AN OCCASIONAL LETTER.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 81, 9 May 1918, Page 2

AN OCCASIONAL LETTER.

YI. Each and everyone of us in Matamata is now looking forward to the days when we may take our little runabout to the electric garage to have it charged, for say journeys to Tirau or Okoroire. The electricity scheme expounded recently, or perhaps should say schemes, for each thinker has his own, has set the district agog with' anticipation. Then will be gone the days when we ran out of kerosene for the lamp, when the oil engine went wrong and we had to milk by hand, and when we sat fireless because the coalman failed us, or it was too had for the Maoris to bring the titree. Matamata is a glorious district now, but what will it be when afternoon tea can be served by practically touching the switch ? When baby howls at night there will he no need to hastily search for matches that were put under the pillow, hut which “came undone ” oil the floor. Man who takes his wife a cup of tea in bed will see that the kettle is ready o ve r n igh t, j u m p ou t i n h is py j a m a s in the morning, turn on the current and get back to bed “while the hilly boils.” Sitting writing this while experiencing the cold of one of the first snaps of the winter reminds us of more comtortable evenings in an adjacent town when the electric heatdr was distributing its gentle warmth. It’s good to look back on the comforts we then enjoyed, and i*s good to think that we will expeiience them again. All will be possible when the war is o’er. For many, many reasons let it be soon. “ Trebla,” since listening to Mr W. P. Gauvain, has been wonderif a certain settler who called at the “ Record ” office to insert an advertisement regarding some cows, had been seriously considering the question of elf •tricity as it could be applied to the farm. We now know that its possibilities are great, and it comes to memory that the would be advertiser mentioned that he was about to commence the manufacture of electricity. His advertisement read as follows: “ For sale—Twenty-eight good “ dairy cows; owner no further “ use for them. Apply etc.” We asked if he was giving up dairying, but he said “ Oh, no,” and seemed a trifle reluctant to say what he was going to do. However, in the course of conversation, he opened his heart and told us that he had no further use for the cows as he had devised a method of getting milk direct—or practically so—from the grass. We then pointed out that if his scheme became known the value of cows would dropsto the price of stores, and he reconsidered his idea of advertising, and stated his intention of being a silent vendor. He seemed in earnest, but we know that he is not yet an inmate of that handsome building situated on the roail to the Avondale racecourse. But, electricity has great possibilities, hasn’t it now ? It comes within the sphere of a newspaper man’s duties once a year at least to report ioners’ meetings, and thus although he may not be an Anglican yet he is conversant to some extent with the mode of procedure. The writer has reported quite a number of such meetings, and so read with interest the bill to be considered by the Anglican general Synod proposing to govern and limit the power of the laity by removing from the church-wardens’ roll the names of males who are not communicants. It says much for Anglicans in Auckland thht the proposals were emphatically turned down when considered by them, but they even went further in‘the opposite direction to the bill and passed the following motion : “ That no legislation can be satisfactory that does not recognise the full right of women to the franchise.” Dr O’Callaghan, who used to be well-known in the Thames Valley district, said that he was astonished to find that at this stage of the world the Synod should grow narrower. H$ was also in favor of the motion quoted here; and so he should be. It may not be generally known to even Anglicans, some of whom never attend a parishioners’ meeting, that women have no vote on matters connected with their churches. We’ have seen an attendance of thirty-seven people, and only seven with power to vote —men. At Matamata recently the ladies present and there were a good many—wished fiarticularly to vote on one quesion, but could not do so. We are not in doubt as to whether the ladies are in favor of the resolution. Just try your nearest Anglican lady friend. It is said that the average farmer always has a grievance, but whether that is so or not we do not wish to give an opinion. What is certain though is that he is grumbling to-day and for the past fortnight over the re-valua- ,

tion of his property. Complaints are made that in some cases the increase in the new Government valuation is as much as 200 per cent, and we do not doubt it. What we are wondering is whether the complaints will be taken to the Assessment court, and whether the selling values have increased by 200 per cent, in the period under review. Please do not let them all speak at once. The Hon. W. F. Massey said in effect that the figures would be startling, and arn’t they ? Piako understands the Minister’s utterances, and Matamata is now bewildered. The latest yarn was brought to Matamata recently by a returned soldier who told it as being “ gospel.” He said before leaving England he was out with a chum who had an artificial limb of solid make. He got into a shindy at an hotel and the police were called in. “Wot have you been doin’ of here —throwing grapes about” said the Jolmhop, looking at the floor suspicious like. “Grapes,” said the hero, “them’s not grapes; them’s eyeballs!” TREBLA.