RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 550, 15 March 1913, Page 3

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker. The new County Council of Awakino will find ample work ahead of it in the matter of providing roads in the King Country's farthest-out district. Fortunately the personnel of the first council is such as to inspire every confidence.that nothing will be left undone to accomplish the best possible result. The council is getting into harness at the beginning of winter and some months must elapse before material manifestation of the council's work can be obtained. The experience of other local bodies in the district shows plainly the benefits of obtaining as much money as possible for metalling, and it is probable the £SOOO limit which hampers older counties in proceeding with necessary work will be worked up to as soon as the machinery of the new council ia thoroughly established.

It is understood that Sergeant Mathew, who has just received his promotion contemplates resigning from the force. Popular local opinion holds that while Mr Mathew is a highly able and efficient policeman, a firstclass farmer will be lost to the country as long as he remains in the blue-coated ranks. Rumour hath it that the reason of Mr Mathew's resignation is the refusal of the authorities to consider an application for a few weeks' leave of absence. If this is the correct reason there is something lacking in the administration of a department when it peremptorily declines to extend the slightest consideration to an officer who can point to years of good and faithful service in which holidays were conspicuous for their absence. Discipline is an altogether admirable thing in the force, but when it is stretched too far it goes very close to being styled tyranny.

The impending departure of Mr W. Fo White, stationmaster, from Te Kuiti, recalls the early days of the town before Te Kuiti had risen above the dignity of a flag station. Mr White was Te Kuiti's first stationmaster He arrived to open the office in July, 1907, and was accompanied by a porter. Shortly afterwards a clerk was found necessary to cope with the work, and from that time the history of the railway business is one of unbroken progress. In May, 1908, a new temporary railway station was erected, and four assistants were appointed. The opening of the Main Trunk line in February, 1909, led to a further increase. After much agitation on the part of the residents it became evident even to the heads of the department that the station accommodation at Te Kuiti was inadequate, and a comprehensive scheme of improvements was undertaken. The result is that the station is one of the best appointed and moHt up to-date on the line. When the inter-locking system and the electric light have been installed the appointments will be all that could be desired.

The residents who have been at Te Kuiti for any length of time will appreciate Mr White's work thoroughly. From the time he took charge of the station he obtained a comprehensive grasp of the potentialities of the King Country centre, and his recommendations to the department concerning necessary improvements were doubtless based on his conception of the dis trict's resources. To grow up wtih a town from its flag station days to see it the busiest and best appointed railway centre on an important line is an experience not given to many, and Mr White may well be congratulated for the efficient and able manner in which he has carried out his duties. The sad bereavement suffered by the loss of his wife last year has affected Mr White profoundly, and universal sympathy will be extended to him on the occasion of his departure from among the many friends of both himself and the late Mrs White.