DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 19, 1 March 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Since the advent of the Rev. R. Mitchell in Te Kuiti matters in connection with the Congregational Church have progressed considerably. During his recent visit to Dunedin Mr Mitchell obtained the sum of £SO towards the purchase of a site for a church building, and the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister of Education, has donated an organ to the church. As soon as a site is secured arrangements will be made for the erection of a suitable building. The propositions of the Farmers Auctioneering Company are being placed very fully before the whole of the farmers in the districts likely to come within the sphere of influence of the new Company. Mr Allen Bell has toured the country thoroughly and delivered addresses in all the different centres, and, as a result, the anticipations of the promoters have been fully realised. The new Company starts operations under most favorable auspices, and with the support already assured should prove a most successful undertaking.

The Railway Department advertises in this issue excursion rates to the South Auckland Races, at Hamilton, and Frankton Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show, at Pukekohe, on March Ist and 2nd. The Government having decided not to purchase the Laghmor Estate Canterbury, which consists of about 18,000 acres, the owner, Mr G. A. M. Buckley, intends subdividing about half of the estate, some 10,000 acres, into 30 farms, and offering them for sale by auction. There is not much likelihood that the price of potatoes in Dunedin will exceed £6 or £7 a ton during winter and spring. An informant, who has just inspected the potato crop all through the province, states that the crop down South, especially between Edendale and Clinton, is a very heavy one. In those districts a larger area has been put down in potatoes than in any previous year. On the other hand the crop in North Otago is likely to be apoor one. In some cases the potato fields have not yielded a ton to the acre; in other cases the yield has been so poor that farmers have turned their cattle on the crops, not deeming it worth while to dig them. - A dance in aid of the Te Kuiti Tennis Club, was held in Hetet's Hall on Friday night last. Over twenty couples were present, an a very enjoyable time was spent. Mr Boles acted as M.C., and excellent music was supplied by Mrs Priestly, Miss Kerr, and Mr J. Hetet (piano),- and Mr Kirk (mandolin). The fact that Te Kuiti is destined to become a very important stock sale centre was fully evidenced at the special sale held on Wednesday last, by the Loan and Mercantile Agency. Originally intended as a sale of Mr L. Bayley's stock, the other entries mounted up until over 1000 head of cattle were included, and although a large sale had been held the previous week, buyers attended from all the out districts, and bought freely. ,

The first test match between the English cricketers and New Zealand is now being played at Christchurch The Te Kuiti Vigilance Committee for some time past has been making strong efforts to secure the services of a station master for Te Kuiti, and it is stated that the representations have at last had the desired effect.- The railway authorities have been keeping returns of the amount of traffic passing through the station, and the inward tonnage is said to reach 160 tons per week. As soon as the necessary arrangements can be made the stationmaster will be provided. Messrs Wilson and Co's. new lime kilns, near Te Kuiti, were lighted for the first time on Monday last, and the consequent increase in the output of lime should add considerably to the industrial activity of the place. The new kilns are capable of burning from 100 to 130 tons of lime per week. The Waikato Central Show, which is to be held at Cambridge on Wednesday and Thursday next, promises to be a most attractive function. Special train arrangements have been made for the occasion, and King Country residents, desirous of attending the Show, can leave by the excursion train in the morning, and return to Te Kuiti the same night.

By advertisement in another column it is notified that the remaining township sections at Te Kuiti, numbering 155, will be offered by public auction at Hetet's Hall, on March 13th next, at 10 a.m. An addition to the business premises of Te Kuiti is to be made in the shape of a new bakery for Messrs Green and Colebrook, Limited. The contract has just been let for a thoroughly up-to-date building, fitted with all the modern conveniences, and operations on the building will be commenced next week. The adventure of a certain visitor to Te Kuiti, with a deer of the male persuasion, caused some little'excitement in the King Country centre on Sunday last. A well-known resident is the proud possessor of the deer in question, and keeps it tethered within the bounds of the park-like enclosure surrounding the District Roads office. On Sunday last, a Syrian hawker, accompanied by two local residents, strolled round to admire the beauty of the surroundings, and in their rambles, passed through the domain of the deer. The animal was not startled ; it is too much accustomed to the admiration of the inhabitants, to be at all disturbed by casual visitors. The Syrian, moved by some errant wave of sympathy, made advances to his shackled kingship, and for a time, the gratifying sight of man and beast exchanging courtesies, was seen. However, in a moment ail was changed; the deer backed a yard or two ; then, with lowered head, launched himself straight at the swarthy intruder. The Syrian is a bulky man, and was hit in a tender spot, and hurled yards away. The deer charged again, and the man had just time to throw up his hands, and clutch the antlers. Then ensued a memorable struggle. The man was afraid to let go, and the deer was hampered somewhat by his tether. Round and round they wrestled, the man uttering wierd ejaculations, and holding on like grim death. Presently the struggle began to tell on the Syrian, and the deer struggled to his feet with thirteen stone hanging to his head. There was a moment or two of wild confusion ; then a final upheaval, and the Syrian was hurtling along the ground like a Catherine wheel. The deer strained at his chain, but could not reach his adversary, who, with one hand to his head, and the other to his trousers, struggled to regain his breath. Then on the pure, balmy air of the calm Sabbath evening, was wafted such a strange mixture of Eastern and Western blasphemy, as had never been heard before, but the lord of the domain looked serenely on the landscape, and chewed a meditative cud, content with having preserved his sanctuary from alien intrusion. Of course the man lusted for revenge,and wanted to kill the animal, but British fair play, in the shape of the brawny local blacksmith, intervened, and the Syrian went home to get his clothes mended. It is said that he stayed at home for a day or two. The application of the Waitomo County Conucil to have the weekly half-holiday in the district altered from Wednesday to Thursday has been gazetted.