COUNTRY NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 391, 30 August 1911, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

(Own Correspondents). Marokopa. The query "What quality in woman constitutes her greatest power for good" has been interesting the public not a little and making the fortnightly dances very popular. In his standard work on the "Study of Words" Trench discusses this problem. In chapter 3, the "Morality of Words, " this subject is introduced through a study of the word "virtue." It is of Latin origin, being derived from the Latin "vir a man," or "virtus manliness." Hence virtue in its literal sense was a quality which suited manhood, and one might refer to patriotism as one of man's virtues, or manly qualties. To-day it is sometimes used in this sense, but is more generally applied to woman. We s<>me times speak of love, contentment, etc., as virtues of womanhood. Hence it is applied in an individual sense. Or we may apply the term collectively, calling the sum total of her attributes her virtue. Trench makes very clear that to possess chastity is to possess all, to forfeit chastity to give up all. Hence this quality is the eh.ef attribute for good, combining her other good qualities just as the leader combines his followers by his presence. That love for offspring is not the greatest of all attribute for good was proved by Aesop 2500 years ago in his fable about the donkey and her young ones. One she fondled, the other she neglected. At length it happened that the young one which was caressed and loved was smothered by the too great affection of the mother, while the neglected one lived. Hence too much affection is an obstacle if you wish "to learn the luxury of doing good,"

This cannot be said of chastity, which strengthens every woman in her struggle against evil. The recent speech on the land settlement question by our member, Mr W. T. Jennings, is rousing interests in politics and inducing the settlers to spend a few moments in introspection. There is no doubt that, speaking generally, the white, settler has a very tiny area of his holding in a productive state. Who is to blame? It is admitted by all practical farmers that it does not pay to farm land in the back-block if your section '"s minus a dray road. The packing of stores, grass-seed, wire, etc., at 5s per 1501b, the ordinary horse load, works out at £3 14s 8d per ton. Some settlers in this district have been packing all their imports and exports during the last seven year 3, and it is high time in the interests of settlement that the waggon and four horses supplanted the patient mud-bespattered pack horses. During these seven years, a great deal of money has been expended in the construction of roads and bridges, but much remains yet to be done, as the district is an extensive one. It is expected that a waggon will he running through the Kiritehere valley next summer. A large block of land on the Marokopa river has changed owners. The estate in question is that owned by the late Forbes of the ill-fated Kia Ora.

Otorohano-a

A very large and representative meeting was he'd in response to Mr Osmond's advertisement calling a public meeting to consider erecting a new hall. The meeting was held in Mr Hughe's billiard room on Thursday, August 2-ith. Mr Forster was chairman, and Mr Osmond acted as secretary. Mr F. W. Whyte proposed that the time had arrived when an up to date hall should be erected. In speaking to the motion, he said that the present private hall was good so far as it went, but the town had grown so much and was still growing that the present accommodation was not sufficient for present requirements, let alone future wants. He thought it very desirable that a good hall be built with down to date conveniences.

Mr Osmond, as convenor of the meeting, had great pleasure in seconding the motion, which was carried unanimously.

On being asked if he had any special idea in view, the convenor stated that his first idea in calling the meeting was to form a company with shares at £1 and limited capital, and there was a suggestion that the Town Board be requested to erect a public hall, but personally he did not much care who erected the hall, provided they got a good one erected on a suitable site.

Mr Green was of opinion that to serve the best interests of the township, and to save extra expense which the Town Board would be put to in also purchasing land and erecting an office for its own use, the two should be combined. He proposed that the hall be built by the Town Board. Mr Jno. Ormsby seconded the motion, and stated that the Town Board now had things in working order, and they would be in a position to strike a rate very shortly. The Board would require to secure a site for municipal offices, and he thought it a good plan to erect a hall, and the offices in the same buildng. As a member of the Board he would do what he could to further the matter, but a loan would have to be raised for the purpose, and the matter would be in the hands of the ratepayers when it came before them as a poll for the loan. Mr F. Mace moved an amendment that the hall be erected by a public company. Mr Kidson seconded pro forma. The amendment was lost and the motion carried.

Mr Worthington then moved, that in the event of the Town Board failing to commence the erection of the hall withn twelve months, a company be formed to erect a hall and that a clause be inserted in the articles giving the Board the right of purchase at a valuation. —■ Seconded by Mr Isaac.

Mr Mace moved as an amendment, that the time be six instead of twelve months.—Seconded by Mr Earl.

The amendment was lost rind the motion carried after considerable discussion, Mr Green proposed that the chairman of the then meeting place the decisions arrived at before the Town Board at the meeting of the Board on September 4th. 1011.-

Seconded by Mr Whyte, and carried. Mr Whyte proposed that a hearty vote of thanks be tendered to Mr Osmond for convening the meeting and so inaugrafing a movement which would be to the advancement of the. town. —Carried by acclamation.

A "tarpaulin" collection was made to defray the expense? attached to the convening of the meeting. The money was handed to Mr Osmond, who found he was (5s .'id to the good, and he decided to give this amount to the building fund of the public library. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting. Wharcpuhunga. After an absence of three months. a survey party under Mr R S. Gailbraith have recommenced operations in the block of 20.000 acres of bush and fern land which lies to the south of th;s district. Another party under Mr Edgecumbe will also take to the field shortly, and there are rumours . of a third party going out. So the Government evidently intend that this valuable block shall bo opened for settlement without delay. Engines, milking machines, separators and cream cans, etc.. have been arriving in the district during the last week, and the first dairy season of Wharepuhunga will shortly open in earnest. The tender of Messrs Boyd j and Clark for the cartage of cream to [ the Kawa railway station has been : accepted. The roads are new in splendid condition for this time of the year, and preparations are being made for the , grading machin3, which is expected shortly.