DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 39, 19 July 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Mr Waite, Railway Traffic Manager for the Auckland District passed through the King Country on Wednesday last. The interpretation of the laws dealing with the liquor traffic in the Rohe Potae at times gives rise to peculiar situations. In some instances the local constable is satisfied with a com-mon-sense course, uninfluenced by the desire for convictions on obscure points upon which the general public may be ignorant. In some cases, however, no chance is lost of hailing an ordinary law-abiding person before the Court to answer a charge of infringing the " Act." Occasionally, however, stories are told ot times when the zeal of the officer out-runs his discretion, and just now lit is being related how an over-zealous constable was induced to back down. The story goes that a resident of one of the King Country centre:; brought by train a case of whisky as personal luggage. Upon arriving at the railway station the constable took possession of the liquor and handed it over to a railway official for safe keeping, notwithstanding the expostulations of the owner. Upon arriving at his office shortly afterwards, the constable found the dispossessed person _ awaiting him for the purpose of taking out summonses against the constable for theft and assault,, and against the other person for receiving. The papers were duly made out and served, and an interesting court case seemed to be in train. However, on calm consideration, coupled with the representations of the railway man, it is said the constable was moved to offer to return the whisky. The owner at first declined, and was only induced to accept for considerations apart altogether from personal esteem for the officer. In accordance with the motion passed at the recent public meeting at Te Kuiti, the legal opinion to be sought in Auckland in reference to the alleged liability of the Maori Land Board to form and maintain the streets and roads of the Te Kuiti township, has been prepared, and will be sent forward in a day or two. Included among the miscellaneous items on the Government Estimates already published, is a grant of £2OO for the destruction of willows on the Mangapu river. There is no information available as to the manner in which the expenditure is to be undertaken, but in view of the widespread damage caused by the willows choking up the stream and causing floods, energetic action should be taken by those interested, to have the amount expended in a rational manner at the earliest possible moment. It is intended by the Maoris of the \ Te Kuiti district to undertake a scheme of improvements in connection with the carved house at Te Kuiti. A dining hall and kitchen are to be erected, in order to provide sufficient accommodation for large gatherings on festive occasions, and several other matters will also be attended to. The estimated cost of the improvements is about £l5O, and subcription lists are to be circulated in order to raise the necessary amount. The " Basket " Social, in aid of tlie Te Kuiti Tennis Club, which was to have taken place on Thursday, July 25th, has been postponed till Tuesday, July 30th. Mr White, of the Railway Department, arrived at Te Kuiti on Wednesday to take up his duties as slaionmaster. The office is to open on August Ist, and in the meantime the premises are to be fitted up. Mr White was at Mount Eden Station for a considerable time and left that post for Te Kuiti. The alterations to the station yard arc to be put in hand as soon as possible, and the early train is to start running 011 September Ist.

Mr Jennings, in referring to the Hon. II all-J ones, paid a high tribute to the Minister for Public Works : " 1 have had more to do with the Minister in connection with road work than any other member of this House, and it was marvellous to mc the knowlulgc he possessed of the roads in the out'ving districts. There was not a road that 1 was familiar with, but that when ] went to the honourable guitkman he knew all about it. The knowledge of details that he possessed makes me say tonight that I sincerely regret he is laid aside by illness, and that to my mind, he was one of the most useful Ministers the colony has ever possessed." The members of Parliament who visit the Main Trunk Line this week, are expected to arrive at Taumarunui on Saturday next, and a banquet is to be tendered to the party at Meredith House. A number of Te Kuiti residents have been invited, and several have signified their intention of being present. The members are to be conveyed to Auckland by special train on Sunday. The New Zealand football team played its first match in Australia on Saturday last against New South Wales, at Sydney. There was a record attendance, the number being estimated at 51,000. The "All Blacks" did not show their best form, but succeeded in winning by n points to 3. The play is described as having been 0. somewhat disappointing', the game, though hard fought, being devoid of any sensational bits of play, which thrill the spectators and keep the excitement up to a high pitch. The settling of land in the King Country is proceeding apace, and an area of over 55,000 acres, bet ween the Wanganui river and, the Main Trunk line, south of Taunlarunui, is to be open for selection ii'ndcr the optional tenure on August ifeth. The land is divided into 61 lots' ranging in area from 399 acres prices being from,'2ss to 38s per acre. Considerable excitement has been caused during the week by the phenomenal rise in the price of cocksfoot, which has risen over a penny per pound within a few days. The reason assigned is the shortage of crops in England and America, the New Zealand returns having' been well up to the average during' the past season. Prices have risen from 51.(11 to 6'id per pound within a few days, and the prospects point to a still higher rise. So high a price has not been reached since 1894 when, consequent upon the shortage of the Banks Peninsula crop, prices reached from 6d to /d per pound. The Inspector's report on the Taumarunui School, states the roll number to include 56 European children and 48 Maoris. The report was generally of a highly satisfactory nature, especially with regard to the upper classes. It is said the school will shortly be converted from a Native school to a public school, under the Education Board. For Bronchial Coughs take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6 & 2/6. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report receiving the following cable from their London office. :■■■■ " As compared with last sale's closing rates, prices are lower by about JV Z percent, to 10 per cent, for coarse cross-bred slipe, and medium cross-bred slipe. Lower by about par to 5 per cent, for cross-bred lambs, medium greasy cross-bred, and coarse greasy crossbred. About the same for line crossbred. The market is firmer for merino wool.

For Children's Hacking Cough at night Woods' Great Peppermint Cure 1/6 & 2/6.

. In connection with the forthcoming banquet to the Parliamentary party at Taumarunui on Saturday, some controversy is taking place as to what beverage will be provided in connection with the toast list. There are doubtless several staunch teetotallers in the party, but Parliamentarians, as a rule, take liquid refreshment ol the " Presbyterian " order quite cheerfully, and may even miss it if it is not provided. However, it would be a distinct breach of the law to have, liquor at the banquet. Taumarunui is described as a Native kaingn, and to have liquor in your possession thereat, is a breach of the " Act." The solution of the difficulty is awaited with interest. An interesting' ieature of the case is that the inhabitants of the Rohe Potae have'nol been granted a voice in the matter. They have not the right of local option, and the creating of the district a prohibited area was an arbitrary act on the part ot the Government. For Children's Hacking Cough at night Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6 & 2/6.