RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 536, 25 January 1913, Page 3

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker. Mr Massey and his colleagues are at present tasting the sweets of office They are performing their public duty by visiting the various districts, and keeping as stiff an upper lip as pos sible when asked to spend money at a time when a conspicuous stringency exists. One of the advantages of a n»w Government is that it starts off with a clean sheet, and has a convenient excuse for declining requests by stating that it has not yet made its financial arrangements. A political leader is faced with a herculean task in dealing with the multitudinous applications which come before him — an empty•' treasury makes the task well nigh impossible. Obviously the mental agility necessary to be a success as a politician can only be acquired by long experience and the habit of judicious compromise. Mr Massey is at present a popular man. In this district his popularity is likely to continue as lung as he does not compromise on the question of roads.

The gentle Ohurans are evidently beginning to experinnce the life strenuous as compared with the life idyllic, which has hitherto reigned supreme in the: peaceful valley. They ar« actually asking for a policeman to be stationed in their midst. Hitherto the conditions existing at Ohura have rendered the presence of the law in uniform a luxury. Whatever may have been the life history of the new settler prior to taking up residence in the garden valley directly he breathed the exhilirating air of Ohura, and became surrounded with the atmosphere of the locality his natural tendencies were, so modified by the local influence that brotherly love was the only thing which mattered to him. But, alas! time has evidently wrought drastic changes. The benign influence of peace and goodwill no longer rule supreme. The spirit of progress must be met, and a policeman must be on hand to enforce law and order. After all we have to pay dearly for our civilisation.

The doughty deeds of the Te Kuiti bowling team at the big tournament held recently at Auckland have evidently inspired the club members to enthusiasm, and there are wild rumours of what the club is going to do in the bowling world generally. Aa an earnest of their intentions a start has been made to put the green in such a condition that the trailing of "kitty" or drawing the shot will be accomplished with that degree of delicacy and certainty which delights the true votary of the historic game. Hitherto the local green has been interesting chiefly as affording a study in attitudes. It now threatens to become a place (within the meaning of the Act), where true bowling deportment may be witnessed, and aspiring trundlers of the biassed sphere will come from far and near to receive an education not obtainable elsewhere. It is to the credit of southern bowlers that a number of teams returning from Auckland took advantage of the opportunity to pause at Te Kuiti and receive valuable instruction.

The forthcoming A. and JP. Show is creating quite a flutter of interest throughout the / district and the support of the settlers generally is assured. The association promiseg to be a highly popular feature of the district, and visions of future greatness and usefulness already brighten the eyes of those responsible for its inauguration. In the days to come when Te Kuiti has become established as'the one particular show centre of the Island; when the association's certificate will be the hall-mark of quality for stock, and when the president's voice on matters agricultural and pastoral will mean the last word on the subject as affecting the Dominion, it is to be hoped the efforts of the first president and his loyal band of co-workers will not be forgotten. When a worthy movement has been started and carried to a given point it grows in volume and becomes celebrated through its own worth and weight. It was has merely to be carried on along well recognised lines in order to be a credit to all concerned. The work accomplished at the inauguration lives through the history of the movement, and remains a force which is frequently unrecognised. It is to be hoped recognition in the case of the King Country Central Asslociation will take such form as to render it imperishable.

Hospital matters in the district have ceased to be quite such a burning question as they were some little time ago. People have begun to realise that the work of controlling a hospital district, and keeping the organisation up to the requirements demanded by progress is not such an easy matter as it appears on the surface. If the various districts exercised due consideration and progressed in rotation instead of advancing all together the. work of the board would be simple,and no heart burnings would be caused. However, evolution naver did work to a definite specification and queer things are suspected of it. Still, there is no doubt the little agitations stirred up those board members who were apt to regard the central hospital as the only thing worth attention, and the backblock requirements are likely to meet with readier consideration in future. -'lt's an ill wind that blows nobody good."

Speaking of hospital matters, the Pio Pio residents and others who inaugurated the scheme for' establishing a doctor at; Pio Pio are to be complimented on the successful outcome of their efforts. The backblock residents can now indulge in all the fashionable ailments at a moderate cost, and the most confirmed hypochondriac will find attractions in the environs of Pio Pio^which have hitfiertb been lacking. T^

other highly important feature which should not be overlooked. A very convenient excuse for the coy and bashful bachelor, who should have married long ago, is removed. No longer can the bachelor pose as the embodiment of manly consideration and chivalry by declaring that he cannot bring a wife to the backblocks, because a doctor is not within reach. I have always regarded that argument with suspicion, and will watch developments with interest.