THE WANDERER.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 217, 29 September 1893, Page 9

THE WANDERER.

The elections are coming and with them will come the usual lying and hypocrisy, fawning and cringing false pledges and promises. It is really amusing to those who closely watch and take note of the doings of some of the old ’uns, wbeu an election is on the board. How the old fosdils brighten up ! I’ll guarantee it will be well worth while taking stock of some of the candidates at the ensuing election. How awfully pious they will suddenly appear to have become 1 With what regularity will they attend some place of worship ! What a genial warmhearted smile will bespread their faces and what a loving and brotherly clasp of the hands will be given to every voter ! Then when within the sacred edifice how very devout they will pretend to be, and with what a deliberate show of assumed liberality will they drop their (?) cash into the collection plate. They will indeed act the all round cringing hypocrite to perfection. But their hypocrisy is too apparent and for my part 1 must admit I don’t think much of those ’oly Joes Who always become so awfully pious on the of an election, and who then start off at

concert pitch, singing the ‘ glorious land of Eden.’ It is said of the small boy, that though be may be always going about whistling ‘ I want to be an angel* yet it’s just as well to keep the good things out of his reach. So I should think of the hypooritical candidates, keep them out of temptation by keeping the good things out of their reach ; they are not to be trusted.

Hearty and friendly (?) greetings on main street Dargaville.—' Good-day Willie ! goodday Joey !’ Whew ! how horribly familiar that man Is getting to be sure I Wnat a woful mistake on your part Willie, don’t yon know that Joey is-now doing the church parade and though he may not be able to boast of a coat of many colors, he can certainly show or.e of many turns, so kindly have a little more consideration in the future and call him Joseph.

Another brilliant conception on the part of the youthful aspirant for political fame. The Heawa drain forsooth ! What a tremendous interest the 1 Cherub ’ has suddenly taken in the rising generation of .aratapu. Ah yes 1 the mothers will be entitled to vote, that accounts for the milk in tbe cherub’s cocoanut. But honestly, I don’t believe Mr Cherub would care a straw if all ibe Aratapu youngsters were pitched into the drain tomorrow, and really he is awfully slow. Why months ago the Bjbll drew attention to this drain and now this soulful youth comes sailing along and would like to take all the credit for bringing it forward at the Council meeting as something new. Then again what an absurd motion to bring forward just now, when most of the roads in the country are in such a wretched state. I can well imagine tbe howl of indignation which would have gone up from other parts of the country, if the Council had been so foolish and unjust as to have done this work at tbe present time. Truly this party is making a pretty exhibition of himself, and if he will persist in making himself so ridiculous he need not be astonished at our ejaculating, * Heaven defend us from such a representative in the House.

Your up-river contemporary hauls the two Aratapu Councillors over the coals for not supporting this absurd motion, but the general opinion is that a very large majority of the ratepayers in the county will give them every credit for being just in this matter. They well know that the Council has not suflicient funds with which t« do really necessary works on our roads many of which are not safe to travel over, therefore it would have been, positively unfair and unjust to have expended, money ©n this drain just at the present time, when the money could most certainly be put to much better use in improving some of the worst roads. I do not think that any one wouhj. attempt to deny that

this drain should be covered in ■ and when the fine weather is on the Council will not have to spend so much upon the roads, then if funds will allow it by all means let the work be done, but till then roads first please and let the sucking politician work his political dodges in some other direction.

What has become of Inquisitive Dick ? On mj' last two visits to Aratapu I have missed bis face and hosts of questions. Dick was a wonderful fellow and took an astonishing interest in the Wanderer for which he may be sure I was thank ful. He was also a splendid hand at’the pump, and took evident delight in pumping strangers. But tell ns Dick, don’t you think it rather rude ? I do. I often look bask and wonder to myseif how he managed to pump so many hard solid facts (?) out of me, and can only account for it in the great and secret delight which I lelt at Kichard taking such an immense interest in me, a poor lone and simple Wanderer : and I did in return impart unto him some truly startling information. Oh Dick, Dick ! if thou art gone, Aratapu has indeed lost a treasure and should it be my lot to meet you again be thou kind, and have mercy on my simplicity.

Wonders will never cease ! The Hokianga Council have awakened up and have given fifteen pounds towards patching the Waikara road. Ah well 1 it wont do to growl at the amount for if is as much as the genial Government gave. So we’ll e’en say thanks for small mercies. * * * There is an exceedingly ugly and dangerous hole in the Opanake-BlufE road. In the said hole some one has stuck as a danger signal a branch or fork from a tree. A wag suggests that it is a hint to the Council to ‘ fork over some money for repairs.’ Hobson Councillors take the hint and we’ll e'en thank you.