OLD KAITAIA.

Northland Age, Volume 24, Issue 49, 2 April 1925, Page 2

OLD KAITAIA.

A LETTER FROM ALF. To Old Bert, Auckland. Dear Bert, Had a fire here last week. As - usual, it was a case of “Let er go Gallagher." We’ll wake up some • day after the business portion of I the town is wiped out. When the fire was in full swing a cove moved up as near as he could, spectators thinking he was going to put it out or something/ He calmly picked up a burning chip and lighted his pipe. “Might as 1 well save a match when 1 can,” said the thrifty one. I need not . mention his nationality, but it is no wonder they are a great race. ! Like the weather down your I way, Bert, things seem to have : slipped back a cog or two here and the summer started about March. We had more fine weat- | her last month than during the whole of the alleged summer, and the river was popular. The river is a pretty spot and there are i worse places to spend a hot afterj noon. It’s a pity there is no | bathing shed accommodation for swimmers. You know, Bert, when a cove considers what is done by voluntary effort in other small towns us coves in Kaitaia want a good kick in the hack. We hang back for the other fellow to do everything and very little is done.

You will have seen where the sports'and show were abandoned for this year. Pity too. You will he surprised to hear that I had racked my brain for ideas to brighten the ring events, my most daring proposal being one that would have attracted the girls, it Wc_ that a substantial prize or prizes be offered for the best bobbed or shingled head, the committee to do the judging. I’m sure the idea would have caught on, particularly with some of the committeemen who are not yet past the frivolous age. But now all my ideas are wasted. They’d probably have referred my suggestion to the “sports” committee anyhow. I’m on the sports committee. j-.

In some towns, Bert, complaints are made about persons who go to concerts, and, disregarding the artists, converse freely with all near them and otherwise mar the enjoyment of the different items. I am pleased to say that this trouble is not acute in old Kaitaia.

Town and county rate notices and “blisters” from the latter arc flying round here just now and most people are sitting up and taking notice. The county scoundrels and townty commissioners

j will probably be horribly unpop- ! ular for a few weeks, hut if the roads are to be kept in order the money must be there to do it, and ] the good Lord knows its time the J footpaths and main street in KaiI taia were improved. The main j street itself is more like a washout than a thoroughfare in the embryo city of destiny with a big motor traffic. Roadmaking is a science these | days Bert. I was in a roadmaker’s office the other day and its | astonishing the details these ; chaps have to attend to. Alj though they seem of no account | believe you me they make all the difference : having the little i things done at the right time and in the right way. That’s the roadmender’s job, and if details are overlooked a job might he messed up. Then something bumps and ratepayers (blessed word) roar like the bulls of Basham. Details are like the internals of a car. If they are not looked after there is a lot of squeaking and bumping and some day a big smash to fill the newspapers. The newspapers always meet the crash, That’s what they are for.

We are expecting a bunch of confidence men up here soon, the head serang of the Public Works Dept and the wee Mack of the Lands Dept and all those entitled to wear a wee bit heather in their jackets are expected to turn out and give Mack a warm welcome, But jokes aside, deputations are to wait on both in connection with the swamp rate and the railway. Their expected visit has bucked us all up, for we feel sure, with our own Allen on the box seat, so to speak, for next se; X in, the blighters won’t hang Mat railway up or land us with i,. .re‘ than three thirds of the eat: of the swamp drains. t Cjteerio * . Kaitaia 2/4/25,