TE KUITI.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 16

TE KUITI.

BUSTLE AND ENTERPRISE. A TOWN WITH A FUTURE. "Accommodation? None. Full up. Yes, I know- it's 2 o'clock in the morning, but I can't help it. You should advise us." "I did, I wrote," piped a frail feminine voice, as she stood trembling ill the darkness outside tho door, where the janitor stood with tho aspect of monarch of all lie surveyed. "Wrote I"—an air of supremo disdain —"It's no use writing; you must telegraph." Semi-partial collapse of tho woman, during which time a Dominion man humbly approached the janitor, and of-

fered to engage the parlour fender, the coal-scuttle, or somo chairs, so long as there was a chance of a rest and a sleep. The frankness of. the inquiry made tho janitor a friend for life."You can havo a sofa and somo chairs, if you don't mind a 'shako down,' but why didn't ye telegraph? Good night. No, don't put your boots out, keep 'em till the morning. There's strangers about, and they'll lift anj - - tliing from boots to, the linen on tho line." > •, A Stranuous Town. - Tho foregoing affords some- idea of what life to-day is in strenuous, bust-

questioned another, "you mean three." To Kuiti has increased its population by 500 in the last twelve months. It is only natural that in the game which is being carried on tho land agent plays a prominent part. , And notwithstanding what anybody might say to the contrary, he, with very few exceptions, plays the game fairly and squarely. In fact, it is largely to his enterprise that the town is bustling along; but, of course, the average citiren does not always recognise the fact. Neither does the average man from tho south, who imagines that the population of tho town is comprised mainly of. Maoris, and who writes or wires, asking thij agent to procure him a block of one thousand acres for the price of a drink, or somo such supremely ridiculous amount. Kapai To Freahold, Even if the population were wholly Maoris, they are capable of knowing things, that is, if the following story is an example. A Te Kuiti Maori wished to purchase a town section, and after the agent had assured him that he could

supply him, the Native warned him: "No good te 'phtrry' rease, kapai to Maori freehold." From which it will bo seen that tlio Maori is aware on what sido his bread ought to be buttered. A Modern Town, ' Except for somo of its accommodation and tho fact that its streets are in tho making, To Kuiti is, considering its circumstanecs, quite as up to date as pno could hope for. Ten or twelve years ago, when its chief population was boused in a and its .business houses represented by a black-smitli'-s shop, with numerous hardworking bullocks composing its most notable live stock, tho man who wished for a hair cut or a shave had to sit upon a bucket and gaze at nothing in particular.' It is recorded that an individual objected' to • the bucket, and rodo to Auckland, a distanco of 320 miles, for his tonsorial dressing, but thoso times aro past, and Te Kuiti now boasts three tine hairdressers', shops, each with several chairs. It has shops with plato-glass windows, and a drap-. ery establishment which controls part of its' business on mail-order system. There are three banks, open every day, and jiow oiie of the institutions is budding , in. brick, The action of tho banks, is" ii strong force "in . indicating that the progress of the town will be of a solid.and lasting nature, and that the town will lie well supported by its outside extensive areas. . New houses are going up every week in tho town, and sections aro being sold over and over again. Town Gates. These sales are creating tho greatest excitement amongst townspeople and visitors. Quarter-aero sections at the northern end of the town which, two years ago brought from £40 to £75, now bring £135. These are ordinary building sections. The shops in Roro Street, a thoroughfare'similar to those leading from the Pa'lmerston North and 1-iastings railway stations, aro all leasehold, except one. They aro leased to Europeans in the first place by auction for twenty-one year periods. Originally they brought from £5 to £15,. two years ago they ran up to £18, and the last property auctioned brought £3G for 29 perches, working out at a capital value of £729. The goodwill of this place has just been sold for £1100, ; Another business place, freehold of 12 nerches, not in tlio main street, was leased for £180, which works out at £2100 pqr acre. It is said that business sections cannot be bought now on Roro Street. Rents in this street range from 20s. to 50s. per week. Prices seem to be extraordinarily high, but tho explanation appears to bo feasible. To Ktiiti is built in a basin, more so than Tailiape. The Maori moaning is ."Tlio Narrows." Surrounded by low-lying hills, • town sections must be limited, and thus they are turned over and over again, at priccs which residents admit do not represent their real value. Then, in a measure, it is a one-street town, Roro Street Hanking the railway line, and hero again there is tho competition for tho front positions. At tho present time tho station is on tho wrong side of tho town. It is proposed to shift it to the other sido, but if the town grows as is expected, tlio station right up against the business places and the sliuntjng and screeching which will go on will be found to ho more of a hindrance than a blessing. However, it is probably 100 early to talk of that now.

