RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 747, 20 February 1915, Page 3

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker.

The remarkable persistency of the illicit grog-seller is a striking feature of local conditions, aa is evidenced practically every court day at Te Kuiti. In olden days when population was sparse and conditions primitive, and occasional raids were looked upon as the natural result of the restrictions placed on the district. At the present time, when liquor can be landed at the railway station at less cost than it can be purchased for over th* counter in license districts, it seems strange that there should be an illicit business carried on. The natural conclusion is that the slygrogger finds his most frequent customer iri the Maori who is prohibited from obtaining liquor except ' on licensed premiaes, and is not allowed to carry any to his home. The latest aspirant for honoiirs in the illicit grog line is a colourad brother in the form of the bland Hindu, but hiß present prospects are not encouraging.' Tue local police are alert, and if not as bland are equally as wily aa the coloured person. After a Bhort but exciting experience three of. the Orientals were called upon to explain .their whisky dealings, and the explanations cost them fifty pounds apiece. There are rumours of moTe to follow. Verily, the King Country police have to be ali eyes and energy to oops successfully with the illicit dealers. To their credit be it said they are manifesting a degree of efficiency which should demand the admiration; of all good citizens. The-races at Te Kuiti attracted a very large and fashionable gathering and proved as iexciting and full of interest as the most ardent votary of the Sport of Kings could wißh. One of the most pleasing features of the racing was the form shown by the local equines. The programme opened with a popular win by a horse owned and trained by one of the club'a vice-presidents There wps a truly sporting flavour connected with the performance,and congratulations were showered on the fortunate owner. The horse is a great galloper, but has deep-rooted objections .to company, and would not line up to the barrier until gentle persuasion in the shape of a stock whip was brought to bear. A flippant spectator wa* heard to remark to the worried owner when the circus performance was in progress that the horsa was worth backing if he was turned tail on to the barrier, but the reverse was demonstrated within a few minutes when 1 the starter surprised the horße aa his> head was turned the right way.

'The Te Kuiti Fira Brigade has earned an enviable reputation fur efficiency in suppressing fires, which is one of the chief duties of a brigade/ It is now about to Btrive for a reputation in competition with other brigades of the Dominion, and a team is to take part in the annual demonstration, which is to be held this year at Timaru. It needs but a casual glance Et the personnel of the team to know that the reputation of the town will be worthily upheld by our brigade representatives. Hitherto the prestige bf the town in the line of competitions has been in the hands o£ the bowlers. Opinions are divided as to whether the prestige of the place has been enhanced by the bowling teams, bat no doubts in that direction are harboured by the bowlers themselves. It is cause for gratification that the brigade i's entering the fitld of competition, more particularly as the chairman of the Brigade Committee is said to be making tha trip in the capacity of manager. The cynic has been heard to express doubt as to the desirability of the^appointmenfi

The Aria quarry dispute is still unsettled, and apparently another battle will have to be fought before the intrepid enemy is convinced of , the futility of warring against such enormous odds. It is understood the commander of the forceß is now preparing another and more comprehensive plan of campaign, in which strategy and courage are blended to a degree of perfection seldom Been. Whether or not strategy is to be the leading feature of the offensive is not disclosed, but against a man who successfully claimed that his father had bsen buried in several blocks of land; a more than usual amount of guile will have to be exercised. The mailed fist will doubtless be neeessary against the Amazons, however reluctant the commander may be to adopt German methods against the sex. However, comment or criticism at present is superfluous. We have evpry confidence in the authorities and have no fear that the principles of humanitarianism will be outraged. If they* are there will be a bowler missing-from the No. 1 team at Cambridge.