RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 541, 12 February 1913, Page 6

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker

Man is temperamentally condemns; to yearn for the unattainable, and the experience is probably excellent, inasmuch as the higher the goal the greater the achievement in the scheme of things. However, there are times whan ons should be guided by that rarest of qualities, common sense, even in setting the standard at which to aim. Beside", there are certa-in modifying circumstances to most efforts, and in times of financial stringency the simple life carries an irrestible appeal to most of us. For instance, certain ambitious and optimistic members of the Te Kuiti Racing Club, in estimating the amount of the probable investments on ine totalisator on race day, fixed the amount on at a modest ten thousand. Various weird reasons were advanced for such an extravagant forecast, one of them bning that the people had got accustomed to the tote, and were very patriotic. There is nothing like a spirit of healthy confidence, but the reason referred to appears to be going one better than usual, even for an optimist.

However, the races were successful, as has already been stated in the Chronicle, and certain other journals, and the district will doabtless continue to take pride in a representative institution. After all. racing is a sport which can be justified on more grounds than one. It has an even greater antiquity than the great science of bowls, and judging from the support accorded it there seems every reason to predict that it will continue in nopularity at least as long as the scientific pastime. Racing at least s.rves to perpetuate the breeding of the swiftest, and most enduring type of animal, which has served the nation will in many different spheres Bowling, of course, is conducive to the de-vek-jiment of a certain type of man whose liability to a "Eersark" frenzy, may be turned to good account when the dogs of war are turned loose in the land. In peaceful times its utility may be questioned, as heroes havs little chance to shine when tho flags are fueled, and man pursues the even tenour of industrialism.

Referring to bowls as it is performed at present, ic is remarkable how close To Kuiti continues to gat to coveted banners without being able to grasp the cherished trophies. The pennant at Auckland just escaped the clutchsa of the bush team, while the pennant at Te Aroha had even a closer shave to being hung in the club house of the local green. 'Twas ever thus, a team can keep on playing for years and threatening to win, but, iu default of the necessary dash of brilliancy, just failing when the crucial test is applied. Everyone sympathises with the honest plugger. It is heartening to learn, however, that the club possesses a team which is destined to produce the necessary quality in its efforts, and will surely add the lustre of victory to the local green If the remote possibility occurred, and the team tasted the bitter ashes of defeat, the opinion of one of the players concerning'the happening would probably be worth hearing.

- Ohura, the valley of many a cherished dream, is apparently destined to come into its own at last. Fresh dis eoveries of various descriptions, are continually being made, many of which are of special interest to a widespread public. Others, again, are more of local importance, but with these one does not need to dally. To the sports man it will cause a thrill of genuine pleasure to learn that trout have been caught in the river, and there are indications that more of the speckled beauties dtill lurk in the pools, or sport in the reaches, of the winding stream. By the way, most streams are winding, but the sinaosity of the Ohura is an abiding source of wonderment to the unway visitor. It is just possible those trout would not have been caught had they not become dizzy negotiating the turns of the current. A very fine waterfall has also been discovered in the district, and the beauties of the fall are said to rival the attraction < of the thermal regions, without presenting any of the inconveniences which abound in the district of eternal earthquakes. There are numerous other discoveries which may be alluded to on another occasion. Having started on water in the Ohura it is a cardinal sin to change the topic.