COMMENTS.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XVII, Issue 2246, 30 August 1907, Page 3

COMMENTS.

[By Onlooker.]

Much has been said and much has been written about the level railway crossing on the Puke Road, but so far nothing has been done to minimise the risk of accident. Let me make a suggestion. It is that an electric bell be placed at the crossing, and sot going half a minute before each train approaches the crossing, and kept ringing until the train passes. The bell could bo worked from the station, and would act as a warning to those approaching. At present the crossings on the Junction Road and Puke Road are veritable death traps, and it has only been by good luck that a serious accident has been avoided so far. •& ■:{. •!:• * The farewell smoker to Adam Wilson the other night was a pleasant little function, and the gift was given with a right good will. Possibly ho man in Paeroa has made himself more popular with all classes than Mr Wilson has, and the departure of such a genuine good fellow is to bo regretted. But, when promotion conies along, a man must as a rule move, and we can only hope, as Mr Hubbard said, that when promotion is handed round again, and a manager is wanted for Paeroa, Mr Wilson's services will not be overlooked. * * ?.• # The Paeroa hockey girls wore very -wrath because their match with Thames last Saturday was postponed on account of the weather. The Paeroa girls are not merely fine weather players—nothing less than a flood will stop them—and they don't think much of the Thames girls for being frightened of a little mud and water. *"* . # # * * I suppose the statement at the Rotorua accident inquiry that tho Putaruru stationmaster worked sixteen hours a day»came as a surprise to some people—because it is always considered so nice and easy to work for the Government. But there are other stations besides Putaruru where the office staff work pretty long hours. I wonder if Paeroa people could name one. ■a # ■% * The other day I saw in a country paper a good thing that, although not strictly original, is worth repeating. The reporter of a smoke concert had spread the proceedings to about three columns, but towards the end evidently got weary, and he finished up with: —" The chairman was then drunk,' and the gathering broke up with cheers." I should think it was time to go home when the chairman was drunk, but why -cheers should be given passes my comprehension, unless the crowd had been trying all night to get the chairman drunk and were cheering at their success. * « « * It is funny how scarce Justices of the Peace are sometimes. The other day at Paeroa the case was set down for hearing 1 at eleven o'clock, the necessary Js.P. being, I presume, notified to attend. At the appointed time one of them was there, and then 6nsued a long weary wait for another one. The parties to the case, the solicitors, witnesses, police, press representatives—to say nothing of the Eublic —all waited for nearly two ours, and then it was decided to adjourn the case for a week. Some people are always calling out that there are too many Js.P,, but it looks as' if we required some more in Paeroa. * -* •» # Residents of the Puke Road have for a long time been agitating for a gas lamp to b« x^&ced at the railway crossing, and the County Council some weeks ago (on the recommendation of the engineer's authorised the lamp to be erected, but so far a start has not been made to erect the lamp. Who is to blame I do not know, but it looks as if the lamp would not be erected until the summer time, when, although useful, the light will not be so much needed as it is at present. * # * * Down at WoodviJle a vigilance committee of citizens has been formed for the purpose of detecting individuals supplying prohibited persons with intoxicating liquor. Although the idea of amateur policemen is repugnant to most people, still there is no doubt that a committee of the kind mentioned might do good. Of course I don't suggest that a vigilance committee is needed in Paeroa, because we all know that prohibited persons never get liquor here!