DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 54, 1 November 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Taumarunui has decided to start a town band, and the project is already well advanced. The instruments have already been selected and the band will comprise about sixteen players. At strong committee has been appointed, and generous assistance with regard to the erection of a band rotunda and music stands has been promised. Mr Kniveton, a well-known Taumarunui resident is leaving to take up a position in Auckland. Mr F. Brown is mentioned as his probable successor as secretary of the Foresters' Court. The opening of the first Church building at Te Kuiti was celebrated on Sunday last, when the Rev W. Day, Congregational Minister of Mt. Eden, Auckland, preached to large congregations. At the morning service the attendance reached between 70 and 80, and the evening congregation numbered fully 150. An account of the celebrations will be found in another column. It will cause pleasure to a large circle of friends to learn that Mrs J. T. Hetet is in a fair way to recovery from he"r recent attack of illness. Mrs Hetet has been under the care of the Rev R. Mitchell. Mrs Baker of Te Kumi who has been suffering from an attack of pneumonia and pleurcsy for some weeks has now sufficiently improved to beatremoval to the Hamilton Hospital. The Rev R Mitchell, who has been attending Mrs Baker, had her sent to Hamilton by the early train on Monday last. The Rev. R. Mitchell has been a man of many responsibilities of late. In addition to conducting his usual church services at Te Kuiti and out districts he has been ministering to the physical ills of the inhabitants. There has been a considerable amount of sickness in the district of late, and the calls on MrMitchell's medical ability have been legion. Needless to remark not a single call has been made in vain. At the same time the work of organising and arranging for the erection of a church building has been an additional tax, and the fact that the project has been successfully carried through in a short space of time is a high tribute to the energy and ability of our esteemed minister. The visit of Dr Purely, District Health Officer, to Taumarunui last week had the effect of stirring the residents to action in the matter of sanitary precautions, and a health committee, consisting of the members Town Council, has been appointed. It was pointed out that the local body occupied a very invidious position. Owing to the non-observance of of some technicalities the election of the Councillors was illegal, and although the Government had been requested to set matters right, and had promised to do so, the promise had not fulfilled. At the public meeting palled to consult with Dr Purdy, the Chairman (Rev J. E. Ward), in referring to the actionof theGovcrnsaid: " We ask for something that will strengthen us, but wc get pickled eel's feet every time,"

Mr T. Pine, of Te Kuili, has been requested by the Excutive of the Waikato A. and P. Association to judge long wool sheep at the coming show at Hamilton.

The next meeting of the Mania-poto-Tuwharetoa District Maori Land Board will probably be held at Te Kuiti about November 28th_next. Any further applications required to be dealt with should be lodged not later than November 9th.

Mr B. Bailey, who has been appointed Stockl Inspector for ithe district, arrived at Te Kuiti on Tuesday. >Mr Bailey intends residing at Te Kuiti as soon as a house can be procured.

The new high level bridge at Cambridge is now well forward, the girders being across and the rivetting well in hand. The bridge is Jexpected to be completed before next Christmas. The sitting of the Native Land Court will be held at Otorohanga on November I2th. A largcamount of business is scheduled for the sitting. Mr W. T. Jennings, M.H.R., intends paying a visit to the King Country this week. On Friday (today) he will arrive at Taumarunui, and on Saturday will perform, the ceremony of opening the Manunui Public School.

The contract for the fittings of the Bank of New Zealand at Te Kuiti has been secured by Messrs J. T. Brown and Company, of Hamilton. They will be in keeping with the building, and when completed will be an ornament to the township. A notice inviting the public of Te Kuiti to meet Doctor Purely, District Health Officer, on Friday evening, at Hetet's Hall, appears in this issue. It is to be hoped that a thoroughly representative meeting will be held, as the question of public health is of the first importance. Moreover, it is one which requires prompt attention by our residents. The Health Officer's visit is most opportune, and the value of his suggestions should be appreciated widely.

A serious accident to an Austrian named Martain Cevalo occurred about four miles from Raurimu on Sunday. While making a cigarette he rested a loaded gun muzzle, down, on the instep of one foot, and placed the stock under his armpit. The gin went off accidentally, and the charge went clean through the man's foot and into the ground. He had been bleeding for over two hours when hewas brought to Raurimu, and he suffered greatly after. He wasattended to by Dr Roget, and was then sent on to Taumarunui by special train. On Monday he was brought to Hamilton and was admitted to the Waikato Hospital. Mr R. Alexander, who has been appointed Stock Inspector for the Cambridge district, paid a short visit to the King Country this week, in company with Mr B. Bailey, who succeeds Mr Alexander at Te Kuiti. Doctor Going, of Hamilton, was in Te Kuiti on a professional on Monday last, returning home on Tuesday. Mrs Lever and Mr A. Julian were attended by Dr Going, and their many friends will be glad to learn that satisfactory reports were made of both patients.

