DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 21, 15 March 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Bishop Neligan is to make a tour of the King Country towards the end of April. It is expected that a confirmation service will be held at To Kuiti during the Bishop's tour. Farming properties are beginning to change hands in the vicinity of Te Kuiti. Mr Aston has just disposed of his farm consisting of about 90 acres, on the Mangaorino road to Messrs Roper and Cornish, who have also purchased Mr G. Knauf's property in the same locality. The area of both properties will reach about 450 acres and will probably be devoted to sheep. The sales were effected through the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency and satisfactory prices were realised. At the recent sitting of the Native Appellate Court at Ngaruawahia last week, Mr F. Earl, who represented the Tainui tribe in the recent Te Akau land case made some strong remarks with regard to the judgment of the Court, by which the Tainui people had been divested of 13,000 acres. Mr Earl, in the course of his remarks, said it was amazing and inconceivable that the Court had not submitted certain questions of law to the Supreme Court and considered it an insult to judges who had previously heard the cases and other members of the legal profession who had given opinions on the matter. Judge Mair, in reply, said that nothing in the shape of an insult had been intended and thought an unnecessary amount of warmth had been exhibited by Mr Earl. The judges had no doubt whatever as to the questions raised and there seemed to them no reason for delaying the proceedings by going to the Supreme Court. It is stated that the Tainui tribe propose to apply to theiSupreme Court for a writ of prohibition calling in question the validity of the recent proceedings and judgment. The Church of England intend holding a sale of work at Te Kuiti during the 16th and 17th of April. The ladies are now busily engaged in preparing all sorts of needlework, and it is to be hoped that their efforts will be the means of greatly swelling the finances of the Church. Farming in all branches is extending in the North and in consequence of the protracted spell of dry weather experienced in the South Island this season large numbers of sheep have been transferred to the North. On Saturday last a mob of 4,000 sheep arrived at Te Kuiti from Hawera en route for the Northern Wairoa. The sheep were trucked from Te Kuiti on Monday and Wednesday for Auckland.

The Native Land Commission is still working the East Coast districts. At the recent sitting at Mohaka, Sir Robert Stout earnestly advised the Maoris to take advantage of their present opportunity, and stated that he thought there should be provision made for compulsory residence and improvements by Maoris, even on their own land. As a result of the enquiry at Mohaka there will probably be 4,000 acres of land available for European settlers. It is stated by leading butter merchants in Wellington that factory butter is selling at lid per lb in pats and at lo%d in bulk and offers are being made by agents of Home firms who bought heavily in spring at advanced rates, while the British agents are unloading in the colony instead of shipping Home to a losingmarket. As far as this season's export from the Colony is concerned, most of it is supplied on contract, and the drop in price is not yet felt, but next season's shipments will probably experience a reduction unless the market revives in the meantime. As a result of an argument, a wood-chopping match was arranged at Te Kuiti on Wednesday morning last between Messrs F. Julian and J. Rawlinson. The blocks were fifteen inch and of fakikatea. A good deal of interest was taken in the event and was witnessed by a good many spectators. The chop was done in very good time, and J. Rawlinson proved the winner. We have to acknowledge the receipt from the author (Mr V. L. Jackson) of an excellent view book of the King Country. The publication is well got up and includes some exceedingly fine pictures of various portions of the King Country, but it will appeal most to those who know the stretch of country from Kawhia to the Mokau, including Marakopa and Kinohaku. The reproductions are well executed and printed on fine art paper and include charming bush and river scenes, great waterfalls, beautiful limestone caves (rivalling Waitomo), wonderful works of Nature in limestone, together with some fine coastal scenery and gorge glimpses for which the West Coast is so widely famed. A brief letterpress description is a source of enlightenment to those who are unacquainted with the localities, while the pictures speak for themselves.

The Native Lands Commission sal at Nuhaka, Napier, on Monday over a hundred Natives being present. The inquiry was in connection with the Nuhaka No. 2 block, subdivided by the Native Land Court a few years ago. One spokesman for the party pointed out the great expense the Natives had been put to in advancing the position of their titles. The want of these titles was keenly felt at times when local differences revealed the insecurity of the present position. The Chief Justice complimented the local Natives on the practical interest they had taken in the dairy industry, as evidenced by the fact that over twenty of them were suppliers this season. He thought the Commission could assist them by arranging that they should get good titles to the land they were now occupying. A sitting of the Maniapoto Tuwharetoa Maori Land Administration Board is being held at To Kuiti this week, and a large number of Native leases is being dealt with. Recent information from Australia states that Towns is willing to come to New Zealand and row Webb for the world's championship, provided the New Zealander complies with championship conditions. No doubt a strong effort will be made to have the race rowed on the Wanganui river.

