RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 680, 24 June 1914, Page 2

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker. ', The Prime Minister has coma: and gone and has left behind bim the definite impression of strength and kindliness which is the special stamp of the big natured ones of the earth. It is Mr Massay's duty to declaim and he does so; it is not bis duty to receive endless deputations concerning departmental matters with wh : ch he has little or nothing to do, yet lie does so, and maintains an unfailing good humour, and manifests a kindly interest which goes a long way towards winning the goodwill of thuse with whom he comes into contact. Te Kuiti should feel highly honoured from the fact that it is the place choßen by tar Masssey to deliver his last-Bpeech before the session. It may have be«n the swan song of the Government, but it did not BouncLJike it.

As an example of the deputation, craze carried to excess one only has to consider the ca%e of the removal of the office of the Registrar of Electors from Waitara to Te Kuitil When the Te Haiti deputation was pointing out the advantages of Te Kuiti as the centre of the electorate and urging the Prime Minister to inspire the Government to prompt action in effecting the deßired the matter had already be.en decided'and the new registrar appoint-, ed. Mr Massey is too experienced a politician to give anything but ft diplomatic reply to a request, and did not give himself away further than to indicate his ignorance of departmental workings outside his own Bphere. There is a leßßon to be learned from every incident, and when the people have recovered from laughing over the episode, they will probably discover the moral.

Attending meetings becomeß ho much a part of a journalist's life that little notice is taken of the ordinary gathering beyond giving a faithful record of the happenings worth recording. On a different plane to the ordinary gathering, however, the annual meeting cf a howling club must tank as an event associated with the funda ' mental principles of social life. On such an occasion is the true bowler Been at his best. The stress of the Beason ia over, and he has time r to give rein to the generous impulses of his nature, and credit the other fellow with the value of his. performances. The imposing assemblage W&ich gathered recently at Te Kuiti to discuss the past season's doings and. prepare for the future was sufficient to cause a thrill of pride..to Btir the heart of anv bowler, while to preside at such a gathering must be an honour accorded to few.

0 The president's speech was a study in detail,' and disclosed a widely extended knowledge and a sympathetic consideration which only an enthusiast could possess. The only weakness shown at the meeting waß the hero-wor-ship extended to one or two players by a sycophantic rank and file, who apparently had not read Carlyle. As one well-tried veteran put it, the only good achieved by the worshippers was to cause a run on the butter market, .the beat brands advancing two or three points the following day.'.? That two players should be so singled out for special mention is a clear manifestation of the generous nature of howlers in general—when, they are not bowling. Possibly the worship of one of the players by the colts was justified, but the other is such a proved dodger of responsibility that the eulogiums in his case must have been m sant sareastic.

As before remarked, one of the most striking features of the meeting was the president's speech. Not a single detail was forgotten, while the specikl reference. made to the brilliant combination which toured to Gambridge indicated a clear sighted judgment which is granted only a few favoured mortals. Naturally such a president was promptly re-elected. When he represents the club at the opening of the Ohura green he wil] certainly be knighted. It will be interesting to note how the two belauded players shape during the coming season. At present they are spurning the earth in truly regal faßhioq in tiie endeavour to live up to their reputation. It would be a really decent ast for a disinterested friend to induce them to turn their attention to croquet during the coming season. Their bowling reputation would thus not be endangered, and they would be handy enough to allow , the hero-worship-per. to point them out to wondering and awe-stricken, colts and visitors. A handy hero is always an asset to a young club. - '

The Acclimatisation Society's etorm in a tea cup ha 9 ended BBtis* factorily to all parties concerned.

The raffled feathers have been smoothed, and the storm riven waters of the troot' streams have been reduced to a calm serenity rivalling that of a bowling cluh meeting. Tbe little difference has done"'. Inestimable "good, inasmuch as members have been inspired with fresh interest and the president and a committeeman of tbe Auckland Society have been added to the rank and file of the King Country body. This, of course, is as it should be, and the local Society will now be in a position to % direct the parent body in tbe straight and narrow path without being open to a charge (of lese majeste. Apropos of the suggestion to net the Mangapu, why not employ one or two of the local fish divers who have proved their ability very convincingly during the past season. Nets may be all right, but a tried and proven diver such as we have in our midst should not be overlooked.