THE WANDERER.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 164, 23 September 1892, Page 2

THE WANDERER.

Have we heard the last of the Kaihu Valley Railway Company, or is anything el*e likely to crop np ? Do you know I do not envy the Chairman, his billet at the meeting, for undoubtedly it is unpleasant to sit upon thorns ! How plainly I can picture to myself his long drawn, woe begone, petor grievous, heaven help us visage, when in doleful tones he was compelled to admit to the unfortunate shareholders that it was all up a eucalyptus with their cash. But ! should not some of the shareholders feel ashamed of themselves for heaping such a torrent, of biting, withering sarcasm upon tho patriarchal pate, and so nearly bringing the grey hairs in sorrow to the —Official assignee. * * » * Now for a word about the Railway. As it is all up with the Company and the Government are in possession, I trust the latter will do something to improve matters. Speaking of the employees, I should say they are the right men to fill the positions ; the manager knows his duties and performs them, the engineer and his assistant are thoroughly competent and reliable men, always courteous and willing to oblige patrons of the line ; but the rolling stock is of a very poor description, the engine is not sufficiently powerful while the carriages are in such a wretched state that they really are more fit for sheep pens than to form part of the rolling stock on a Government line. Let the Government put on a decont engine and carriages, erect station and goodsshed at Opanake, and make a proper approach to the lino through the native settlement, then the Wanderer will believe the Government are inclined to study the comfort and convenience of those who have to travel on the line. * * * * Poor little Houston, lie’s had the wind knocked out him with a vengeance. Just fancy the Government having the audacity to refuse to spend a paltry £BOO on a telephone from the city Mongonui to a place calle.l Peria. By the same token ! whore’s Peria F I never heard of the place before. But. do you know I somehow think the Government ware quite right for although Mr Houston resides and has property at Mongonui, I cannot help inclining to the belief that a far greater number of people would be benefited if the £BOO wers expended upon some of the roads in the Hobson and Hokianga counties. Mr Houston 1 do try and be a trifle more useful to your constituents. * *■ * * 8o Mr La wry wuDts to get a sum of money granted to Jack Luudon for his work in connection with the villag-e settlements ? What nonsense ! Why not give him a section in the village settlement at Hereikno and let him prove his faith in the scheme. The settlers up there will no doubt be exceedingly pleased to have him for a neighbour. He’d be able then to show them how to make their sections profitable. * w * * Do you know that I quite sympathised with the Rev. J. Blight over losing his horse the other Sunday night, and would not envy him bis quiet stroll to Mangawhare in the dark and wet Now, if the Wanderer had been placed in tho same predicament, I’m afraid there would have been far more maledictions than benedictions showered upon the head of that erring ard straying animal It is wonderful what a difference there is in the temperament of people. * * * * I was very pleased to see by a report in the Bull that an Amateur Dramatic Club had been started at Aratapu I am a gieat believer in a society of that sort, for if properly managed not only can a good amount of innocent pleasure he derived, but a good store of useful knowledge. The ‘ Wanderer ’ wishes the Aratapu Club every success, and believes that in Mr Jones the Club has an excellent manager, and one who will see the affairs of the Club are properly conducted. * * * * Allow me to inform ‘ Nemesis ’ that he is altogether at soa regarding my views on the Women’s franchise Heaven bless the dear creatures 1 let them have a vote by all means What I took exoeption to was the action of a few deluded female agitators who never attempted to kick up their little rumpus until auyone with a grain of common sense could plainly see that the Bill would pass. Then the agitators start, they call a public meeting at the Opora House ; to state their views upon the female franchiser Certainly not, nothing of the sort; they did nothing but berate the unfortunate males. Why, according to tho speakers at that meeting, we are the most heartless lot of creatures unhung ; we ought to be wiped from the face of the earth. Men iudeed, the villians ! Now. take my word for it, if I had a wife like one of those agitators, andanclection was on, and she and I wero going to vote for different candidates, I’d look out to be elean-sliaved and pray to be bald-headed. * * * * I must say that I approve of the Inspector’s touching the maorie* up over the dog tax. It’s quite time the natives should either pay the tax or get rid of their—in many instances—useless curs. The natives, no doubt, object to having to pay up, but they will soon get used to it. In my wanderings I have often noticed many m.lories who would hsve half a dozen curs following at their heels, and these people if questioned would say that they could not afford to pay the tax, and yet at the same time they can afford to gat beastly drunk pretty often. * * * * Yague rumours have been reaching me latel y about a certain shopkeeper, say sot ft huadf e* u

miles from the Wairoa river being in que»' streets. I must say I was astonished to hear it, for if cheap advertising and an unlimited supply of cheek is any good, then Mr Shopkeeper should have prospered amazingly, for he appeared to have plenty of the former, and an immense stock of the latter, which is a grandly profitable article to be well supplied with. It does not cost the debtor anything, the poor creditor has to pay for it, and generally pretty stiffly. There’s one had thing about it though : the Official Assignee won’t accept it as an asset, no matter how large the stock on hand.