DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 18, 22 February 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

A letter has been received by the Editor with reference to the huia and other Native birds, but as it is incomplete and without signature it is impossible for it to be published. All letters intended for the correspondence column must bear the signature over which they are to appear, and also the name of the writer.

Te Kuiti township is growing very rapidly, and there is no sign of a cessation of building operations. On the eastern side of the river, Mrs _ Britts' residence is nearing completion, as is a large stable for Mr Hattaway. The parsonage is to be put in hand immediately, and other residences are also projected. On the western side of the river, Mr Morgan's house is almost finished and Mr Rountree's is in a like state, while a commodious residence for Mr Pine has been just started. Messrs Taylor, Mordaunt and Bailey, and Mclndoe all report an abundance of work, and with the openin of the remaining township sections there will probably be still greater activity in the trade. At the recent meeting of the Waitomo County Council, the point was raised by Cr Loveday as to whether improved farm settlement sections were rateable for the purposes of a special loan. The Chairman intimated that, according to legal opinion obtained by the Council, the sections were only exempt from the ordinary rates for the specified term. In connection with the Waikato Central Show, particular attention is drawn to the fact that there are no post entries. All entries, including riding, leaping and hunting classes, close on Saturday next.

Speaking with reference to the appointment of an engineer to the Waitomo County Council, the Chairman (Major Lusk) said an engineer would be necessary very shortly, and until the appointment was made he would be glad to act as honorary engineer. He had been engaged on the engineering of the firstroad made into the Waikato, and would be happy to assist in the same capacity in the further development of the King Country, which was the most recent of Auckland's settled country, while Waikatowas the oldest.

Messrs McNicol and Co. have been consistently unlucky in the point of weather for their snle days at Te Kuiti, and last Wednesday was no exception to the general rule. Fortunately the previous day was fine and settlers were enabled to get_their stock to market without inconvenience. A new sort of potato blight has made its appearance in the South. The skin of the potato is quite brown, and when it is removed insects in large numbers are seen, some of them being an inch in length. A farm of 2/8 acres at Manaia, Taranaki. was sold the other day to a successful dairy .farmer for £36 an acre. It is said the Manaia land carries a cow to the acre nearly all the year through. During the course of an interview at Auckland, the Hon. R. McNab, Mtnister for Lands, informed a Herald representative that the aquipment of a veterinary school by the Government, in connection with the Otago University, had been definitely decided upon by the Cabinet. At present, the Department has to send to Britain for its staff of veterinary surgeons, and the establishing of the school means that, in a few years, the Government will not require to go out of the colony for these experts. Mr McNab said that no doubt the school will be one of the means of entrance to the Stock Department.

The local tennis club has received a challenge from the Mangapeehi club to play a series of games on the local court at an early date. , The new saleyards at Te Kuiti though not yet completed, were used for the first time by Messrs McNicol and Co. on Wednesday, and the change from the old make shift yards was much appreciated by both auctioneer and settlers. The third wool sale of the season was held at Auckland on Wednesday, when a total of 561 bales were submitted. Some of the wool submitted, was not in the best condition for the market, and various lines of the lambs wool were seedy. However, the sale was considered satisfactory, prices ruling from %c\ to ?4d lower than January sale, but higher than for the corresponding sale of 1906. The best price obtained was for a line of Shropshires.' Crossbreds brought from lOd to and other prices ranged from 8d to gH.

With reference to the scheme for procuring the services of a doctor_ for Te Kuiti and the surrounding districts, the efforts of the committee are already meeting with considerable success. The opinion has been widely expressed that it is desirable to grant some concession to the guarantors of the amount necessary to offer a doctor, and it has been decided to make a reduction in the ordinary fees to the signatories, of 20 per cent. A circular is now being printed embodying the amendment, and will be forwarded to the representatives and canvassers in the various districts in due course. Several names were • inadverrently omitted from the original list of representatives appointed to canvass, but this has now been rectified. In some instances objections have been made by settlers to signing the undertaking to pay £l per year for three years, though they were quite willing to promise. The committee desire to point out that they have to deal in a business-like manner with the doctor, and moral obligations carry no weight in business. The Hon R. McNab is at present touring North Auckland in the interests of the Land Bill. He expects to visit the King Conntry about the middle of March.

The first work to be undertaken by the newly appointed honorary engineer to the Waitomo County Council is the drawing up of estimates of the cost of the proposed works on the Mairoa-Caves road, and Hauturu road in the Waitomo district. It is intended to apply for a loan for the carrying out of the work. The sitting of the S.M. Court, which was to have been held at Taumarunui on February 21st, was postponed at the eleventh hour. Inconsequence of the illness of Mr Northcroft, it was understood that a southern Stipendiary Magistrate was to undertake the duties. There was a longilist of cases set down for hearing, and witnesses arrived from Mokatote, Raurimu and other places to attend the Court, but had to return home on Thursday morning. All the liquor cases, and the majority of the civil actions were adjourned until March Ist. Several of the minor cases were herrd before Justices of the Peace.