It is stated that Mr W. M. Bankart, of Te Mata, has been requisitioned by a large number of electors in the Kawhia district to stand for Taiimanmui electorate at the next general election, and has declined. It is understood that Mr Merries, M.11.R. for the Bay of Plenty, will stand for the new Tauranga electorate ■■it the next general election.. Mr J. A. Young is also mentioned as a likely candidate for Tauranga and will stand in the Liberal interests. The question of school is again agitating the public mind, and many school teachers and members of lulucation Boards are in favour of providing the books in primary schools free of charge. The custom is common in the United Kingdom, and there is a strong probability of the practice being adopted throughout the colony in the near future. The Public Offices throughout the colony will be closed on Monday next (March 18th) in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. The principle of rating on unimproved values is making considerable headway in New Zealand, and its adoption by the smaller towns and boroughs is becoming general. At Dannevirke, on February 28th, the ratepayers.carried the proposition by a large majority, and the Clyde Town district, Hawke's Bay, has also adopted it. The Auckland Weekly News is offering prizes amounting to £45 for a photographic competition. The various classes are well arranged and the conditions offer inducement to photographers, both amateur and professional. This is an excellent opportunity for King Country amateurs, as in these competitions the amateur, accustomed to out-door photography, is usually more successful than the professional. This district affords a splendid field for camera work, particularly in the bush and landscape classes. At a recent meeting of the Clifton (Taranaki) County Council Mr Foreman remarked: "If the counlry is going to be magnanimous and give the Maoris roads free of cost and without the "payment of rates, it should be at the expense of the whole colony and not at the expense of the European settlers in the neighbourhood of the Maori holdings."

At a meeting of the Otago University Council on March 5, the Secretary for Education (Wellington) wrote slating that a medical scholarship similar, as regards conditions, to those formerly held at Otago University by Messrs Buck and Wi Rcpa, had been awarded to a Maori youth named Rongo Nuku, of Whakatanc, Auckland. He*- would commence his studies with the session opening in April. The scholarship is tenable for five years, and the holder receives an allowance of £4O a year for board, with college and class fees, and an allowance not exceeding £lO in any one year for books, instruments, etc. Travelling expenses to and from home once a year are also allowed. The training-ship Amokura will be put to practical use in the course of a few days. The first batch of ]2 aspirants for a naval career will arrive in Wellington this week, and another batch will be sent for as soon as the first contingent settles down, as the authorities do not think it advisable to bring the whole 70 odd boys, that the ship will accommodate, into duty at once. Some 300 have applied, but many of them are over the stipulated age. It is hoped the ship will be in full going order in live or six weeks' time.

At the most recent meeting of the Kimbolton branch of the Farmers' Union, a long discussion took place on some of the principles of the Land Bill. Some of the members expressed themselves in favour of a graduated tax on wealth, whether in land or anything else. The Chairman proposed, and it was carried, that the following remit be forwarded to the Provincial Conference : "That this conference, while considering the (lovernmenl proposals crude and unworkable is not opposed to the principle of the limitation of area." The KaupoK'onui Dairy Company has recently had a striking illustration of the relative values of butter and cheese. It lias been their practice to make butter at one of their branches, but some time ago the water race fell in, and the supply was sent to the Auroa cheese factory. The difference between making butter and cheese during a month, amounted to £97 in favour of cheese. The annual meeting' of subscribers to the Te Kuiti Library was held in Mr Sims'commercial room on Friday night last. Mr F. W. Sims presided, lucre was a poor attendance of subscribers and purely formal business was done. The minutes of the previous meeting' were read and confirmed, and a committee elected for the ensuing year. Miss Melling' was re-elected librarian and secretary and treasurer.

The Minister for Lands is expected to visit the King Country al (he ein\ of this month and give addresses al the various centres. Considerable activity has been manifested in land transactions at Otorohanga of late. A good number of properties have changed hands at satisfactory prices, and a number of other similar transactions are in the air. The Ohura Jockey Club holds its annual meeting on Monday next, March lßlh, at Toe 'Foe. ICxecllenl acceptances have been received for the various events, and good sport should be provided. The programme, includes hurdle, Hat, and- trotting events, and as the performers are all owned in the district, the contests should give rise to great interest. A marked difference in the Otago and Wairarapa herds of red deer has led to inquiry as to whether 1 heoriginal importations wen- from the same stock, or whether some were German and some Scotch. Information now to hand, through the High Commissioner, discloses the fact that all the deer imported were Scotch. It is evident, therefore, that the difference in climate and feed has produced the change, the Otago ikx-r resembling the original type, while in the Wairarapa, where there is a more genial climate, they have grown larger.