DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 28, 3 May 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Bishop Neligan is due in the King Country on May 3rd, on which date he will hold a confirmation service at Taumarunui. The following day confirmation services will be held by the Bishop at Te Kuiti, in the morning, and Otorohanga in the evening. The sitting of the Native Land Commission, which was to have been held at Te Kuiti on May 2nd, has been again adjourned in consequence of the illness of Sir Robert Stout. The Commission will probably not open until the end of the month. At a meeting of the Te Kuiti Football Club Committee, held on Saturday evening last, it was decided to have a portion of the recreation ground cleared and put in order as soon as possible. Mr J. Cummins, guard 011 the King Country-Frankton section of the i-ail-way, has been transferred to Auckland. Prior to leaving Taumarunui Mr and Mrs Cummins were recipients of tokens of esteem from the residents.

It is stated that foot warmers are to be used in the King Country passenger trains during the winter. No doubt the innovation will be widely appx'eciated, as the winter train journeys have hitherto been regarded as experiences to be avoided. The question of the validity of the by-law prohibiting the carriage of liquor on the railway in the King Country was raised in the hearing of a case at the S.M. Court, Te Kuiti last week. Mr Collins, for the defendant, contended that by-law was invalid, as the Minister had no power to make | the regulation under the Railway Act. Such power could only be granted by Parliament, and in framing such a regulation the Minister had exceeded his powers. Counsel submitted that, according to the wording of the Statute, the Government only reserved to themselves the right to refuse dangerous goods. The Statute did not prohibit. His Worship held that the Minister was actingjwithin his powers in making the by-law, and offered to fine Mr Collins' client £6 if he wished to appeal, and secure a ruling of the Supreme Court on the point. As there was no evidence to convict on the charge, Mr Collins declined the opportunity' and was content with a dismissal on the evidence.

The Inspector's annual report on the Te Kuiti public school, which was submitted to the last committee meeting, was a tribute to llie manner in which the school has been conducted during the past year. The order, discipline, and (one of (he school was referred to as " good," and ils general efficiency was mentioned as bein;;' very creditable indeed. (Ireal credit was also given to (he teacher for the physical instruction and swimming lessons, the inspector making special mention of the latter branch. The ordinary school subjects were mentioned in most cases as "good" and satisfactory, some being classed as "very good." The numb?r of chilhren now on the school roll is 90. The New r Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Limited, have received the following cable from their London office:-"We quote present spot values for the followingdescriptions of tallow : -Fine Mutton 38s; good beef 35s 6d ; mixed 33s 91!. Market quiet." A large gathering of Natives is now being held at Huntly for the purpose of discussing matters of common interest, including the Native Land Commission and its effect on the King Country and Waikato Maoris. A considerable number of King Country Natives are attending the meeting, and probably the matters discussed will be brought before the Native Commission to be held at Te Kuiti at the end of May. The Waiora road, in the Ohura district, still remains a subject of contention between the Natives and the Roads Department. A short time ago the fence erected across the road by the Natives was taken down by the Department's officers, but was erected again the same night by the Maoris, and the road remains closed. Further development s are awaited with interest by the settlers.

There were numerous applications for the sections recently thrown open for selection near Taumaranui. The five farm areas which were offered under the optional tenure each attracted applicants to the number of from 73 to 86, and the three village homesteads, with areas of from 10 to acres, each had five applicants. The Government has recently acquired from the Native owners the Whatetukaroa biock of land, containing about 25,000 acres. The block extends for some eight or ten miles along the Ongarue-Ohura road, and it said to be mostly useful sheep country, while a portion of it is suitable for dairy farms. The price paid to the Natives is stated to have been 10s per acre. The work of connecting the Railway Department's quarry at the Waiteti bluff, Te Kuiti, with the main railway line, has been put in hand. _ The department's workmen are laying heavier rails 011 the side track to Lovett's quarry, and a new track is to be laid from the old siding to the bluff, a distance of about threequarters of a mile. A4O h.p. engine which generates its own gas, is to be installed at the quarry, and the other machinery is now in Auckland awaiting transport.