LOCAL AND OTHER TOPICS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 3 November 1921, Page 3

LOCAL AND OTHER TOPICS.

(Casual Comment by a Man in the Street)

I thought I read some months ago in the ECHO how the Town Board had decided to take steps to form Helensville into a borough —or at least to definitely ascertain the feeling of residents on the matter. But perhaps 1 dreamt it. If such a decision really was arrived at, isn't it time the Board made a move ? Ratepayers and anonymous writers to the press are everlastingly "going for" the local bodies. It makes me sick. Members of such undertake the duties without payment, and get as a rule more abuse than thanks; still, when they make a promise to the public they should try to carry it out within a reasonable time. Some of the newer residents have expressed to me the opinion that the time.is ripe for seriously considering this question.

The other day a lady and gen- j tlemen (visitors), after walking up and down the Helensville main streets a couple of times, asked a shopkeeper : " Where is the park? We are tired of walking about.' The answer was, " The only place to sit down here is the railway station !" Yes, a place where strangers could rest in the open in fine weather is urgently needed in Helensville —there is no such place at present. Many visitors come to the town, and the various businesses benefit more or less ; and more would come if the town were made attractive. There are one or two places which could be easily convertedinto suitablelittle parks; the spots at present are useless. A short gully between Garfield Road and Porter's Crescent would make an ideal public ground, and would also provide a convenient right-of-way for several residents. Of course, this sort of thing costs money ; but those who have the welfare of the town at heart might devise soma way of making improvements in the direction indicated.

Of course I went to the Savage concert. There were some real educated cannibalistic savages — ancient Maoris — performing in the last part. The concerted numbers were very sweet and tuneful, and were doubtless much appreciated by the large audience,' which, however, was undemonstrative enough to refrain from recalling the singers. It was only when a' man with a funny item appeared that the crowd became enthusiastic and demanded more of the same stuff. I hardly know what artistic performers think when, after going to much trouble to prepare a piece, they are overlooked, so to speak, in favour of a humourous turn. Most people really like good singing and music, but the demonstrative portion are only heard when light composition is presented. Look at the pictures, for example. A first-class drama, costing perhaps a hundred thousand pounds to produce, can pass before an audience without apparently affecting it in any way ; but when some absurd "comic" is screened there is loud laughter and applause. Personally I like good humour almost before anything else, and possibly most people do. The leisure moments after the day's work, worries and perplexities (mostly imaginary!) seem to invite subjects in lighter vein.

Was rather amused at the following Brisbane cable appearing in an Auckland daily: "A rat has been killed in a warehouse." Hundreds of human beings are killed in Australia every year, yet the fact is not cabled to other parts. A rat is killed in Brisbane and lo ! the news is spread broadcast. There are thousands of rats of all sorts in —Auckland, for instance, and the killing of one is never cause for public interest. Qf course, if there was no plague in (Queensland, this wretched rat's demise svould have been unknown in New Zealand.

Last Saturday turned out a fine day for the opening of the sports season at the Helensville Hot Springs. I saw all who went to enjoy an afternoon in this charming; locality, but in my humble opinion the attendance was not one-half of what it ought to have been. Nothing to pay, yet this beautiful health-giving and sightseeing spot goes a-begging ! One day I read in a paper that the Springs are not sufficiently known to the outside world. Quite true, and pity 'tis, 'tis true, Might I suggest to the proprietor of the EJCHO that he arrange to publish a list of the more important visitors to the Springs, and so help to advertise one of Nature's wonders? No opportunity to do so should be lost, especially in view of the further added attractions continually being made.