AUCKLAND ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 3

AUCKLAND ITEMS.

PECULIAR GEOLOGICAL FORMA- ' TIO\. (I)r TeloEraßh.-SDJcial CcrrosjonUonU Auckland, January 13. A peculiarity in North Auckland geological formation was discovered recently in Dargaville. During well-sinking operations oil the sandstono ridge at the west of tho borough, a shaft was put down through the hard pan which is frequently present immediately under the surface of gum land. After sinking through 20ft. of clay au old river bed of blue mud formation was encountered. This contained rushes and kauri timber, amongst which excellent guru ,v,\as found. Below this strata water was tapped in plenitude.

THE MAORI IN POLITICS.

There is a ripple of excitement amongst North Auckland natives in reference to Parliamentary representation. At present the Northern Maori district is held by Dr. Buck, who succeeded the late Mr. Hone Heko, and a stroug feeling exists amongst many chieftains against their being further represented by a member of the Taranaki tribe. The elect-orate extends from tho Tamaki to the North Cape, and amongst tho electors are numerous men of rank and education, who arc showing close interest in political matters. In addition to tho nominations previously reported, Jehu Moctara has been selected by a number of Hokianga sub-tribes. Hemi To I'aa is tho choice of certain northern Wairoa hapus. Huirua Tito has been promised strong support from sections of tho Barawa, and a strong phalanx accords favour to Kerei Mitai Titore, who is a follower of Mr. Massey. It is probable that other candidates will be announced, and a spirited contest may be expected at the next general election. Hitherto tho Natives havo completely pinned their faith to the party in power, but a growing knowledge of English and a study of politics have led many to become staunch members of tho Opposition party. Their lands are still in a state of chaos, and heads of families are to-day in a more lamentable stato than that experienced by their forefathers, inasmuch as constant contact with the pakeha. forces them to adopt his customs on practically an empty purse. Many interested i:i' big blocks which are still held in common, aro anxious to acquire Crown sections, and so better their conditions, and to that end favour all projects which will hasten tho removal of | burdensome restrictions. TRAM RETURNS. Instructivo figures showing the holiday trallic on the Auckland tramcars have been furnished by tho Tramways Company. For the twelvo days from December 24 to January 4 inclusive tho. number of .passenger,s carried was 1,285);565). For the corresponding period of the preceding season tho number of passengers was 1,130,961, showing tho big increase of 158,603 .for the 1910-11 season. Tho greatest, number carried on any ono day was on Christmas Eve, When 165,511 "passengers travelled by tho era's, an increase of 15,034 over last Christmas Eve. On Now Year's Eve 142,253 passengers, .were carried, the number last year being 120,163, making the increase for this year 22,090.

IMPORTANT LAND SALE. An important sale of land at AVaiotapu has .lately been' concluded, and it may bo expected to result ill another forcible demonstration., of tlio latent possibilities of the once-despised pumice country which forms such a vast proportion of tlio total area of the North Island: Tho property that has changed hands 'is tho front part of tho wellknown Strathmore Estate., about 23 miles from Rotorua, which has * been in possession of Mr. H. R. Butcher, of Kaiapoi for some years. Messrs. AY. G. Stead and E. J. Watt, lato of Hawke's Bay, hare purchased 28,000 acres of the land, tho price paid being £36,000, or between 2os. .and 265. an acre. Several thousand acres of the land is already in grass, and is carrying a great- (leal of stock. The transaction leaves about 20,000 acres still ill the occupation of Mr. Butcher; ; It is the intention of Messrs.- Stead and A\at-t to thoroughly develop their own property. They propose to put on about half-a-dozen teams at once, and to bring about a • thousand acres of the land under tho plough and- a portion of this area may bo sown in grass during the autumn. The estat-e also contains about 10,000 acres of rich swamp land, which has not been-hitherto available for use owing to the need for drainage: The now owners have decided to drain the land b.v deepening tli" V.'uiotapu River to tho extent of about four feet' for a distance of some 15 chains. The estato comprises some of'the best of the pumice country, and,' judging by tlio energetic way m-which the°iiew owners arc proceeding to develop it, their enterprise should meet with a 'rich reward.