Ormond Notes.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 609, 19 May 1891, Page 3

Ormond Notes.

(FROM OCR OWN OOBBESPONDBNT.) This is a wonderful world we live iu. I think I hear you say “ I know that.” No doubt. But on the principle that a good saying bears repeating, I have ventured to write as above, and for fear it has not been sufficiently impressed, I reiterate, “ This is a wonderful world we live in.” Not the least wonderful part of this wonderful planet is Ormond. Analysed properly this latter assertion means neither more nor less than that we are no better and no worse than other people ; and those who decry ua, saying we are the worst lot in Poverty Bay, or even going so far as to insinuate that we are the worst lot south of the line, gratuitously malign us, and speak in gross ignorance of the true charaoter of the people they malign. Of course—as is the case in most places—we have a few rowdies, but that the district shou’d be cried down because of these is simply absurd. “Where's the point? slick to your text,” I hear you say. Very well; let me premise. When I speak of the world, I mean its inhabitants. What are you laughingat? What ?—Au Irishman ? Well, if it is; an Irishman is allowed to speak until he is understood, and I claim that privilege See? Bearing this in mind you will understand that I have just now touched one point, viz that people who know nothing of us except from heresay, talk disparagingly of us, and instead of attending to the beam in their own eye attempt to deal with the moteinours. Idon’taoeuseyouof be ing one of these, but now and then a paragraph does appear in the Standard, holding us op somewhat to ridicule, However, now that I have called your attention to the matter, and as we want to start with a clean sheet, I hope you will not, in future, write in any other terms than thosa of commendation (for goodness sake watch the compositor that he does not set up “ condemnation” here—such a contretemps would mean blue ruination) regarding our estimable little town. I say estimable advisedly, because the hoodlum element is no worse here than it is in other places. True, it is not dealt with so strictly here as it is elsewhere Herein I think lies, in a great measure, the se ret of why we have such a bad name, for if peaceably disposed residents are not protected from the pranks of larrikins, and if a couple or so of blackguards are permitted to practice their rascalities with impunity, the seeds of dissatisfaction are at once sown, some of which find their way outside the place, and there thrive on congenial soil. Thorough strictness in the direction indicated would have a very salutary effect.