MATIERE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 27, 26 April 1907, Page 3

MATIERE.

Owing to the wet day the Matiere Athletic Carnival, which should have taken place on the 16th inst., had to be postponed until the following day. Despite this fact, there was a very fair attendance, tiie whole results being very satisfactory. The following are the results of the various events : —iooyds. — Collerton I, Doar 2. 220 yds. —Collerton I, Doar 2, Dense 3. 440 yds. —Collerton I, Rosenfeldt 2. Bushman's Chop. —Mitchell I, Coburn 2, Dense 3. Single - Handed Saw. —Miley I, Taylor 2. High Jump.—Ludwig I, Brown 2. Matiere Chop.—Taylor I, Rodgers 2, Mitchell 3. Double-Handed Saw. —Miley and mate I, Christensen Bros. 2. HalfMile.—V. Woods I, McLaughlin 2, Mitchell 3. Underhand Chop.—Tay'lor I, Coburn 2, Rodgers 3. Greasy Pig.—Sullivan. A dance was held in the evening, and was well attended. Mrs Hyde presided at the piano, and Messrs O'Brien and Towers acted as M.Cs. During the course of the evening songs were rendered by Messrs Hyde, and Towers, and a recitation by Mr Mossman. Friday, the 19th inst., will, in years to come, be looked back to as a historical day in this locality, as it marks a new era in the progress and prosperity of this district, as Messrs McNicol and Co. held their first stock sale at Matiere, and the first in Ohura, on that day. There was a large attendance of settlers and buyers from various parts. The temporary yards that had been erected, proved altogether inadequate to accommodate the stock brought forward, and no doubt the auctioneers will have a very successful sale to report.

The same evening Captain Allen Bell, on behalf of the Farmers' Union, delivered an address' in the .Hall, in opposition to the Land Bill. ' Mr G. Loveday was voted to the chair, and the meeting was well attended. Captain ' Bell, who is a very forceful speaker, gave a very interesting address showing the various points in the Bill, that would clash with the interests of the farming community. In concluding, he urged the necessity of standing shoulder to shoulder, and letting the Minister see that we were in earnest. He then invited a full and free discussion. Mr D. Sullivan and Mr J. Austen both spoke favouring the leasehold system. In reply, Mr Bell said the Union did not wish to interfere with the right of a man to have a leasehold, if he so wished. What they advocated was the right of option, so that a man could get the land on the easiest terms, with the right of purchase, if he so wished, when he was in a position to purchase it. Mr T. de Vere Hunt proposed, and Mr Milne seconded: That this meeting protests against the Land Legislation, proposed by the Government, and pledges itself to do all in its power to prevent it from becoming law. The motion was put, and carried almost unanimously, only about five or six hands being held up against it. The meeting concluded with thanks to the Speaker and the Chair. On Friday morning last a meeting of settlers was held, to consider an offer by Messrs Newton King and Co. to erect a factory and two creameries in this district. As the negotiations with Messrs MacEwan and Co. are still in progress, it is not known which firm will be the first to start here. In consequence of this district having been transferred from the Taranaki to the Auckland Education District, Mr Petrie, Chief Inspector of schools for Auckland, has been paying a few days visit looking over the Matiere, Mangapapa, and Mangaroa schools, and the site of the proposed new schools in the district.

The Waipa Racing Club's annual meeting, which takes place at Te Awamutu on May Ist, promises to be a most successful gathering. Excellent entries have been received for all the events, and, favoured with fine weather, a large number of King Country visitors are bound to be attracted to the meeting. The through train to Taumarunui will not leave Te Awamutu on race day until 4.45 p.m., thus giving visitors ample time to see the races and return the same day. The first race is timed to start at 12.45 p.m.