THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 994, 20 March 1891, Page 25

THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

Is it well with thee, my son ? I regret to say that it is anything but well with many of ns just at present. The incessant rain has discoloured and lightened our crops and spoilt the grass seed. Last week we had three days’ beautiful weather. Fortune seemed to make amends. Settlers eagerly waited to apply the match to the drying bush. Alas ! Man proposes and ..... the rain cabib do.wD* so that all hope of a burn seems to have been abandoned. The death of Mr Thomas Parsons, of Ota. kehoe, is a sad item in the weekly topics. He was running along the verandah of his house after a dog, wbioh had been worrying the sheep, be stumbled, and his gun went off, lodging its charge in hia breast. _ M r Parsons was universally respected for bis genial and straightforward manner. He was a Justico of the Peace, a member of the Hawera County Council, and of the Waimate Road Board, and Captain of the Manaia Cricket Club. The surprise on hearing the news was only equalled by the regret. Deceased was in his 42ad year. The coroner’s jury after an enquiry, found a verdict of accidental death.

The Salvationists have sent a squad out to reduce the plains to capitulation; " I have at times studied the demeanour of those peculiar people, and my verdict is scarcely flat, tering. To-day I saw a. great strapping fellow striding along rapidly in a comfortable nlster, by his side trotted a feeble pieoe of frailty in a coarse skirt, and a paltry shoulder cape, in the rain. Had I been her doughty companion professing so much good, I think I should have taken my great coat off to protect her. But of the renowned Smith, whose mutiny is the cause of so much comment. Aye, of him I wilt relate a fact. Cap’n Smith is a lawyer. A police inepeotor in England summoned members of the Army for committing an illegality in the Btreet. Smith defended and won his case. The corporation had to pay costs, but the Town Clerk, also a lawyer, sent Smith’s bill to the Taxing master. The bill was for £9O, and the Taxing master knocked off £7O. I notice that tenders are out for another hotel at Kaponga. Unless Pm much mistaken someone’s fingers will be nibbled over It. Two pubs in a little bush township that hasn’t eTen a blacksmith’s shop is demoralising. Rash speculation hasn’t found bottom yß flere’s a pat on the back for New Zealand. I have had recently a little to do with the Patent office. Red tape seemed to me to be unnecessarily superfluous, but I have just received papers andforms from the Australian Colonies. What is the result ? In Australia the fees and procedure are almost probibi. tive. An application may hang on:there till the day after eternity. Although I had the questionable pleasure of reporting the Patent Office to the late Colonial Treasurer for issuing obsolete forms, I will say .-that their system seems to have less of the oircumlocution about it than the Australian offices. V. .. .. • The Church of England Committee have at last hit on a Bite, which will eclipse the others. It is a nice three quarter acre plot, fenced and planted with trees. It was purchased from Mr Hurley, who has kindly consented to draw out the transfer free of any cost beyond those out of pocket. Active steps will now be taken to promote the erection of a suitable edifice. I have more than once had occasion to re* mark upon the . small and contemptible individuality which has been thrust upon the readers of the local press. A worthy journalist will ever be mindful of the sanctity of the power be holds in his pen. It may.be truly said that of the great factors which have, benefited the world, journalism stands out pre-eminently foiemost. Its censure has nipped many a public injustice in the bud;, its earnest wellthought criticism has set right-minded men on the path to secure a permanent good, and it’s helping word has matured many a philanthropic scheme, which otherwise must have fallen through. Bearing then this in mind a true penman will ever suppress his personal feelings, and discuss public matters in a fair spirit, and refrain from even the suspicion of coercive comment. A town ranger on acoount of office is necessarily a much slandered person. One does not feel very generous when paying a pound fee on a straying cow or horse. Stili as the law is, we, as good citizens, should submit to it. A ranger is not omniscient, nor in- a small township is he expected to put in his whole time chasing refractory quadrupeds. The Waimate Witness is guilty of the above fault. It’s editor’s horse got out on the streets, and as the ranger saw it he accord* ingty pounded it. The owner had to pay the fee. Thereby also appeared a paragraph in the Witness asking what arrangements the ranger had made with some people that their horses should graze on the town, whilst others were pounded. The Bame newspaper maw has a cow on the town which is reported to have a propensity for rushing at children. Now, why was not this fact noticed in the local press also ? The only fault that is to be found with that objectionable ranger, 1 believe, is that instead of pounding that horse, he has frequently returned it to the paddook without even asking for the driving fees. If t journal is to so personally criticise a pubiio officer, the community is scarcely safe.