Notes from the “Observer.”

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 196, 10 February 1905, Page 3

Notes from the “Observer.”

George Buckeridge, who has ynanaged at last to persuade the Farmers* Union to send him forth as a “ travelling organiser,” is one of the sort of men who are born to such billets, and ■pend half their lives trying to get one that will pay, missing a host of good things in the pursuit. George has been thirsting to “organise” something for this many a long year. He bails from Taranaki, or somewhere in that direction, and made a descent on the nascent township of Kawhia nine or ten years age, in partnership with a Mr Wake. In that solitary placf they conceived a plan of 44 organising ” the farmers of the Province into a huge co-operative company, to 11 ex ploit ” all the industries then existing or likely to be called into being by th* nature and circumstances of the Colony.

The pair of “ orpnnisers ” crossed the mountains into Waikato like twin Hannibals or Napoleons of the Bia mese variety, and proceeded to rouse the bucolic of those sheltered plains. But the bucolic wouldn't rouse worth a cent. Be only laughed, and Bucke ridge and Wake went back to star 41 organising ” on a email scale in th* misty Kawhia on their own. They started all sorts of things, and each of these was warranted to lead up to the but somehow or v other they did not get far, and finally the firm was dissolved. Then {for a lime there were two separate “ organising ” agencies, and now probably the energy that ran them is working for the Farmers* Union. It will be interesting to see what comes t»f it. The Herald regrets that Mr Btfckeridge does not advocate an increase in amount of the members’ subscription, but tbe new organiser will probably include that when he comes to collect his salary.

A. L. Herdman, M.H.R., one of the sharpest tongued members of tbe present Parliament, has been entertaining bis constituents at Naseby with another of his bon mott. Ho was giving the public service “ rocks,” and he said that a West Coast inspector of noxious weeds in the Waikato, did not know a Bathurst burr from an acid drop. We fancy we’ve beard it before, but not with an acid drop ending. There is a story, however, going that a noxious weeds inspector, whose home is within half-a-day’s ride of Mount Ida, went in for flower culture on a large scale. He was always trying to propagate new species. A farmer, who had a tremendous crop of broom—which be told the obnoxious inspector he bad sown for calf-feed—-visited him, and tbe inspector gushingly took him to see 44 a lovely new flower ” bo had succeeded in growing. ** Do you know the name of it ?” asked the inspector ; “ I ca’t find it in any of 'my works of reference.” 44 That lovely flower,” said tbe farmer examining it gravely, 44 is the finest specimen of ragwort I have ever seen!”