RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 472, 8 June 1912, Page 3

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker. The King Country has been charged with harbouring in its secret recesses so many precious deposits of one sort and another that information to the effect that the whole district is probably coal bearing will hardly disturb the equanimity of its inhabitants. Coal and iron in association are said to be the supreme factors in the wealth production of a country. Certain persevering people with a taste for statistics have compiled figures which declare beyond a doubt that the coal and iron countries are destined to outpace and outlast all competitors. The labour necessary to dispute statistics renders it a process of doubtful wisdom, and figures are in consequence frequently accepted at their face value. It is to be hoped some patriotic King Countryite will approach the Minister for Internal Affairs next Thursday night with a view to discovering the coal wealth of the district. Given the acreage of the district referred to the matter should be easily dealt with —in figures.

Some people are never satisfied. I have an idea this statement has been made before; it bears a familiar appearance on paper; it carries a familiar sound when spoken. It is nevertheless true, though its freshness be tarnished by association with a cold, hard world. As a matter of fact the frequent use of the statement is a tribute to its value. I therefore make use of it in ih-3 full confidence that my readers will appreciate its weight; its worth, and its true significance as applied to the point at issue. Since the vast area known to fame as the King Country has developed into a coal district people have been heard to grumble at the precipitancy with which electric light was adopted for Te Kuiti. With an inexhaustible coal supply at its very door optimistic residents have visions of coal gas at ridiculous cheapness, while asphalt footpaths, and tar dressed metalled roads are regarded as the natural and inevitable result of the opening up of the coal field. Imagination is a gift from the gods when reasonably applied, but it is calculated to lead us into strange, fantastic situations at times. Our roads are not altogether perfect even yet, and the lighting of Te Kuiti might still be considered capable of improvement by captious critics.

The fact that angels are capable of tears is assumed on high authority, and as no enthusiast has arisen to seriously contradict the statement, the assumption is universally allowed before high heaven. On the other hand the susceptibility to emotion on the party of gentle, pitying angels naturally allowa for a sense of humour to counteract the impulse to sorrow. One does not like to imagine the beautiful spirits of one's dream world constantly giving way to tears. Even the hateful spirits of darkness are supposed to have their cheerful moments —when a recruit is added to the ranks.. It has always seemed to me the inhabitants of the nether world must be Scotch, judging from the grimness of their humour. But that is merely idle speculation, and entirely irrelevant to the circumstance which inspired the reference to angels' emotion. To come to the point without further preamble, the spirits which ait aloft must be smiling hugely over the fact of a King Country representative journeying to Waitara to sit on a licensing bench. Mr Scholes is a man of imperturbable demeanour who meets strange circumstance with an unchanging front, but methinks, like other public men, certain occasions affect him inwardly.

The political life of the Dominion has quickened immensely of late, and the approach of a new session whereat the new Mackenzie Ministry will make its maiden effort is viewed with interest by the public generally. If, as many prognosticate, the new Government is summarily returned to the ranks interest in Parliamentary proceedings will be still further enhanced. Mr Massey is highly jubilant concerning the solidarity of his party, and with sood reason. On the other hand the Liberal cause is disturbed by the many aspirants to leadership. Sir Joseph Ward may not be an aspirant in the strict sense of the term, but he is undoubtedly still the most prominent figure in the party. Mr Millar is developing into a man with the mission to "see things right" despite the fact that he has unfortunately lost the sight of one eye. Meanwhile the representative of the Clan Mackenzie is in the load. But what of the other McKenzie? He is lying very low at present.

It is rumoured in certain wellinformed quarters that the main road difficulty is shortly to be settled in a manner undreamt of by any of the parties interested. I am not at liberty to divulge the exact method, as the information was passed on confidentially. However, as the matter is one of the highest importance I cannot refrain mentioing it in the interests of the public. There is nothing like a fine healthy conception of public duty. It inspires one to take the public into one's confidence, and receive the public thanks in due course. It pains me immeasurably to be unable to proclaim from the housetops what is being hatched, but ■—. It is treading

on thin ice to dally over the question, In due course all will be made known

Of the great questions before the local public at the present time the creation of a proper entrance to the school ground is bulking biggest. For a time the main road was the centre of agitation, then borough matters took the public eye, only to give way to the school entrance question. Judging from appearances it is seldom the public mind has been so agitated as in the case under review. On Thursday morning no less than eleven men were to be seen gravely and seri-

sentatives of the Education Boar!, Borough Council, and School Committee were present, while hurrying: to the seat of action could he disc-?r:icd a Chamber of Commerce representative and the private secretary of the Minister for Public Work?. The Minister himself had b'.?en invited to attend, but wired an apology and sent his secretary to take notes. The matter is to be dealt with further when Parliament meets.