RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 558, 12 April 1913, Page 5

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker. All eyes will be turned to the sea coast at the end of the month, and crowds of loyal subjects will journey to Auckland to get a glimpse of the Dreadnought which this country presented to Britain. The gift was baptised with war, a stern battle being waged between partisans of rival political factions as to the necessity of the gift on the part of New Zealand To their credit be it said that neither political leader objected to the gift now held it unnecessary, but certain of the camp followers were quite noisy in their denunciation. Backblock roads may be of great impurtancs to us. but we have to remember that only by the Empire holding the unchallenged mastery of the seas i 3 the construction of backblock roads possible to us,

The Britisher may take his pleasures sadly, but as far as recreation is concerned he has a reasonable variety, and manages to maintain the national traditions connected therewith. The approach of winter is signalised by the calling of meetings in connection with football, golf, and hockey, to say nothing of the debating society. The bowler, who has been much in the public eye for months past will probably fold up his kitty and put it away in lavender.while last season's bowls will no doubt serve for fuel on an extra cold winter night. The member of the club will no doubt join the debating society in order to keep in form for next eason,which promises to be an exceptionally exciting one. Somebody has suggested continuing the game through the winter, but there does not appear to have been much enthusiam displayed in the matter. Imagine a team of bowlers clad like Arctic explorers meandering up and down a bowling green in winter. In justice to other branches of sport it should be a recognised rule that bowls should be burnt at the conclusion of the legitimate season.

A noticeable feature which may be attributed to the improvement of the backblock roads is the number of settlers who drive into town instead of using the saddle horse. Included in the alteration is the gratifying fact that the settlers' wives are more frequently in town, and the pioneering era is beginning to wane. It will now only be a matter of a very few years when people who are regarded as pioneers will be telling their tales of olden days to an admiring and doubting audience, and the hardships of the backblocks will ba remembered only as a term used to arouse the sympathy of those to whom the settler looked for road grants. After all we are progressing and when metal takes the place of mud, there will be no backblocks left. The real struggle between railway and motor tractior will then begin.

The English Amateur Rowing Association has refused permission for an eight representing the Thames Boating Club to visit Australia owing to the expenses being guaranteed. The association will not permit the members to accept the Australian offer to provide the passage money as a con travention of the amateur rule.