Random Reflections.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2128, 14 July 1898, Page 2

Random Reflections .

On account of the large number of replace advertisements from Auckland advertisers and new local advertisements, much matter of, local interest had perforce to be hejjtover from-out-last issue. It was our intention to publish a review of the of the newly elected. jut such matter at this hour of the day would savour of ancient history. All the members of the Council are familiar figures in our civic life and have been dangling in the public eye lately considerably. Last night they metaphorically assumed the robes of office and with befitting gravity gathered round the Council table. The role of a city father is a heavy une, and it is not given to everyone to play the part with dignity. Taking them as a whole, the gentlemen whom the people delighted to honor on those never-to-be-forgotten dates in our annals —the sth and the 9th of July, respectively, iu this year of grace, provide excellent material out of which to manufacture opr new service of public men. is said and ’ done, none can question the motives ac uating these gentlemen in seeking the suffrages of their fellow ratepayers. It is an honour to represent such ec borough as Te Areha, so rich in promise and such a fair and pleasant place to dwell in. There is no question of self-aggrandisement involved. A man, they say, will undergo any hardship to serve his mistress, and we cannot help thinking that in taking upon themselves the cares and burthens of an office, which as we have only lately seen, is as often as not associated with rank ingratitude, these gentlemen are animated alone by a self-denying devotion to the welfare of the fairest young borough in New Zealand. Let us hope she will prove a grateful mistress ; but on this point our experience of the jades makes us doubtful. However, from present indications; they are bent on doughty deeds, and we are looking forward to the pleasant duty of having to chronicle the inauguration of a long series of reforms in our local government—reforms we are beginning almost to be persuaded the immediate iutroduction of which the a leged mismanagement and worse of the recent Board render imperatively necessary if we are to save the , community and individual bacons^ j Of course we know 1 ," it is patent to every- i body—that much remains to be done before the Domain arrives within a league of perfection. Soberly speaking the public do not seem to be able to realize the great work the now antiquated Domain Board accomplished with the means at their disposal. The State Forester, who paid Te Aroha a visit some weeks ago, considered that the improvements carried out were of a wonderful character, all things considered—even bearing in mind the magnificent generosity of Mr Cadman and his unfailing mindfulness of Te Aroha. He was indeed a powerful friend at Court. As we have shown repeatedly in these columns Te Aroha i» on the up grade. In the nature of r ‘ things as they are ’ she must go ahead. Facts are stubborn things and , - figures-—especially railways returns—have a way of speaking for themselves. On the completion of the Thames-Te Aroha line as we once remarked before the ball will be at our feet. During the next three month's we shall have ample opportunity of forming an opinion as to the merits of the team . . we selected a week agorj£ Let them put their best foot foremost in the' meantime. They must remember they may not be the team we shall play throughout the coming season when we have several important engagements on a’.card in which there are no fixtures, and. many surprises.