Round and About.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 218, 21 July 1905, Page 2

Round and About.

[Br Omlootu#.]

[We do not neceesarily identify ounelffie with the opinions expressed in this column.] I hope, Mr Editor, you will pardon my silence for such a lengthened period, but I have lately suffered from a Queensland comptaint called “ swelled bead,” and consequently have not felt much like observing happenings that may have escaped your keen eye. The indisposition was ciuscd by there being too many secret meeting in connection with council matters before tbe election) bit now all tbe excitement baa abated I will again endeavour to keep your readers posted with passing events and topics. The county council elections parsed off quietly (to my mind, for I have been accustomed to i tentifying eleotious cracked skulls, etc.), and we have now seven gen tiemen in the county who are entittpd to “ Or.” b-fore their names in pise? of. . the commoa *• Mr/* And theyjpa a sound and level-headed lot of c foneil tors, aad should be capable of doing good work for this rising district. (I sincerely hope that ou reading this they will not catch tbe complaint I had.) There is one fact iu qsfrnpection with tbe elections worth ntrtfepg, which is that it brought to promubenee one of the best “generals” ever known here. I refer to my g mial f riend Taui, who contested tbe seat foe the Kawhia Riding. On the day of tbe election that candidate seemvd to know every oue who voted for him, Aad was quite satisfied at 4 p.m. on tbe day that be would be elected, but, alas for 'Tam’s hopes, about half-an hour later along came a gentleman and bis wife, and this keen candidate iramedioily turned to some pew'uLi standing near, and informed ‘hit it was all over with him, and he would now be beaten by three votes. His prediction turned out correct, and proved ho v keenly this aspirant had into the fray, and how aocurßte te must have been in bis calculatioss. Of course, not bsing a public man, I am not consulted carte ad ing topics, and so missed the meeting on tbe evening “fust before the battle.” Bat I have since heard that it was very funny, and ended up et au early hour in a most satisfactory manner—l cannot vouch for that though. When the poll was declare I cheers were given for the candidates and the usual speeches made, thanking supporters, eta. ; this did not last long and the crowd dispersed, some to JJxgre homes and-wOT®*KT withes. su exhibition of how a cheese should be cut, which proved both instructive and amusing. A friend forwards me a copy of tbe Raglan County Chronicle of about a month ago, containing the followiug paragraph, and asks what I think of it:—“ We learn that there are ten or a dozen empty houses at Kawhia at the present time, business there being in anycnicg but a flourishing condition. It is a pity some of the empty tenements coi d not be here; Raglan could find use for and tarn them to profitable account without any trouble.” Oh, good gracious! Weil, I hacdly know wha: to think, but for a piece of cool cheek and jealously, it stands supreme. I have never visited Raglau (I will do so some day for cariosity), and do not know what that place is like, bat should imagine that it is a town progressing very fast. One thing is known to me, that there has bsen a few fires lately—two hotels and a store destroyed and another shop endangered. Is it not a bad sign such a tot of fires ? b No, we cannot spare any of our bouses. Raglan will some day be a suburb of its progressive neighbour, and it is well to ad\ Ise that no matter how they squeal and try to belittls Kawhia in tha eyes of the readers of the Chronicle, they might as well try io stem the tide as to prevent the Kawhia Harbour from bc oming what nature intended it to be- in? port for the Waikato and Kfo* Country, Please, Mr Chronicle, m future let Kawhia alone and don’t annoy me. Peace is a 'thing I love.

The Kawhia Harbour Railway Laague (don’t forget the “ Harbour,” Mr Printer, or the ire of certain people at Kinohaku might be raised), is making a good display, and it is to bs hoped that some benefit will bs derived; if there is not it will not bs for want of energy on the part of Mr Gosling, tbe oap&ble and energetic secretary, who is proving himself a terror for work. We have had a lot of experience with Mr Gosling, and I would suggest that a town secretary be appointed and that gentleman elected to tbe position. This seems a large order, but it is feasible and, to my mind, easily worked. A race club, football club, cricket club, two tennis clubs, rifle club, regatta, axemen’s carnival, med'eal club, railway league, school committee, brary and golf club are all in e*:' stance here and want looking after—not to mention periodical socials, concerts, dances arid the entertaining of distinguished visitors. Why not have one secretary for ths lot, and pay the person who does the work a peicmtaga on the income of eaob. The job would suit Mr Gosling very well. He is liberally supplied with public secretaryships now, but ho might as well have ths lot—and the county clerkship, too—and then we would have someone t? growl at, and one who would take all the growing aud still smile.