Makaraka Notes.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 498, 26 August 1890, Page 3

Makaraka Notes.

[FBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.J Makaraka, yesterday. Attention cannot be too prominently drawn to the dangerous condition of that piece of road leading from Makaraka corner to the Royal Oak corner. There are many bad pinches in it, and if two drays, loaded with bay for example, met coming from opposite directions, one would have a very fair chance of being upset. Many serious accidents have already occurred to the limbs of travellers, owing to the narrowness of the crown of the road. The Chairman of the County Council, who drives up and down frequently, might be cited as a witness in support. The usuil fortnightly meeting of the Matawhero Literary an 1 Debating Society came off on Friday night, and notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, was well attended, about 35 ladies and gentlemen being present. Mr Walsh was voted to the chair. Six new members were elected, and five ethers nominated. A challenge to a debate was received from the Union Literary Society, and evoked some discussion. Ultimately it was resolved that three members of the Matawhero Society be appointed to make necessary arrangements with tho Union. The subject suggested was “Looking Backward,” date to be fixed for the 11th of September. Mr Birrell then gave his essay on Socialism, and in his introductory remarks regretted that owing to the limited time at his disposal, and the vastness of the subject, his essay was unavoidably sketchy. The essayist traced a a man’s life from childhood, through school and college, denouncing the system of cramming, which, he (the speaker) alleged was prevalent in the schools of tho present age. Mr Birrell referred adversely to competition in trade, which caused trade to be dull, and was in every respect the curse of the commercial world. Each man was trying to best his neighbor. Another cause of trade depression was the scarcity cf gold in comparison to other commodities; workman should receive a ghare of the profits ; hours cf labor to be shortened ; no privileged class to live in idleness, etc., etc. The speaker made copious extracts from the works of Mill, Gladstone, Carlyle, and Professor Fawcett, in support of his various theories. The time occupied by Mr Birrell in the treatment of his subject was O?er an hour.—Mr B ight f dlowed, and in h s remarks attempted to show that Socialism was unworkable and compared it to Communism. Messrs Caidwell, F Parker, Gray, and Irvine, also addressed the meeting on the subj-ct, aft c r which the meeting terminated. The next meeting will be taken up with impromptu speaking.