RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 500, 14 September 1912, Page 5

RANDOM REMARKS.

By "Onlooker.

The weather is again causing dissatisfaction to the community in general. Those who have no other cause for discontent are reduced to wondering how the earth has incurred tha displeasure of Providence. Those to whom the weather is merely an added grievance are becoming reckless. Soothing thoughts are engendered by the optimists, to whom the weather now prevailing is but the harbinger of something better. Truly, there has been ample opportunity for healtny optimism of late. Strikes, financial tightness, and weather constitute a combination calculated to stimulate the most virile optimism.

The local Parliament must be invested with an optimistic vein of singular and abiding strength. The butt of the humorist ; the toy of the idle rich; the stamping ground of the blatant agitator, it has still held possession of a sturdy, well-balanced element sufficient to steer it through the shoals of political expediency. A deep debt of gratitude is due to the members who, regardless of all minor considerations, have, with uplifted eyes, kept the higher goal in review, and worked loyally and unostentatiously for the common good.

Ohura is progressing. It has discovered that the chief object for which the proposed back blocks association is to be created is the establishing of a hospital at Te Kuiti. The penetration necessary to make such a discovery is of the weird order of things, and indicates a wide range of thought. Seriously speaking the cooperation of the back blocks local bodies for their mutual benefit is much too important a matter to be so lightly treated. It is to be sincerely hoped no such ridiculous heresies will receive consideration. Considering that counties such as Cilfton, Whangamomona, Kaitieke and Kawhia are joining in the movement and that equal representation is given to each district interested there is little likelihood of any purely parochial feeling being given much consideration.

The hospital movement is much too large a question to be handled by any one local body, let alone one particular town. It is obvious that any movement towards the setting up of a separate hospital district for the King Country can only be handled at a conference of all the local authorities likely to be affected thereby. Moreover, the Government is a highly interested party to any such proceeding and any suggestions regarding the same will be carefully scrutinised by Parliament before the wishes of the people are given effect to. At the present moment there is just a3 much danger of a hospital being established at Ohura as at Te Kuiti. Possibly, Ohura has the better chance. Persistent rumours are afloat regarding a change of the capital. No more ideal capital site could be found than the sequestered valley, especially in view of the discovery of an unlimited metal supply at Tatu.