RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 664, 29 April 1914, Page 2

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker. We are once more in the giddy whirl of politics, and the average person who prefers to take his politico in the proper season is'justified in feeling a distinct grievance. We all look forward to a political season every three years. Thoße of us who bßve not outgrown our enthusiasms put heart and soul into the campaign, while even those who have watched the game for yearß, and assessed the inwardness of things political at something like their true worth feel a stirring of the pulse for a time. To enjoy politics properly and receive the correct amount of sensation therefrom they must be taken in Beason and under proper conditions. It is a distinct breach of form to anticipate the season as has been the case recently. Bowling has not been discontinued yet and the Debating Society has not commenced operations. In connection with the Society it is to be hoped there are not too many distractions this season to enable the proper interest to be evinced by our budding statesmen in the local parliament. Had the Society been in session there would hßve been no need for a public meeting over the river deviation scheme.

The weather is an all-absorbing topic at present. It is behaving in a manner supposed to be copyrighted by the "adorable feminine" element of society. I use the term supposed to be advisedly. Pew of the sterner sex have their conduct governed by fixed principles, and those who have are frequently objectionable. It ia only when we begin to get old and are compelled to study over inner organism that the whim of the moment ceases to appeal to us. There are, of course, immaculate characters who never swear at the weather, and always consult a list of maxims before deciding upon action of any sort. They usually achieve parliamentary honours for one term, or live to dignify the ranks of the various associations promoted for putting other people right. They have been known to belong to a debating society, but these are rare cases, and entirely foreign to the King Country. Their place in the social sphere would be hard to fill and we would all miss them. We would also miss the weather, on the spbject of which this remark was commenced. Yes; the weather is a highly useful element in its place; so is the immaculate character. So is the average person.

When one is reduced to writing about the weather the conclusion of the effort is usually in sight. However, it would never do to refrain from touching on the river deviation scheme, the fate of which is hanging in the balance. The number of jbjections which have been urged against the scheme "from a purely public standpoint," are legion while the benefits to be derived from the scheme lie more or lesß in the future seeing that the work cannot be accomplished for some considerable time. However, after the public explanations of the proposal which have been given to the average ratepayer jointly and severally, the aforesaid ratepayer should be in that delightfully mixed frame of mind so necessary to the recordng of a disinterested vote. Personally, I should like to see the river deviated into a straight line from boundary to boundary of the borough, and spanned with bridges at the end of every street leading to the stream, but it is a matter of ways and means. To achieve progress man must follow devious paths and adapt himself to the circumstances of the moment. Then he is called an opportunist.