RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 668, 13 May 1914, Page 6

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker.

Promptly to time the Debating Society ia announced ta hold its annual meeting and re-enter the whirl of the giddy life of the tuwn. A feeling is said to bs prevalent that a strong effort should'"'ba made to encourage country members in the society. The purely professional element of the town is becoming altogether tuo prominent, and a leavening influence is urgently required to bring the society to a sufficiently high plane to spread a beneficent influence throughout the community. Whether or not the contention is capable of being upheld is doubtful, but now that metalled roads and motor cars are general it should be possible to attract members from far and wide. The influence which country members may be expected to exert in the ranks of debaters has not been definitely specified, but one enthusiast hazarded the opinion that it was coftimon sense. This was not meant as a reflection on the town members, as the person who made the suggestion is not a contryman.

The lives of our Borough Councillors promise to be full of action during the winter, and it is difficult to predict when the by-laws committee will nave time to complete their selfimposed task of revision. There may be inconsistencies, idiosyncracies, anomalies or other fearsome epithets levelled at the laws governing our municipality, while a paradox or two may be included to give tone to the budget,but the laws will have to stand on their merits and afford food for discussion for a considerable period yet. It is rather dreadful, however, to think that people who are aware that the community is suffering under such a fearful drawback make little effort to remedy euch an evil. Until recently I had a feeling of profound reverence for laws of any description, but the knowledge that the by-laws of Te Kuiti were so indescribably inefficient that all the adjectives in the dictionary failed to do justice to them imbued me with a sti'l more profound admiration for those who compiled the laws in question. The feeling one naturally has for tho devoted band entrusted with revising such laws soars to a plane beyond mortal power to imagine, and the revised work will be cherished as it will deserve to be.

The fay-laws having been consigned to a committee may be hold to be satisfactorily dealt with. They may emerge from the committee stage before the present Council dissolves, in which case the revised edition can be adopted or not as the Council desires. There is no suggestion of hardship to the ratepayers under the existing laws and no sleep need be lost in conge-' quence of the old laws remaining in exitaenee a while longer. Some of the Council matters cannot be su conveniently shelved,and there is promise of an interesting time in connection with the river deviation scheme. The battle on this subject should be keen and the interest of the electors should be roused to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. Then, again, the electric installation is sure to inspire the utmost interest in those who have the welfare of the borough at heart, We are fortunate in having so many burning questions to band, otherwise the).-e would be the responsibility of creating matters of interest with which to tickle the palate of the public. Everything considered, it is probably wise to hold ud the by-laws revision for a time. That will serve as a theme of interest when tha3e other controversial matters have bepn settled.

A Mayoral installation may be made a ceremony of much pomp and circumstance according to the taste and fancy of the individual upon whom the dignity falls. , It is bard to believe that a King Country Mayoral instalJ lation was allowed to pass as an ordinary happening, but the fact remains that the installation of the Mayor at Te Kuiti was of a very informal nature. Hardly a ripple appealed on the surface of Council events to distinguish the happening from an ordinary gathering. Possibly the fact that there had been no contest for the position made it simply a matter of course for the Mayor to make his delcaration and get to business as though Mayoral installations were of everyday occurrence. It is safe to assume that when Mr Boddia vacates the chair his successor will be installed with a great deal more ceremony. The installation of the new councillors was a more trying ordeal, but the declarations were read without a tremor, and the new msmbei'3 boro themselves with a dignity befitting the occasion. The customary amenities having now been exchanged the way is cleared for controversy, and the civic hall may be expected to ring with turgid eloquence at all future meetings.

It will be widely admitted that shooting expeditions are highly enjoyable and a man who misses a shooting trip during the season is to be commiserated. In addition to the trip there is the after experience of anecdote, and the calling to mind of such happenings as "who shot the quail," or "how the bird escaped." Striking event 3 are emphasised, and weaknesses in organisation are noted for'future attentiuii, while everybody is intent upon contributing to tha general harmony. Some of the experiences of a party which recently visited Waimiha are amusing, while others are merely suitable for recounting in the smoke room. The amusing incidents are chiefly associated with the culinary efforts of the visitors and the manner in which such duties were apportioned. So great was the rivalry in this direction that there was serious danger of discord, and a chef is to be engaged to accompany the party on the next expedition. Ho is to be a non-combatant of strict prohibition principles.