DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 25, 12 April 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

The tent, which has served as a school at Hangatiki for a considerable time, is about to be replaced by a wooden structure. A grant of £330 has been made for the erection of a building, and as soon as the road access to the school site has been properly arranged the building will be proceeded with. In response to an enquiry as to whether the Minister for Lands-could not be induced to stop over at Te Kuiti, and see something of the surrounding country, the Minister has sent the following wire to Mr Jennings, M.H.R. : —" Regret to say pressure of work has compelled me to limit my South Auckland visit, and postpone pleasure of visiting interior of your electorate until a later date." It may interest some of our readers to hear that Miss McKinney of Mahurangi, when leaving for an extended visit to America, took from Hangitiki, King Country, several articles of Maori manufacture, amongst which was a katekate (shoulder mat) and a kinikini (waist mat reaching to the knees). These she presented to a friend, Miss Hobson of Grenfell, who, we hear, wore them at a fancy dress skating" carnival at Winnipeg, and took first prize for the best fancy costume at the carnival.

The work of erecting the fence round the Anglican Church site at Te Kuiti is being proceeded with. On Saturday last a working bee was formed and did good work. Messrs Lorigan, Pavitt, Morrow and the Rev. S. Spencer made an energetic committee, and afternoon tea was kindly provided by Mesdames Adams, Morgan and Dillicar. The freehold aspect of the Land Bill is now being placed before the public, by the New Zealand Farmers' Union, .and the campaign is being vigorously undertaken in the various centres of the colony. Mr Allen Bell is conducting the campaign in the King Country, and will give an address at Te Kuiti on Tuesday next. On the following evening he will speak at Otorohanga, and on the Friday, April 19th, at Matiere. A sitting of the Justices Court was held at Taumarunui on Tuesday last when Samuel Mansfield was charged with obtaining the sum of £2 by false pretences. Further charges of the theft of a pair of riding trousers, and of a rug were also preferred. Mr W. Hackett, of Auckland, appeared for the accused, and pleaded not guilty. The charge of false pretences was dismissed, and accused was convicted for the theft of the rug. A penalty of £5 was inflicted, and the fine was paid forthwith.

Mr A. T. Ngata, M.H.R., member of the Native Lands Commission, arrived at Te Kuitl on Wednesday morning last for the purpose of arranging matters in connection with the sitting of the Commission at Te Kuiti on April I/th. On Wednesday afternoon there was a meeting held, at which it was pointed out that the date fixed for the opening of the Commission was a sale day. It was then arranged that the sitting should be adjourned until April 191b. There is a very formidable list to be dealt with, practically every block in the King Country being set down for investigation, and the Commission is expected to be silting at Te Kuiti for a fortnight. MrF. W. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, who has lately been addressing meetings in the north of Auckland, intends to conduct an Opposition land campaign in the Taranaki district at an early date. The Hon. Mr McNab stated to a "Southland News" representative that he intended to visit all the Land Offices of the colony, in order to become acquainted with the Commissioners and Boards and the class of work they have to do. A large quantity of compressed fodder, comprising 4500 bales, arrived from Sydney by the Wimmera on Monday. This article has been coming into Auckland rather freely for some months past, and consists chiefly of chaff, which being in a compressed form, does not take up the space in a vessel as it does when bagged. The demand for the Australian prodnct is very good as against the local article at the present time. The mana of Mahuta evidently extends far afield among the Maoris. At the Whangarei Police Court on Tuesday last, a Native, charged with refusing to reigister a dog, claimed that he and his dog came under the laws of King Mahuta. The Bench imposed a fine of ss, and ordered the defendant to purchase a collar and pay costs amonnting £3 4s 6d. The defendant remarked that if Mahuta ordered him to get a dog collar he would do so. The Bench informed defendant that Mahuta's authority would not be recognised by the Court. The business premises of Te Kuiti are being steadily increased, and the new buildings are improving the appearance of the township considerably. On Monday last, Mr J. Nicholls opened his new store with a very complete stock in all departments. The new premises occupy an excellent position, and are fitted up in a manner specially adapted for the convenience of a growing trade in all branches.