THE KING COUNTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 10

THE KING COUNTRY.

Sir, —Nearly everybody knows that thcro is a 'King Country, but nobody seems to know where it begins or ends. Years ago tho Legislature passed a gooil, solid Act, i that for the protection of the Natives no intoxicating liquor should be made, sold, or given away anywhere within the boundary , of tho aforesaid prohibited area. Tlio 1 southern boundary was supposed to bo some- 1 whore north from ■ barton. As settlement extended along the Main Trunk Line, town- * ships began to spring up, and many enterprising men applied for hotel licenses. For j a time they were refused, on the plea that • theso townships wore in tho King Country. 1 Then would eome along a man, witli n couple of smart hnvybis, and ny.oey, whoso ' only objeot in life was to open iirst-class hotels and crush the demoralising sly-grog : seller. Jty some means or other, tho Licensing lionch were induced to shirt tlio boundary lino a bit further north, till to-dav it is about 61) miles further north than it was 20 years ago, ami Ohakuno seems to bo (ho : most southern town tabooed. From Olm- i Inine to Tc Kuiti, anyone found with a cork smelling of beer or whisky, is liable to .'a i up tor a month or so. Now, sir, what"! want to get at in, why a certain wealthy i syndicate is allowed to sell n- r o K i through the heart of the King Country,, i from Wangatiui to Tauimminu?—l am, • w J.B. / February 27. '