HEDGEHOPE.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 13, 24 June 1893, Page 5

HEDGEHOPE.

“Keep the pot boilin’.” I had almost forgotten to register in your •columns a tribute of respect to the most Christian spirit displayed by Messrs Sims and McPherson at a Hokonui meeting called to discuss the extension of our (our, mind you) railway, which at first was best known as “ Paddy M‘Caughan’s Tombstone,” as it was dead before its birth, I suppose ; later on resurrected, and bore fihe euphonious name of “ The Winton and Forest Hill White Elephant,” which Dot would say was an exceedingly happy a* the animal had to be religiously fed, but in the same spirit eschewed graft. It was then the Regenerator of Southland farmers’ interests appeared on the scene, and by his magic Avand soon altered the colour of the animal —the metamorphosis being a true trumpeter. Could the Hokonuites expect the Hedgehoppers to assist in defraying the expenses of its obsequies at the tombstone period, when they had been most hostile to its birth and therefore had no hand in its death ? Could the same “ites” expect the “ ers ” to pay for the keeping of an animal that Avas apparently only useful for religious purposes of the Siamese type ? Or did the “ ites ” really imagine that Avhen it became a fullbloAA r n trumpeter, with its outstretched trunk in a bog-hole, three miles distant from the “ ers’ ” roading, that the “ ers ” would be satisfied to listen to its Avhistling as a return for their money and patronage ? The “ites ” were egoists to think so, but the “ ers ” Avere Yorkshire too.

It certainly was a providential escape the “ites” had on the occasion of their presenting such equitable terms to the “ ers,” for had they had had on their tartans and philabegs and not have beaten their claymores and dirks into plough-shares and hedgeknives, there would have been all the chances of a modern Killicrankie, or had they turned their engine into a Mons Meg, the keys of the castle might have found a lodgment in the soft part of some retreating “ ite.” I am very pleased to think that unanimity can be scored by the Hedgehope folk on other lines than that of the most potent one, viz., £.s.d.—yea, even on that of pride. I’ll not call it Hieland—l suppose it is cosmopolitan in Hew Zealand. On the eve of last election the member for Mataura, for want of consideration of postal arrangements, intimated in an Invercargill daily that he would address his Hedgehope constituents during

the day on a certain day of the week, of which they could not possibly get acquainted as they read, the weeklies and the post is late in the week. The member came, however, and cavalierly left without seeing or addressing anybody. You may- be sure that when this got abroad the bonfii’es were lighted, or rather mox*e correctly the the goat was killed and distributed, the clans gathered, the chieftain addressed them in burning language, a la Boadicea, or the Virgin Queen, so that when polling day came the result was a plumper, barring three, for the then Opposition candidate, aMr Eraser from Gore. It will be seen at the forthcoming election Avhich is the stronger —£.s.d. or patriotism. I’ll not call it pride, seeing’ the Hon. G. E. Richardson has given his affidavit that a progress payment to the Winton and Eorest Hill railway will receive his cordial support. One would have thought that a small eulogy on our late minister would have been allowed to lie. I only recapitulate that he had all the qualities of his forefathers, the Milesians of Ireland, for the sacred office which I doubt not are enhanced by being grafted upon Scottish training and education. He was a Saul among his compeers in all the positions in which a minister is placed. In the church, in the church nursery, in particular by the fireside, at a marriage, at a funeral, at a banquet, the minister, the man, was humanly perfect. Oh ! fie ! fie ! youths of the Hedgehope. I see that the correspondent of the Invercargill Times is heavy on you for some larrikinism. I was always well impressed with your conduct, but bigger folks are tempted to go wrong- sometimes. I sincerely think the Conscript Fathers should abolish, or greatly reduce, those too frequent gatherings, called balls, got up to collect 2£d for school purposes, and as a substitute get parents, grown-up brothers and sisters of pupils to subscribe. The tendency of such balls is certainly downward. It is most invidious to see the names of young- girls in the public prints as belles, and as wearing clothing that their parents may have difficulty in paying for; the wardrobe also of young men and lads at home demanding unnecessai’y supplementing upon these occasions, when it would be better economy to lay the foundation of future homes.