A Good Future. As to whether To Kniti will continue to progress as now; well that question is agitating a good mail)' minds. The probability, however, is that it will progress. For the past two or threo years there have been people in - the

town who have stat'od that prices must drop. Instead of dropping, they liavo increased, and possibly they will hold their own for some years. Tho town has great stretches of back country which extend far to the coast 011 011 c side and to tho liotoroa railway line 011 tho other side. There arc thousands of acres of Native land in virgin forest, and these must bo opened lip in the course of a few years. Tho town is being well run. Kvery citizen is a patriot, and enterprise is shown by the fact that in the course of one year the town has established racing, bowling, and gun clubs, a social club (which does not recognise the debasing locker system), an A. and I'. Association, a Masonic Lodge, and a Fire Hrigade, and tho other night it was decided to inaugurate a dairy company, if possible, 1 on co-operative lines. The town has many progressive men, but it is genera U.v rccop;ui sed that it owes a good deal to the work of its Mayor, Mr. J. Boddie, and Messrs. l'\ H. bims (president of the To Kniti Chamber of Commerce), N. C. Matthew (proprietor of tho King Country "Chronicle"), C.

Stovons, W. S. King, A. Julian, ami Major Luslc- The town possesses somo very valuable limestone ami metal quarries, from one of wliicli the Government intends to metal the Rotorua railway lino in order to get over the dust nuisance, and an Auckland firm uses To Kuiti lime for ceiucnt-making purposes. Hop gardens have been in existence in the place for two or three years, and the crops are said to havo been very good indeed; Past History. Tlio past history of To Kuiti is soon told. It was 'founded sonio eleven years ago by the Hon. James Carroll as a Nativo settlement, and was practically unknown till about livo_ years ago, when its railway communication with the outside world amounted to two trains a week. Amongst the first residents still in tlio place were Messrs. Ellison (Government valuator), Hetet, and Pepene Eketone. These two. Natives represent the Maori race oil the Borough Council. Both aro wealthy men. .-Hetet has an interesting incident in his career. Just prior to the Poverty Bay massacre, Te lvooti had his men, massed , near Te. Kuiti, preparatory'to' an attack^,onlAYaikato. Tlio friendly i\atives )I .ampngst ll ivhpm were Hetet and his •father, t>pposed him. Negotiations were opened up, and Hetet, then a boy of eighteen, was the emissary between the two parties. Tlio result was that To Kooti left the Waikato alone, and perpetrated his crime on the residents of Poverty Bay. 11l the hall at To Kuiti is a tattered and torn Union Jack, which has on it certain lettering showing that it' was presented to Hetot's father by General Cameron at the closo of the Waikato war. The place was made a borough last year with a population of 1100. Its population is now 1500. The area is 1823 acres. Of the loan money which is to be spent, £11,000 is for a water supply, £10,000 for streets, £3128 for drainage, £1000 for municipal buildings, £500 for a fire brigade station, while there will bo a poll shortly on a lighting proposal. Buildings' are now in course of erection in the town to the value of £14,000.

special representative of tlio firm is always travelling around tlie country extending business. A feature of tho interior of the To Iviiiti promises is the ladies' showrooms, where the dispi'ny is on tlie most, artistic and attractive lines. With large and comploto stocks, civility and attention, and his present enterprise, the firm of J. and 15. Rosenberg should long represent the business progress which marlcs the history of To

Mr. C. R. Cooko, accountant'and aw clitor, otc., lias a business announcement in this issue. The latest pnllorns in English, S'coleh, and Irish (weeds can be obtained at Mr. ,1. i)e Ijuen, tailor, Tailiape. Mr.. J. H. Cuiininshame, M.P.S., prescription chemist, Tailiape, inserts aI special announcement in this issue. The business of Mr. A. Hops, black'-' smith and wheelwright, of lluntervillo, has bcon. established for eighl eon years, and buggies, carls, etc., are -built and prepared by him at moderate charges.