KAMO.

Northern Advocate, 20 April 1915, Page 2

KAMO.

0 tempora: 0 mores! Which, to save argument, we will say means How times have changed.

Well, so they have. Did you notice the Editor's footnote under my last, where he said he had been waiting for weeks for some enthusiastic soul in Kamo to write about roads and bridges? Too late, Mr Editor, 25 or 30 years too late for' me. A quarter of a century ago I shot my bolt writting up roads and bridges—or rather the want of them. There was absolutely nothing else to write about in those times but now our roads are Improving year by year, we can even travel "per boot" to Purua —which your own Purua correspondent has several times claimed as being the "hub of the universe"—without removing our means of locomotion once. No doubt there are many improvements to be effected yet, but old settlers will understand what I mean when they mentally compare the mudtracks of two or three decades ago with the roads of to-day So don't ask me to - push the willing horse too far. Besides I want to keep in with the engineer. He has a motor car!

The Editor of a certain northern paper (which shall be nameless) once wrote to me "Keep on writing, but for Heaven's sake change the subject. Don't give me any more roads and bridges." Others .besides myself received the same prayer, but it was all of no use. Every day we in the country were floundering along up to our waists (or stirrups, or axles* as the case may be) in mud, and when night came iwe could only dream of where the bridges ought to be. So I don't think that Editor should have blamed us for putting our waking and sleeping—in fact our only thoughts, on paper. But to do the unfortunate man justice he didn't. He just sold out.

Suppose, now, I were to write and tell you that Constable Condon is now reduced to the shadow of his former self, and Kamo people are very much afraid that they will miss his onetime cheerful face at their next annual peach gathering. Well, ( no one would believe me. So let mo write about things my , own way, please. Kamo was well represented at the automobile meet in Whangarei on Thursday last, which is as it should be. All friends of Mr Jack Patterson, who recently was station in Kamo in connection with the "Farmer's (Union," will be very sorry to hear that he has been ailing for some,time, and now has to undergo an internal operation. He is at present in Patea and writes very "cheerfully from there,

saying the doctors promise to make a new man of him. Mr Patterson, 'during his sojourn amongst us, made himself popular with all classes, and I am sure we all wish him the best of luck and a speedy recovery.

Mr W. Sir! is now drawing near the completion of hiß work on Meiidrum's hill. Two teams have started to cart metal there, and given another fortnight's fine- weather grading and all should/be finished. Mr Sirl has been much too busy lately trying to make a good joad for.the public to find time-to read the newspaper. Consequently he was astounded when told •h Saturday night that a coach, accident had happened there a few nights previously.. ' He, took it to heart, too, 1 and although he did not put it into words I gathered the impression that,he did not,think the upsetting pf a coach cm his road was exactly a fair trick to play on him. Never mind, Mr Sirl, your road will be a great boon to the district when it is finished, and you .deserve three cheers, for the way you have stuck to it against obstacles that were not allowed for at the commencement of your contract.