DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 26, 19 April 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

The results of the annual inspection of gang lengths on the railways, are now to hand, and it is gratif3 r ing to learn that two King Country lengths have won positions on the list. The length from Puketutu to Mangapeehi received a " highly commended " notice, and the lengthy from Mangapeehi to Waimeha was "commended." Considering the lengths of the sections, and the difficulties to be contended with on the Main Trunk line, this may be considered very satisfactory. The election of school committees throughout the colony, takes_ place next Monday night, and a meeting of householders will be held at Te Kuiti school for the purpose of receiving the report of the outgoing members, after which the election of a new committee will be proceeded with. It is to be hoped a strong muster oi householders will assemble, as, in a rapidly growing centre like Te Kuiti, there is much need for an alert and energetic committee, to represent the increasing requirements of the district, in educational matters.

Speaking at this week's Council meeting with reference to the proposed bridge over the Waipn river at Otorohanga, Councillor N. 1. Hunt said he had always regarded 1 lie work as a colonial one, and not a local County undertaking. It affected the stock trade of the Waikato and L' n '- Country, and also that of the 1 aranaki and Wellington districts. Moreover, it was a work of urgent importance, and should be attended to at once.

During the recent visit of the Minister for Lands to Hamillon, Mr A. Swarbrick, representing' the .Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, waited upon the Minister, and requested that the Department of Agriculture should erect a building in Hamilton the accommodation of the Roads Lngineer, the Stock Inspector, a branch of the Lands Office. '1 he Chamber also desired that the Roads Engineer should be stationed at Hamilton. Mr McNab, in reply, said that the Roads Engineer was not in his department, but he would look carefully into the other matters mentioned.

The preparation of : the Estimates for public works to be submitted to Parliament during the coming session, will shortly be proceeded with, and it was decided, at the last meeting of the Waitomo County Council, to draw up recommendations in support_of those made by the District Road Engineer and Assistant Engineer, and forward ithem to the authorities at Wellington.

Already the question of new aspirants for Parliamentary honours, at the next general election, is in the air, and last week Captain Allen Bell was requisitioned to stand for Waikato electorate, in the opposition interests. Captain Bell stated that a Political Reform League was being formed in Waikato, and he considered that body should have the choosing of candidates. If he was chosen by the League, he would consent to stand. There is some possibility of a dispute between the Railway Department and the Waitomo County Council with regard to the encroachment of the railway fences on the Te Kuiti streets. It was stated at this week's Council meeting that the Department declined to acknowledge any liability, and the matter is to be thoroughly investigated by the Council, with a view to definite action. The Te Kuiti Football Club's annual meeting was held last week, and on Wednesday night a meeting of delegates from Te Kuiti, Oparurc, and Piopio clubs was held, when a Rugby Union was formed, and the first round of matches for the season drawn. The full accounts of the meetings are unavoidablj' held over until next issue.

The recently inflicted dog tax in Waitomo County formed the subject of a little further discussion at the Council meeting this week, and Cr McGechie took the opportunity to remark that he considered dogs used for keeping down rabbits should not be taxed to the amount of ten shillings a year. Many settlers in his district, himself included, had to keep several dogs for destroying rabbits, and it was a hardship for these people to pay so much, as they were forced to keep the dogs. The Rowing Club which was recently formed at Mokau, has had a most successful season, and, besides the regatta on Easter Monday, has had a. number of highly interestingclub contests. At the beginning of the season, the club president, Mr .1. Mclndoe, promised trophies for competition among the crews. After a series of hard fought" races, the winners proved to be the crew stroked by N. Jones, the other members being F. Rattenbury (4), N. Clifton (3), E. Rattenbury (2), J. W. Rickman (1), C. Snowball (cox.). The trophies consist of -six very handsome medals, suitably inscribed, that of the stroke having a gold centre. Settlers on thePungarehu road, in the Mairoa District, have, up to the present, experienced great inconvenience in getting goods carted to their sections, material of all descriptions ha ving to be packed on horses for a considerable distance. On behalf of the settlers affected, Messrs Travers and Main waited on the County Council at the last meeting, and requested that the " thirds " accruing from the sections in the vicinity, should be devoted to widening, and repairing the road, in order to allow of waggon traffic. It was found that a sum of £340 was available for the work, and the amount was authorised for expenditure in the manner stated.

On Saturday evening last the employees of Messrs Green and Colebrook, Ltd., Te Kuiti, made a presentation to Mr (A. J'. Archer, who has held the position of accountant in the firm's Te Kuiti branch for nearly four years. The presentation took the form of a silver mounted ebony walking stick, suitably inscribed, and a Gladstone bag". Mr Boles acted as spokesman, and, in a neat speech referred to the good fellowship that existed between Mr .Archer and his fellow employees, and the regret that was felt at his departure from I lie firm. Mr Archer feelingly responded. Enquiries have been instituted by Dr Pomare, for the purpose of compiling a few statistics in regard to Maori farmers, and Messrs Lever Bros, are in receipt of a request to supply information as to the Maori suppliers to the Te Kuiti Dairy Factory. It may be instructive to quote the reply forwarded by Messrs Lever Bros, to Dr Pomare, as illustrating the Maoris' adaptability for dairy farming. "There are eight Natives supplying milk to our factory, for the six months ending March 31 st , 1907. They have so far supplied 3M5.5f;61)>s of milk, with an average test of 3.6 per cent., which, at gd per pound for their butter ;fat, will average them about £l3 per month per man for the term mentioned. The factory closes down about the end of April. The industry is quite in its infancy here, having only been started last season, and the Natives are sticking well to it. With better roads and more English grass on their lands, the outpu! would rapidly increase. Last year the butter fat averaged them about net, therefore the estimate of yd will not be far wide of the mark for this season.