DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 50, 4 October 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Dominion Day was not observed at Te Kuiti with any degree of enthusiasm, and save for the closing of the Government offices, business was conducted as usual. A considerable number of residents, however, took advantage of the occasion to pay a visit, to Hamilton, proceeding thence by the early train, and returning by the late one. The extra train is likely to be well patronised, and should certainly lead to a much closetconnection between Te Kuiti and the Waikato centre. The Minister of Marine has notified Mr Jennings that the sum of £IOO will be placed on estimates as a vote to the Mokau River Trust Board for river snagging purposes. The Minister for Lands stales that a number of sections in the township of Mokau will be vested in the Mokau Harbour Board. Mr Jennings has also been advised that the question of having Waitara declared a grading porl_ for flax will be considered and inquiries made as to whether the existing trade warrants such a step. The projected cottage hospital for Taumarunui has advanced a step further, and tenders are invited by Mr J. D. Louch, Resident Engineer, for the erection of the building. Tenders close on October 26H1, and drawings may be seen at Raurimu, Taumarunui, Hamilton, and Auckland. That Te Kuiti should have been overlooked as a centre worthy of consideration for suppying with plans, appears strange, and an application has been made to have the same supplied to the local post office. That the progress of the King Country is not merely a pleasing delusion, and that the country is really being settled in earnest, is evidenced .by_,tlie.. greatly increased business activity in the various centres. The latest centre to fall into the line of progress is Hangatiki, where a branch store of the firm of Green and Colebrook, Limited, is to be opened during the coming summer. Hangatiki, as the natural railway outlet for the line Waitomo Valley, has long been regarded as a coming centre, and now that progress has begun, it will be a case of steadily marching ahead. As the pioneer firm of the King Country, it is fitting that Green and Colcbrook should lead' the 'way at Hangatiki, which store, when completed, will make the seventh branch of this enterprising firm. A tangi is being held at Te Kuiti this week, the occasion being the death of a Maori, named Ruki, who died on Sunday last. Ruki had been suffering for some months past, the cause of his death being consumption. The Farmers-' Co-operative aiictionecring Company's sale day at Te Kuiti seems to be attended with illfortune in the matter of weather. Last season nearly every sale was well baptised, and it was fondly hoped that a change would occur with the beginning of a new season. However, the opening sale of the season, on Wednesday last, was ushered in with lowering skies and a steady downpout'. Uis said luck works in cycles, and settlers are hoping the wet period is nearly worked out. In consequence of • the Railway Department requiring the land upon which the Te Kuiti Public Library stands, notice has been received by the Library Committee to remove the building id another site. A meeiing is to be held on Friday evening, at. the Library, to discuss the situation. The Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company's annual spring noj.se fair at Cambridge proved a great success.''Buyers were present from both North and South Islands, bidding was spirited throughout. The draught horses were a really fine lot and a number of them made well over £SO. Altogether 890 horses were yarded, including 223 unbroken draughts and hacks, 330 broken draughts, 33/ Woken Jiacks and harness horses. Of these were sold 205 unbroken horses, 297 draughts and 253 light horses. in tiOHifeCfipj) with the application of the Committec'olinc Medieal Fund for a Government subsidy the following- letter has been received from the Minister for Public Health :---" Gentlemen,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt: of your letter of the 3rd instant, in which you ask for a Subsidy ffU' the purpose of obtaining the services of ajvsident medical practitioner for Te Kuiti and the surrounding districts. In reply J have to state that the Government does not see its way to grant £l for £1 p»! the amount raised locally, but it ttie Committee ean a guarantee of £IOO a year, it would be prepared to grant a subsidy of £SO, or if £2OO were guaranteed a subsidy of £100." It will be seen by advertisement in another column that the time for the erection of Bank of New Zealand, Hi Te Kuiti has been extended to October 9th." '"

The Christmas Number for 1007 of "The Weekly Press" is now issued under the litle of New Zealand Illustrated, and the publication is certainly entitled to a high position in the ranks of illustrated journalism. From cover to ("over the quality of the work is maintained, the design and \ arrangement being eseellent, while '. the plates are well up to tin; high standard set by previous Press Christmas Numbers. The subjects dealt with are thoroughly typical of New 'Zealand both industrial and scenic, while, the illustrations of native life can hardly be surpassed. The cover design is something' of an achievement, and the colouring highly artistic. 'JTie supplements accompanying the number are well chosen and varied, the main feature being a large chromo litho. entitled "The Wharfs, Wellington," reproduced from a painting by W. Mcnzies Gibb. The Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., advise having received the following' cable advice from their London office on September 20i.h : ■- " Wool sales opened with spirit. Quotations about the same for Crossbred wool, although somewhat irregular in price. Since close of last sales Cross-bred lambs greasy wool prices are higher by Ld to )d. Merino wool opening' catalogue was not a representative one. Since close of last sales prices are higher by par to . \z<\ per Hi for Merino greasy wool." A cable received on September 30111 by the same firm states : " Wool sales gain firmness as they progress. As compared with last sales closing; rales prices are higher for about /!•>, percent, to 10 per cent, for Merino, and fine .greasy crossbred wool." There is quite an epidemic of typhoid fever in Hamilton, a large, number of cases being treated in (lie hospital, while a number are also being treated privately. The majority of cases are attributed to the. milk supply from a certain dairy. Or Purdy is now investigating matters, and no ( doubt his report will be to hand in a few days.