DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 29, 10 May 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

We are requested by the Postal Department to call attention to the large number of post-cards bearing on the back imitations of New Zealand postage stamps which are being posted to places beyond the colony. The delivery of such post-cards is forbidden by International regulation, and when observed they are detained and sent to the Dead Letter Office, Wellington.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, have received thej following cable from their London office :—"Wool sales opened with spirit. As compared with last sale's closing rates, prices are lower for Coarse Crossbred, and Fine Crossbred about par to 5 per cent, Medium Crossbred 5 per cent to lYz per cent. Principal decline has been in Crossbred wasty. Merino market firm.

A deputation from the Taranaki County Council waited upon the Acting - Premier last week with reference to the rating on Native lands and the growth of noxious weeds. The deputation urged the necessity of instituting a system whereby I rates would be recoverable from Native owners. Mr Symes spoke strongly 011 the question of noxious weeds, and suggested that the inspectors be given greater power. In reply; the ActingPremier said it was certain they could not allow the noxious weeds difficulty to continue, nor allow the Natives to go on using the roads without contributing towards their upkeep. He hoped a way would soon be devised to cope with the present difficulties. The need of a larger hall for Te Kuiti, was keenly felt by a number of people who attended the social, held on Thursday evening last. At times only about half of those present were enabled to find dancing accommodation.

The first ordinary monthly meeting of the Te ijKuiti School Committee, which was to have been held on Tuesday evening last, lapsed for want of a quorum, only three members being in attendance.

The Kinohaku ratepayers are endeavouring to raise a loan of £SOOO, for the purpose of forming and metalling a road from Kinohaku to;Piripiri ford.

Twp additional buildings are being erected in the Taumarunui railway station reserve —one, near the engineshed, for drying sand for the locomotive ; the other, east of the station, in which to prepare foot-warmers. Hot water is used for this purpose on the New Zealand lines. In Australia the warmers are filled with acetate of soda and kept in boiling water for a couple of hours. During this boiling they absorb heat, which is not all dissipated in an ordinary way for up to about l) hours. As the outside cools first, a good shaking causes them to feel warmer again after cooling. No fresh heat is generated, but that in the middle has been brought to the outer parts.

A considerable amount of correspondence has been taking place between the Te Kuiti Vigilance Committee and Mr Jennings, with reference to securing increased postal and telegraph accommodation at Te Kuiti, and a letter has been received by Mr Hardy, Chairman of the Committee, stating that an amount will be placed on the draft Estimates this year, for the building of an office. The Hon. J. G. Kind 1 ay, Acting-Post-master General, in a letter to Mr Jennings, stated that the Department was aware that the business warranted the building of a new office. Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., speaking at Wyndham on Thursday evening, said : —" In Rarotonga no young men and young woman are allowed to walk out together of an evening without each carrying a lighted torch. If they do they get six months roadmaking, and" the roads 1 walked on at Rarotonga were the finest 1 ever walked upon."

The visit of the Parliamentary party to the Main Trunk Line, which was to have been made this week, has been abandoned owing to the severe floods in the southern part of the North Island.

A number of Railway Officials, including Messrs Ronayne ((General Manager), Mcintosh (District Engineer), and Waite (District Traffic Manager), visited the King Country on Wednesday, by special train, on a tour of inspection. While at MY Kuiti, Mr Waite staled that the appointment of a stationmaster had been decided upon. Other matters in connection with the station were brought before the notice of the Officials, and it is understood that various improvements will be undertaken, including the laying of a new line of rails for shunting.

In a recent letter to the Chairman of the Te Kuiti Vigilance Conunittcc, Mr Jennings, M.l I. R„ stilted thai lie was arranging lor a meeting of local bodies with the I lon. I lall-Jones, on business ol importance. The meeting is to lake place at 'I c Kuiti, ami will probably be arranged for about May 2()th.

The demand for bush-fellers in the King' Country this season, is likely to be great, and some of the settlers have already stalled chopping. Present indications point to the likelihood of there being a scarcity of competent men. Among (he causes assigned for the dearth of labour, are the attractions of co-operative labour on the railway, and the activity of the limber industry in the district. 'I lie fine weather experienced during the [)ast week, lias had the effect of drving the roads considerably, and enabt'.ng settlers to do a little' morecarting. However, in places, there are boggy holes which indicate the approach of winter. The road from llangatiki to the Waitomo Caves, which was treated with sandstone during the summer, is binding well, but the material is not of (he right description to carry winter traffic, and already shows signs of being little better (hail ordinary clay, when exposed to winter conditions. The turnipdisease, which has caused considerable damage among, the crops in the Waikato, is also prevalent in the South Island. In consequence of the scarcity of winler feed in the South, prices for stock have fallen, and some of the farmers arc experiencing a severe time.

Hon. J. A. IY1ill;u\ speaking at Waihi, s;ii<! he would introduce to Parliament next session a bill lo do away with imprisonment Cor small debts when a man was honcslly trying lo meet liabilities. 'i'he bill would provide, that a man who had fallen behind in payments could call his creditors together before (he Official Assignee and agree to pay off so much a week. The weekly payments would be divided anions Hie creditor:: pro rata, and while Ihey maintained the protection of the order issued by the Assignee, would prevent (he debtor being sued in the Magistrate's Court for the recovcryWsmall debts. While the honest man would be protected, a man who was attempting; to evade his liabilities would have no protection whatever.

The Acting-Premier has announced that the colony's revenue for the year, ended March ,31st, was a record, and that there was a surplus of Building operations in Te K'uiti are still proceeding actively. Messrs Green and Colcbrook's bakery is now in course of erection and Mr K. Taylor has just about completed his new shop at the corner of Nora and Kingstreets. Several residences are also being built and the township is extending on all sides. Willi the addition of the new post-oftiee and other Government buildings projected,lhere should be a marked difference in the appearance of the township within the next twelve months.

The campaign in opposition to (he proposed Land Rill is being conducted vigorously by the delegales of (he Farmers' Union. On Monday last, Messrs Allen Bell and Joseph Flanagan addressed a meeting al Kawhia 011 the subject. The lion. W. W. McCardle, M.L.C., occupied the chair, and at the conclusion of (lie meeting, a resolution condemn in;', (he proposals of the Bill, was carried unanimously.

The up-river correspondent of (lie Wanganui Chronicle says Mr David Peat is providing £IOOO oul of his own pocket to make a road into his youngest son's place, which is located not far from the Aim Aim. This road will greatly benefit <|uitc a number of the Crown land settlers. Mr Peat, as well as making the road, is going to pay half the cost of the maintenance man's wages for a year or so.