RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 465, 15 May 1912, Page 7

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker. An unusual activity wad observed in Te Kuiti streets on ' Wednesday last and upon investigating the matter it was found that workmen were busily engaged in making crossings at the principal intersections of Kora street. Following closely uti the policy propounded by the candidates for municipal honours the fact ha 3 a special significance, and residents have been heard to express the opinion that is nothing like new blood for stirring things up. Another noteworthy achievement was the passage of the bridge by the stone crusher on Wednesday. Possibly the crusher will now fulfill its natural function in the world, which wa3 stated with much clearness by Mr Floyd in his address on Tuesday night, to be crushing stone. * * * The political atmosphere at present is charged with electricity, and there are not Jacking signs that when the new Ministry meets the House, portentous happenings will occur. Judging from the preliminary spars which have taken place between the new Premier and Mr Massey, there will be a very pretty exchange of amenities between the rival leaders when they face each other on the convincing ground. According to the Premier's recent public utterances he is convinced that the great body of the people are favourable to the new Ministry. From this it would appear that if ths Reform Party succeeds in ousting the Government the representative of the Clan Mackenzie will be "sold" and not bought. * * *

Highlanders have always been credited with the possession of a very proper national pride, and the suggestion that the Mackenzies had ever given occasion for reproach was calculated to stir the patriotic bloud of our new Prime Minister. If it be true that the Opposition leader, in a moment of levity, said anything that could be construed into a slur on the clan to which his rival belongs, there will be feathers flying when a meeting occurs. There are other reasons, of course, why the battle will be bitter, but a highlander whose clan has be'en called in question is quite a sufficient factor to provide a battle that will rank high in history.

The local political world also is providing quite a mild excitement and the Te Kuiti people are becoming blase where elections are concerned. The borough council election last week provoked quite a simmer of excitement, and speeches from the candidates. Nothing new or startling was propounded in the way of local government. As a matter of fact the field is rather limited, and the opportunity for originality rarely occurs. The most striking feature of Mr Floyd's speech was the plain and literal statement of fact and detail. No oratorical flights were . attempted, and personalities were studiously avoided, while a spade was designated hy its ordinary title without embroidery. As a maiden effort before a Te Kuiti audience it made a decided impression. However, it is rumoured that the efforts at the past election will be completely eclipsed by those at the election to be held on Wednesday next.

The success attending tha efforts of Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce in the matter of postal boxes on the railway station for the receipt of late letters by the night expresses will doubtless spur that body to greater deeds. There are numerous directions in which its activities could be employed. An attempt was to have been made to induce the Chamber to take steps to have the weather regulated so that people would not become confused as to the seasons. " However, a spell of fine frosty weather nipped the movement in the bud, and the officials ere looking round for fresh to conquer. A country settler hazards the opinion that they wont require to look far. A run out to Pio Pio Pio in the coach would convince most people that all the efforts of all the public bodies in the district could safely be devoted to the roads question for some timu to come. Unlike the native land difficulty the roads question will not settle itself.

A back blocks member of Parliament has many duties to perform, and taken all round the office is not a lazy man's job. The fact that the farmer politicians, who presumably combine the strenuous physical with the incessant mental toil, hold their own bravely in the political arena leads one torefleet that there may be something in the country air after a:!. Evidently there ia a strong tonic in King Country atmosphere which sends people locking for work. On his way to the Pio Pio meeting last Thursday, Mr C. K. Wilson, the member for the district discovered a waggon hopelessly bogged on the road. With characteristic energy the genial member put his heart into the work of extricating the team. n. strenuous hour and a-half was experienced before the rescue was effected, and the member bore more than his share. The driver has only got one vote End it is already promised for next election. To his honour be it said that Mr Wilson doesn't do that sort of thing for the sake of votes. He can't help doing it.