RANDOM NOTES.

Clutha Leader, Volume VII, Issue 401, 17 June 1881, Page 5

RANDOM NOTES.

* (By Mudlark). . A gorse, or furze, or whin (for any of these appellations will do) hedge is net an inviting subject for a note, but as I know very little about the matter, I may as well air my ignorance. I have a most lamentable prejudice against the Scotchman who invented thistles, and a positive dialike to his too-enthusiastic nomadic brother, who must needs, in the exuberance of his patriotism, introduce his national badge to this Colony. I am, however, inclined to think the Scotch Thistle will have " to pale its ineffectual fires," and play second bagpipes to a nuisance at present only of infantine proportions, but which threatens to prove Herculean, so far as its removal is concerned. Wo all know it would be now as useless a task to endeavour to eradicate the prolific thistle, as was the task of the daughters of Danaus ; and according to some accounts, if we do not nip in the bud the nuisance now threating, we shall positively be compelled to give, up any attempt at cultivating our land, and to take to the sea as a refuge from the what ? simply the common gorse hedge ! Those practical, contented, and undisputable authorities, the farmers, on the question of gorse hedges, are somewhat at civil war with each other. Some affirm, with fervent expressions of suddenly incited alarm, that it should be at once exterminated, as it spreads more quickly than, an epidemic or debt, and is more destructive in its march than a cloud of locusts over a ripe corn field, or a heavy watertight over a tender bunion. In reference to the planting of the gorse hedge in this country, our attention is I arrested by reading in the newspapers such expressions aa " positively suicidal on the part of the farmer," and " bound in the long run to prove of move concern i to the farmer than a dull grain market with no demand." Now, if gorse is so dangerous a shrub as this, it seems to me a curious fact that so many farmers use it. True there is the other side of the argument, and in refutation it is said that " a gorae hedge is superior to any other, and in every way to be recommended ;" that it is in fact the Eureka of hedges, and is a boon and a blessing to man just as 'tis said is the Waverley pen. lam not a farmer, but I can boast that amongst my acquaintances in this Colony, I actually know and am intimate with a farmer, and my friend Triptolemus, when conferring with me upon the prickly subject of gorse, assured me that it will prove an evil, if some check is not put upon its growth, and that already in this County of Clutha, and especially in the Ridings of the Molyneux, it is spreading in an alarming j manner. With whatsoever genius lam heir to, I instantly suggested the burning of the noxious shrub as a sufficient barrier to its undue encroachment, but was lowered in my own estimation by being assured that burning did not exterminate it, but seemed rather to encourage its growth. My agrarian friend further assured me that he would rather put up a post and wire fence eveiy seventh year, than have a gorse hedge on his ' farm ! To rabbits, it offered a splendid stronghold — a retreat impervious to the dogs (N.B. — Note for compositor, not the , Gods) and in an uncultivated country will spread as fast as slander (and I guess that can travel). After this, a man can be as j hard in the mouth as an auctioneer (no ; offence Mr Christie !) to decry that the great evil threatening at this present epoch is not Chinese immigration, nor local Government, neither is it, whisky, or the measles, but that it is the gorso [ hedge ! To a. constituent wishing to distinguish himself at the next political meeting, I .would suggest that the following 1 question be put to Mr Thomson, M.H.R. , " Would you be in favour of the Legislature sitting upon and otherwise suppressing all gorse hedges within this County and by this means entirely squashing them V Of course it would be necessary for the constituent to explain that he intended the expression "sitting upon" to convey only a metaphor, else Mr Thomson might object, or reply that the remedy would be worse than the disease — so far as the Legislators are concerned at least. In conclusion of this note, I have fulfilled my mission by calling attention to it in " records that defy the tooth of time." See. to it. The question of local government has yet to be cpnsidered by our Parliament, for there. is,too much room for improvement T,he present. County Council is. the

off-spring of an ill-considered scheme, tho.-jj modern Phoenix from tho iiaiies of that-j old bird the Provincial Council. It is in-; adequate to tlie requirements o£ the time.J Without in any way detracting from the ;| excellent work at present done by County -f Councils, it is a pitent fact that tlie saiclvi County Conncil's powers, are too re— • stricted ; the wings of the Phoouix are-, clipped too short. Before they can do-.;: the State that real service, which the ro- ■!! quirements of the time demand, the 3 County Councils will require to havo.-ii" their powers extended. Tn other words, | they will have to take from the General Government much of that work which at.; present is supposed to be done by the Go- i vernment, but in reality neglected by !< them. The " wise and salutary neglect " > of the Government in connection withtji County matters is well enough known,., and the Counties should therefore relieve " the said Government of a portion of the -j work, which would then be done tho- ; roughly and well. lam of opinion the. Government has too much to do, and ; ergo much is left undone, or only partially ' completed. The general tenure of theji speeches recently delivered by M. H. R. 's :■' is to this effect, and it is suggested that a j County Council should take over the-]' management of hospitals, lunatic asylums, ,'j gaols, police, etc., as well as tho duties." admittedly within their jurisdiction at, present. It stands to reason that contra- r rising county work of this kind, would j' have the effect of having it thoroughly ac- '' complished, since a council composed of ' members from various districts within the : . county would better understand the re- ' quirements of a county than tho members., '•■ at Wellington would understand them. :<. By all means let us have local government, and the Member who can legislate on this, head will do something of real practical good to his fellows, and in no small degree ' will add to the sum of human happiness. !' Reforms are slow in accomplishment, but before Proctor's cremation of tho universe !l happens we shall have a local government ','. somewhat nearer Utopi anisic than it is at ' proseut. ;,