young. The Hon. T. Mackenzie gently, but firmly, refused to be drawn regarding j his intentions at the ensuing general | election, albeit the genial Minister , lets it be understood that in the j event of Taieri electorate being con- j signed to the political limbo, he j will entertain any sufficiently press- j ing invitation to come North. Such ; an attitude can readily be understood, i Nearly all self-respecting Southerners are flitting northwards as fast as they can make the necessary arrangements; the best of them are naturally gravitating to the King Country. On the other hand there seems to be r.o special reason why a Northern electorate should, with impetuous and undignified haste, open its arms and clasp to its breast any outside politician. What about ou-r . own public men? What of the type of King Country man whose commanding mien and calm, convincing eloquence had power to quell the racecourse mob that, with primitive in- ; stincts aroused, and seething through it, had broken all bounds, and rioted unchecked in open defiance of constituted rule and authority? What , of the men who have fought the fight of the pioneer, who are intimately acquainted with the lives, the hopes ; and aspirations of the men out-back; who have a keen, sympathetic knowledge of our manifold social and poli- ■ tical requirements, men who | cannot fail to be sincere and earnest in their endeavours to better the lot of people they have lived and worked ■ among. Aye, men who will not reck- : lessly and ruthlessly shatter cham- : pagne bottles, and spill the contents on cold unresponsive limestone, in a j thirst-consumed country. But all this may be unnecessary. Taieri is still j on the map; Taumarunui is as yet j undivided. i