DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 10, 28 December 1906, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

and procedure. Such a success is not often heard of, and Mr Wilson has been the recipient of numerous telegrams of congratulation from friends scattered all over the colony." Mr Wilson is a brother of Mr Andrew Wilson, Government surveyor of this district. Advantage has been taken of the recent dry spell of weather to burn off the bush felled during winter and spring. At Mangaotaki, last week, Mr J. Evans started a burn, which spread to the standing bush on Mr D. Anderson's section, and ran through a considerable area. The dreaded potato blight has made its appearance at Oparure, but, as most of the crops are well forward towards ripening, it is expected that little damage will result.

It is to be hoped that people will exercise care in starting fires during the summer, as a great amount of damage may be caused by the slightest negligence. Last Sunday a fire was started near the Te Kuiti scenic reserve, and in a short time it spread beyond bounds end did considerable damage. It is stated that the railway to be put through from the Main Trunk line, near Pirhvk;;, to Lake Taupo will be started early in the New Year. The new line will open up a fine tim-ber-milling bush and should prove a valuable proposition, as it will be a link between the thermal regions and the Wanganui river. At the ballot of Crown Lands, last week, in Auckland, two blocks in Waitomo County were among those opened for selection. A section* of 288 acres, between Hangatiki and Otorohanga, for which there were 24 applicants, was drawn by H. W. Wilson, and a section of 723 acres, at Waiteti, near Te Kuiti, for which there were 60 applicants, was secured by J. G. Berry, jun. At a meeting of the Crown Lands Board, held in Auckland last week, it was decided to open the Troopers' sections, near Te Kuiti, for selection. The block comprises an area of 4600 acres, and is cut into twelve sections of from 126 to 553 acres. At the usual weekly meeting of the Te Kuiti Debating Society, on Friday last, there was a large attendance of members and MrTammadge presided. After the ordinary business had been dealt with, the president (Mr F. Sims) was called upon to make a presentation to Mr and Mrs Rountree, as a token of esteem for their kindness in providing rooms for the Society and encouraging it in every possible manner. Mr Rountree replied. The presentation consists of a very handsome clock, with a suitable inscription, and a silver cruet. In the course of his remarks, Mr Sims said that as Mr Rountree was leaving the house, and that he (Mr Sims) was taking his place, he would be glad to offer the Society the same assistance as Mr Rountree had so cordially granted. The debate " Should every man have a vote," was then proceeded with, Mr Power taking the affirmative and Mr Hardy the negative. After an excellent contest a vote was taken, when the affirmative won by a narrow majority. Mr Mervyn Wilson, who spent a year on a survey party in the King Country five years ago, and left to take up the study of law, has recently, as his many friends will be pleased to see, passed a very creditable examination. The Taranaki Herald of December 14th, says :—"1 Referring to the successes of local law students, already published, that of Mr Wilson, of Messrs Standish and Kerr's staff, was particularly meritorious. Mr Wilson passed in the following six subjects :—Contracts, real and personal property, equity, evidence criminal law and torts, and pracice,