Tc Kuiti Public School has now a number of 10/, and the attendance is steadily increasing. It is to be hoped parents will endeavour to keep their children at school as constantly as possible as the average attendance now being maintained is just sufficient to warrant the appointment of another teacher to the staff. It is well known that a school understaffed is at a great disadvantage, and by maintaining the average attendance, and securing another teacher educational conditions will be considerably improved. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's sale held at Te Kuiti on Wednesday did not attract such a large number of entries as was promised; the reason being the roads and the backwardness of the season generally. Late spring rains were exceptionally severe and grass made little growth for fully a month after the usual time, consequently cattle are generally in poor condition, and owners arc holding on for the improvement which is coming rapidly. The life of a Road Engineer is at all times an active one, and in winter involves a considerable amount of rough travelling and lodging. Mr A. Julian, assistant District Road Engineer, has defied the elements for a very long time, but has at last been obliged to keep to bed with a severe attack of influenza. Mr Julian's conditionwas rather serious for a time, and the Rev R. Mitchell, who was attending him,advised calling in a medical man from Hamilton. Dr Going, of Hamilton, was therefore called in on Monday, and was in a position to pass a favourable opinion on the patient's condition. Mr Julian will, however, be confined to bed for some time.

The new Bank of New Zealand building for Te Kuiti is to be started next week by the contractors, Messrs Mordaunt and Bailey. The work is to be carried out under the direction of Mr F. E. Smith, the well-known architect, of Hamilton.

Mr W. S. Douglas, editor of the N.Z. Herald, visited Te Kuiti last week on a journey over the route of the Main Trunk Line. Mr Douglas' last visit to the King Country was made in 1883, when he accompanied the Hon. John Bryce on his tour through the district. At that lime Te Kuiti was a Native village situated about half-a-mile south of the present township, and the King Country a district where the " King's Writ " did not run. In talking over incidents in connection with his last visit, Mr Douglas remembered a notable speech made by the well-known chief. Wahanui. In addressing the Government party, Wahanui likened the visit of the Pakeha to the passing of a canoe over the water, which after it is gone is seen no more and no trace behind. The evidence of progress and the development of the surrounding" country were striking proofs that Wahanui's prediction had not been fulfilled, and Mr Douglas spent a pleasant day in seeing something of the neighbourhood under the guidance of Mr Baiickc

The Waikato A. and P. Association's annual show, wh.rb takes place! at Hamilton on Friday ami Saturday | next, gives promise of I>t-inf.v highly \ successful. Already the * nirics the line total ot 1,)00, or .Son in excess' of last year, and with tine weather the function should easily eclipse aii previous shows in every respect. Special train arrangements have been made for the convenience of visitors Iron) a distance.

In consequence of the recent dry weather, the roads are showing considerable improvement, ami with the exception of several bad holes, will be in a fit slate for waggon traffic in a verv short time.

The various streams in the district which have been abnormally high for the past two months, are going down very slowly. According to Native lore this is an indication of a very dry summer.

It is with regret that we learn that "fluke" (or liver rot) has again made its appearance in sheep in the I e Ante and Waipawa districts, Ilawkc's Bay. One of these districts was closed some years back, and it would appear that the wet-season has more or less assisted in developing the disease, which is manifested by a falling-off in condition, and the whites of the eyes turning yellow, The parasites pass one stage of their existence in fresh water snails, so that the disease is most prevalent on marshy, or damp land or where there is excessive rainfall. No perfect cure has yet been discovered, though sail and dry foods may check it and allow the sheep to fatten. Prevention consists in draining, getting the stock from sound flocks, using salt and dry foods and fattening off as quickly as possible. So far, the outbreak is not of a serious character, but that it should be checked is necessarily important. Farmers' Union advocate.

At a meeting of the intending slruvholdcrs in the proposal rope and twine manufacturing,' company, held at Hamilton on Monday last, it was unanimously decided that the company should be formed, and live provisional directors were appointed.

It is understood that (he principal Christchurch firms interested have decided not to tender for the supply preserved meat for the British Army, tenders for which are being' called in the Dominion. It is stated that among other things, the specification providing for animals in prime condition not over four years of age. is a barrier in New Zealand, where animals are not " potted " at such an early age.

In another column will be seen the advertisement of Hazard, the popular gun and fishing tackle manufacturer, of Auckland. Anglers will do well to write for his new catalogue of fishing tackle and anglers' requisites, as it

contains information of much value to those interested in angling.

A scheme is being projected by the residents on Te Kuiti Village sections. with the object of raising a special loan for the purpose of metalling the roads giving access to the section-.. The area affected includes about do acres, and as the estimated cost for the work only reaches about £,,00, there is little doubt that the scheme will be carried out during the coming' summer.