DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 36, 28 June 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Miss McMillan, formerly assistant teacher at Te Kuiti Public School, and recently mistress at Kaeaea School, in the Aria district, has been transferred to a similar position near New Plymouth. As an example of the industriousness of some children we have, this week, been shown a credit note for £8 18s, for fungus gathered by a lad in the Mairoa district during the last five months. This lad attends school regularly and has a daily ride of ten miles, so it can be seen that he is not solely employed in this profitable fungus gathering, by which he has been averaging nearly gs weekly. At the meeting held at Te Kuiti on Saturday evening last, to discuss the formation of a Town Board, the question of the position of the Maori Land Board, with the regard to the formation of streets, was raised. Mr Franklin, one of those appointed to investigate the legal aspect of the question, has, at the request of some of the members, consented to draw u]i a document setting forth the position. It. is intended to bring the matter before the authorities, and Major Lusk, Chairman of the Waitomo County Council, will probably be requested to introduce the subject at the forthcoming conference of local bodies at Wellington. At the Te Kuiti Police Court on Tuesday last, before MrJ. Tammadge, J.P., a Native lad, named Iwa, was "charged with the theft of an overcoat, valued at 255. and 13s 6d in cash, the property of Mr McKirken, of Aria. The accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. The last issue of the Government Gazette notifies the establishment of the Te Kuiti Domain, under the provisions of " The Public Domains Act, 1881." The domain includes an area of about 6|/2 acres adjoining the Public School and is admirably adapted for a recreation ground. A football field has already been cleared and ploughed on the domain, the work being undertaken by the Te Kuiti Football Club. The domain will be controlled by a Board, the members of which will be appointed by the Government and gazetted in due course,

The last issue of the Government Gazette notifies the selling apart of section 6, block 9, Totoro Survey Histrict, containing an area of 134 acres, as an addition to the Totoro Improved Farm Special Settlement, and the section is now open for lease.

Mr A. C. MeCardle, of Tc Kuiti, h;is been appointed Government valuer for Kawliia district, and leaves Tc Kuiti to take up his residence at Kawliia in a few days.

The Kawliia Town Board passed a resolution at its last meeting lor the purpose o\' levying a general rate of 4/1 in £on the unimproved value, of lands in the town district.

Gold prospecting is in the Kin;.',' Country air at present, the latest report being to (he effect thai a piece of rich quirt/, has been given to a v Taumarunui resident by a Maori, \vh i states that it was found in the Upper King Country, but refuses to disclose the locality.

Mr H. J. Grcenslade, M.H.K. for Waikalo, delivered a prc-scssional address at Hamilton on Saturday last. Speaking on the Land Hill, Mr Grcenslade said it was a crude measure, intivduccd for the ])iir|)ose of ascertaining how far some members of the Ministry were prepared to go in (Indirection of what they tinned land reform. He was in favour of the optional tenure, and would slick to it through (hick and thin. The member received a vote of (hanks and confidence.

The long-promised foot-warmers for the King Country trains have at last been installed. Considering the number of severe frosts experienced "in the district of late, (he. innovation came none too soon, and will be welcomed heartily by the travelling public. The Parliamentary party, consisting of .Messrs Massey, Lang, Grcenslade, Poland, Kidd, Poole and Mandcr, passed through (Ik- King Country on M< ncl ty evening last, en route for Wellington, via the Main Trunk railrway. The members were interviewed riit Te Kuiti by several of the residents, when matters of local interest were brought before (hem. The parly put up at Meredith House, at Taumarunui, where the members received deputations from the local bodies.

The starting of the Siratfonl-Onga-rue railway from the King Country end was brought before the members of the Parliamentary party at Taumarunui on Monday (-veiling last by Mr C. J. Ryan, who explained (he position of theOhura settlers and (he difficulty of obtaining' metal for rolling. Mr Ryan urged (he desirability of prosecuting tlit* work from (he Ongarue end, and members promised to assist the member for (he district in getting a vote for the purpose mentioned.

The sale of leasehold township sections, conducted by the Maori L;md Board, at Otorohanga, on Wednesday last was most successful, nearly all i the lots being disposed of. In most instances the prices realised were considerably more than the upset, the figures ranging from 10s 6J per section (annual rental) to £'/ ios. The. attendance was good, and keen interest was cvincxl in the sale.

For sonic time past the Tc Kuili Vigilance Committee has been making representations to Ihe Government, with the object of gel tine; a considerable area of land at Waiteti set apart as a scenic reserve. The efforts of the Committee have been successful, and in addition to the area. ar first reserved, information has been received by Mr E. 1 lardy, ("hairman of the Committee, that an additional piece oi land has been set apart, making a total quantify o( about 500 acres, extending to Mr Price's properly.