DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 44, 23 August 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

. At the Tauniarunui Police Court on Friday last, J. Lonigan was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for vagrancy. The prisoner was taken to Auckland by Constable Maher on Saturday morning. Rangaroa, the residental suburb of Tauniarunui, which is beautifully situated on a plateau overlooking the township, is now showing" signs of progress. Several new residences have been erected, and a considerable amount of roading has been done by the Government Roads Department. The man who was lost in the bush between Tauniarunui and Akopae, has turned up safely at the last mentioned place. He had a very trying experience, having spent four days without food, and when he arrived at his destination was in a very cx.hausted condition. The unfortunate man, who was lost for three weeks in the same locality recently, has now been discharged from the Hamilton Hospital. Portions of his feet had to be amputated, but owing to the care and skill of Dr Douglas, a much better recovery was made by the patient than was at first thought possible. When in Wellington recently, Mr W. M. Bankart interviewed the Hon. J. MacGowan for the purpose of requesting a subsidy for a loan of £450 raised by the Te Pahu settlers for road work. It was pointed out that the Crown land behind would be served by the road and it would also give ac-« cess to the important Moerangi Block, comprising 45000 acres, within easy distance of Waikato. This block is now being dealt with by the Native Land Council which during its regular sitting, has accomplished work which would have taken five years to complete if it had gone through the court. An area of 10,000 acres is to be disposed of to the Crown. Tlic road for which a subsidy is required would provide a more direct route to Kawhia, bringing it within 40 miles of Hamilton. The Hon. Jas. MacGowan promised to consider the representatives, but he pointed out that there were large demands, and the amount wis small. He would look into it with the object of helping those who helped themselves. In connection with the experiments of Dr Danysz, with regard to the destruction of rabbits, a final test under natural conditions is to be made with the Danysz virus at Broughton Island, New South Wales, where the former experiments were carried out. Marriage ceremonies have hitherto been far from frequent at Te Kuili, most of the aspirants for matrimonial honours preferring to spend the necessary time in a larger centre. However, on Wednesday a departure was made from this custom, and the wedding of Miss Sanvig and Mr A. Shields was celebrated at the residence of the bride's parents, Te Kuiti. The Rev. R. Mitchell performed the ceremony in the morning, and the happy couple left by train (he same day on their wedding trip. Rice was plentiful on the station platform, and the pair were given a hearty send-off by their friends. The long drought in the south has at last broken, and on Monday last the best rain for two years past fell in the Oamaru and Timaru districts. The rain-making project, which provided for the explosion of dynamite and gun-cotton at a favourable opportunity, was attempted near Oamaru, but it is said the results have proved nothing. The rains were evidently general, and would have occurred in any case. The serious nature of the drought is indicated by the fact that in some districts, during the autumn and winter, all the creeks and smaller rivers ran dry, and wafer had to be carted for miles. It is gratifying to sec that Te Kuiti's most recently constituted public body—The Domain Board has lost no lime in gelling to work in a practical manner, and tenders are being called for the clearing of the domain. There is some doubt existing as to the powers of (he Board in the matter of raising money to effect improvements. However, pending definite information on the sublecl, Mr G. McDonald suggested thai the members should subscribe the amount necessary to do the initial work, and headed the list with a substantial' amount. His fellow-members adopted the proposal, and during the coming' season it is hoped ihat good work will be done towards getting the ground into grass. I

Improvements continue to be made at the Te Kuiti railway station, and the house for the slat ion master lias now been si:irtcd on. Altogether, three new residence:; are to be creeled, and three are to be brought from Te Awamutu. The dale of starting the. %. new service, including the early train from Te Kuiti, has not been definitely ascertained, but a turntable for the engine is to be laid down immediately, and when that is accomplished, it will be possible to institute (lie service at any time. As showing the need for a stationmaster at Te Kuiti, it is interesting to note that in addition to a stationmaster and porter, a cadet has been appointed to the station. Considering that the present season is the slackest experienced in the district, and that practically all the settlers get their winter stock of goods by rail during the summer months, it