RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 624, 3 December 1913, Page 6

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker.

The weather has been playing such tricks as would make the very angels weep if they were looking forward to Christmas, and endeavouring to get through their spring cleaning in time to prepare for visitors, or holidays, or any of the manifold pleasures, duties, or habits to which we mortals are addicted. In the dim and distant aged long ago when a dreary apell of wet weather was experienced I used to wonder if the rain drops were really the tears of angels weeping over the sins of a wicked world. I used to make tremendous resolutions not to be wicked again, and so save the world from deluge. My opinions have altered sines then, and 1 am now- aware of the fact that the sample of weather experienced lately is not the effect of wickedness; it is the cause. If one had the power to reduce anathema to writing such genius would be welj corned by a long suffering public if its condemnation were directed against the weather, The overstrained nervoub system would find a real delight and relaxation in agreeing with a hallmarked anathema calculated to meec the occasion, and Providence would hardly take offence. Unfortunately the chamnion local anathematisers work off their eloquence at bowls, or fishing or other annoyances, and leave no room for a real genuine grievance like the weather. Verily, man is a mass of contradictions — when he doesn't do as the other fellow wants him to. The Auckland Exhibition is having a particularly bad time at present. but an inauspicious beginning may have quite a prosperous middle age and a glorious ending. I have always been of opinion that the cycle of events which have strewn the path of the Exhibition executive with difficulties had their origin outside the Dominion. The rabid little Aucklander, however, is quite of a different opinion. He is blindly convinced that Wellington is the author of all the troubles, and as a final toucb has transported a Wellington gale northwards just to add interest to the proceedings. I have to confess to being an Aucklander myself and while naturally prepared to be lieve the worst of Wellington, I feel impelled to return a verdict of "not proven" against the Empire City. According to the labour agitator, the Bins of the cpitalists are being visited on the Exhibition project; the Prohibitionist probably thinks the Trade has something to do with it; while the anti-militarist will, no doubt, treasure tne secret belief that conscription is at the bottom of the trouble. The plain, blant man, who takes a ticket in Tatts and dreams of future wealth, wll set the chain of adverse circumstances down to luck, and buy another ticket. Being an optimist I still have hopes for the Exhibition, though they have left the Exhibition bowling tournament a trifle late in the season. In discussing the science of bosls at Te Kuiti at the present time one is treading on extremely delicate ground. The club is thriving; eager players throng the green when weather permits; the mug holders have succesfully defended their trophies; and the grounds are in perfect condition It seems to the ordinary observer as though nothing but weather was required to perfect the happiness of the club members. But things are not always what they seem. The prowess or the players is unchallenged, and that the art is being acquired by more than the strutting, blatant few is indicated by the fact that the mug holdern were decisively beaten, by & junior team last week. It was a glorious victory, contested inch by inch, according to the best traditions of the garnet until the junior skip put the result beyond doubt, and sealed his fame by defending kitty with his last bowl. But to return to the point. The elub is suffering from a surplus of talent and enthusiasm, and the combination has not yet become blended sufficiently to make it an easy matter to choose the best men for the various positions. At present the club possesses onlyiwo skips: the leader of the mugholders and the skip who defeated him. There may be others" but there are not nearly as many as some of the players imagine. Meanwhile the controversy concerning flannels continues.