Passing Events.

Opunake Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2051, 31 March 1914, Page 4

Passing Events.

The meeting of West Coast'leaseholders was well attended on Monday and one got a very good idea of the farmer, his manners, personality and ideas—when away from the bytes. Farmers beyond the mountain, under its shades, by the railway and from the sea coast were there, all farming or owning land under the same tenure—Wess Coast Leise. Some were broad shouldered, others lightly built ; some dressed exceptionally well, others moderately, bnt all good examples of prosperity, and appeared to bo making a good living, and having a good life at the sol. I

The legislation recent y passed was praised by the spokesmen »vi the meeting. A tenure that aids contentment to the agriculturist is beneficial to the State. The 1881 lessees are on improved conditions—at the end of the next 10 years fall value for improvements is paid—and a lease that gives full value for improvements is a fair thing. One point yet to be tried ? Will the natives sell. If not, is the tenant on a good wicket. He is certainly on a reasonable one—be geis paid for his work, there is no confiscation and to “ oust ” the tenant will mean £,s.d. If the Maori does not sell, will he grub gorse and keep the land from deteriorating. The interests of the community demands that gorse shall be grabbed out. At (he Conference of representatives from County Councils, held iu Eltham last week the delegates were unanimous on one thing, an important point—that they do nothing. They were there to discuss uniform charges at toll-gates and were decidedly of opinion that each did not have the same class of traffic, and therefore knew best the price to put on the traffic. A reasonable contention.

What appeared to me to be the most inconsistent form of consistency was to adopt that opinion and then fly off into beling that one Connty can manage two Counties better if they were squeezed into one. Well, why did they not make a start with uniformity of tolls on bordering counties. It seemed a small matter, but the first little matter in amalgamation they failed to touch with a long poll. Surely, now, ye representatives, you should not talk big and fail at very email things when put to test.

Then the question of too many counties was debated and the opinion of all the delegates seemed to be : That is so. Now gentleman be honest I what county would you begin to wipe out. The Egmont County would have been a good one to have pounced on at the meeting as there were no delegates present from that county. Well gentlemen, that is were the rub would rub you you out, in naming the county or counties to go out, or under. If Mr Quin said Eltham, well the Elthamites would rub Quin out and his name would be mud at election time. If Mr Pan Hughes said Waimate Hughes would be used up by the Waimateites at election time, and bo on. Gentlemen, yon cannot do it - rub a County oat. County ratepayers like to control their own afiSairs. Even individual ratepayers would like the power of spending their own rales—and that would be at their own door. To go in for provincialism, would, in my opinion be disastrous as tbp basis of representation would be population, and where the population bad the pull in voting power would also get the pull in spending power, the couo • try districts would get the lean part of the money carcase. Thei very practice of toll-gates exemplified ye gods of greatness in County affairs. The individual Counties do not put up the toll-gates to catch -their own ratepayers. Oh, no—to catch the neighbouring county ratepayers. If you want us to believe you are in earnest, get rid of your paroobalism first by ridding the roads of the cursed toll gates' and pay a farthing more in rates to your own County to keep your roads good and hot tax outsiders for it. Put your talk into practise gentleman, and then Lfor one will believe you are honest in your talk and not trying to tickle the ears of the groundlings with straws of bunkum. -■' .

Wellington people saw for the first time a local aeroplane flight on Wednesday and those who witnessed its brief course and thrilling termination will not soon forget it. When half-way across the park it began to rise gently evenly, amidst much applause. In a few seconds, as the airman got above Berhampore, it was noticed that the machine seemed to rook and jolt about in a manner which was alarming to the people used only to solid earth. The aviator endeavored to rise higher, and succeeded in part. He was able to avoid the houses, but could not shake off the grip of the gusty wind enouh to let him get a good elevation, and the aeroplane crashed with a resounding noise into the top of a big pine tree, on the edge of Newton Park, facing Bussell Terrace. Soon the streets leading to the scene of the accident were thronged. Arrived at Bussell Terrace, how'ever, Scotland was seen coming down the road with some friends. He had grasped a branch of the tree when the smash came, and so saved himself from harm beyond a sprained thumb and a > bit of a sbak ing, The machine framework was smashed and the oanyas of the planes bady ripped and torn. Both blades of the propeller wen broken off shojrto and the wire work was twisted ang tingled in the tree top. The motor was apparent'y undamaged, and in circumstances the airman must be congratulated on his lucky escape,

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