will not be surprising if more assistance is required in the near future. In consequence of the division of the Stipendiary Magistrate's district, which has been presided over, until recently, by Mr Northcroft, a new Magistrate has been assigned (~ j] u . southern portion of Waikato and (he King Country. Mr C. < auickshank, S.M.. is mentioned as likely to have charge of the new district, while Mi Northcroft will attend to the work at the northern end o]' his old ci?ruil. Mr Cruickshank is very well known in the Waikato, having' practised for some years as a solicitor at 'i'e Awamutu. The Department of Agriculture is making every effort to assist the man on the land to combat the various pests and diseases which attack the crops, and by means of pamphlets and leaflets widely distributed, much good work is being done. A pamphlet, dealing with the control of insect pests and plant diseases, has just reached us from MrT. W. Kirk, F.L. S., chief of the divisions of biology and horticulture. The subject is well handled, and the reading' mailer, together' with numerous illustrations, shows very clearly the various insects and parasites, and their methods. How to combat the evils is clearly shown, and a number of formula: for spraying will be found of much practicalbcnefil. The pamphlet is specially issued for gardeners and fruitgrowers, but will also be found useful by all who desire to cultivate a garden, even in a small way. Many farmers use the following test to ascertain whether a cow is in calf or not. They milk the cow into a bucket, and having a glass of pure water at hand, dip a straw into the milk and allow one single drop to fall into ihe glass of water. If the milk mingles with the water, rendering it cloudy, > the cow isnot incalf; but ii'tiie drop of milk sinks to the bottom before mixing- with the water she is pregnant. The test is based upon ihe idea that the milk from a pregnant cow is more viscous than that of a cow which is not in calf, and thus the single drop allowed to fall into the water betrays the condition of the cow by the greater or less tenacity with which it holds together. Mr Townshend, who is promoting the Aria Dairy Factory, arrived at Te Kuiti on Tuesday evening and proceeded to Aria in connection with Ihe projected work. Everything is in train to have the factory in going , order at the beginning of October. The buildim' will be started very shortly by Mr iV.md, who is at present erecting the Ohura factory for Messrs MacEwan <.' v Co. The machinery will be carted out as soon as the stale of the road makes il possible. Mr Townshend is very favourably impressed with Ihe district as a dairying'centre, and considers it equal to most Taranaki butler-making localities. Te Kuiti is evidently n >t the only place in the King Country which suffers for the lack of decent public buildings. The Tauinaruniii Press, in referring to the local courthouse, remarks that it is a disgrace to the justice Department. There is neither comfort nor convenience in the place every feature about the so-called ■> hall is against the proper dispensation of justice. Rickety apologies for tables and chairs, and a draughty building' are some of the disabilities presiding' magistrates or justices have to contend with. The remarks, with additional adjectives, may lillv be applied to the Te Kuiti Hall. Mr Hastings Hraddcll, editor of the Waikato Times, has been appointed editor of the Nelson Colonist. To give some idea of the condition of the Main South Road between llawera and Manaia din in;.'the winter, a traveller who saw it at its worst says that a team of ]6 bullocks drawing a medium dray-load of gravel gol stuck in one of the many bog-holes. The carriers plying' on the road have had a very rough time of il. In negotiating the bad patches they worked together, each waggon necessitating' the aid of the others' leading horses to get. through. Kven with this extra help and only small loads, it was often necessary to unload, and the spectacle of' the drivers carrying cases of cheese, etc., on their shoulders was a common, one. Operations against (he fruit llyhavc been suspended in the Hastings district, and it is stated that there is every reason to believe that the pest has been exterminated. The Department, however have instructed the officials (o mala: a rigorous inspection in November, when the conditions are favourable io the reappearance of the fly. The last Covcrnmenl (iazclte notifies the setting aside of an area of two acres in Waitomo district, for accom-modation-house purposes. The appointment of Mr Richard Ormsby, of Otorohanga as a licensed Native Interpreter, appeared in the last issue of the (ia/.ette. At latest advices, the men who were injured at the Te Kuiti lime woiks J were showing some improvement in the .Hamilton Hospital. Mr Rowdcn, who is suffering from spinal injuries in addition to a fractured ankle, is improving: slow ly and hopes are entertained that the injury to his back wjll prove to be less serious than was at tlrsl thought. Mr .11 alien is also progressing favorably, and will doubtless make a complete recovery in a few weeks.