RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 740, 27 January 1915, Page 6

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker

Jn the spring a young man'fl fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. In the summer tho thoughts of the local youth ore diverted to great institutions of the sporting world, such as races, show, bowls, and other similar recreations. The approach of the show is foreshadowed throughout the country by many signa familiar to those \ who take their pleasure in breeding the best stock, or possessing tho beet horse procurable, while the hustle and planning and cooking in numerous households indicate the local interest in tho home industries by the letter half of the community. A further indication of the approachirg function in the town may bo obrferved in tho furrowed brow of the secretary* while the discerning oneH refld volumes in tho countenance and ga/fc'' of the president, whoso efforts in the cause of tha district warrant recognition in lull measure from both town and country.

The approaching race meeting is heralded by a general activity in the ranks of local owners, and the course is the ccntrti of much attraction in the early mornings. Condition, form, time, and weights are liscussed knowingly amongst the local authorities, and tho individual unlucky enough to own a horse is regarded as a person with a more than canny knowledge of tliingn hidden to ordinary humanity. The president ar.d secretary of the club are also regarded with a respect tinctured with awe, but this is only natural in view of their riding exploits, and tho manner in which they bear the dignity and honour of their respective poßitionu on the gala day. Racing is an obsession with a certain section o£ the community, but as long as it la conducted by the local club in a manner befitting the high traditiorfl of the past, there will be few to decry it.

The number of special meetings held recently by the Borough Council indicates an activity which even the holiday feeling has been unable to affect. The meeting on Monday evening at which the new Borough by-lawß were considered waß entirely warrunted by the importance of the occe-, sion. It is now nearly twelve monthß since the revision committee was set j up, and the work acjomnlifihed is saidjfl to be altogether worthy of the portanco of the occasion. Of much may be achieved by effort in the space of a year, but ea one of the committee remarked, "When you are legislating for posterity, and have to synchronise many conflicting interests, besidefl allowing for the idiosyncracies of the proletariat, and the prejudices of a many sided public, you have to give profound and weighty consideration to an enormous maeß of detail."

Referring to the Borough Council, the particular department which has, t in the vernacular, experienced a bad run, is tne electric light installation. Ever since the poles took a vagrant fancy 10 leave the railway, and Beefc repose in the depths;* of the Hauraki Gulf, no luck has attended the efforts of the plant to justify itß existence. The Council has at length decided that strong steps, or a firm attitude, or Bomething npproaching the mailfd fist of Kaiserdom, is necessary to cope with the situation, and a loan is being promoted to do things pro| perly. Incidentally, the electrical engineer has resigned to take a more important position elsewhere, and the lighting committee promises to be kept busy for soma time. Joking apart, however, Mr Russell Hartley, who has been electrical engineer at Te Kuiti since the plant operations, will carry with him thft L best wisheß of a wide circle of friends '

Rumour is already busy concerning the forthcoming Borough Council election, and widespread interest ia Bure to be manifested in the evepAk

aa the fateful day draws near. Elections of any sort are usually a tonic to a comparatively blase public, but the approaching contest for the Mayoralty promises to bo monumental in the history of the Borough. Of course, ther* is no doubt bb to who will occupy the dignified position when the numbers go up, but the enthusiasm of the candidates and their supporters will stir the town to itu depths. As far i\i the councillors are concerned it must be manifest to a discerning public that the work of the present Council has been done faithfully and well, but ! bere is,no dcubt the committee responsible for the revision of the by-laws will be specially remembered when they again woo the electors.