DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 56, 15 November 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Mr Campbell, Government Surveyor is expected to make a start with the survey of the proposed railway route from Puketutu to the Ohura, via Mokau-iti and the Waitewhenua Valley, in a day or two. A large contingent of King Countryites attended the Waikato Show at Hamilton on Saturday last. The early morning train was crowded with passengers, and the special evening train which arrived at Te Kuiti about 8 o'clock was well laden with excursionists.

The Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., have received the following cable from their London office: Sheepskins—Since last sales combing nVerino sheepskins hail fine c.ross-bred Sheepskins' and clossbred lambskins have declined 74d per lb, coarse cross-bred sheepskins have tJecHnerl %d pej- lb- Clothing descriptions oF sheepskins Jjave declined fid per lb, anc! short and shorn sheep..skins have declined id per lb. Tallow. —We quote present spot values for the following descriptions of tallow : Fine mutton 345, good beef 325, mixed 31s Cxi per cwt. Mutton Market inactive.

A telephone is to be erected at MiMr Hattaway's store, Piopio, and will be opened for the convenience of the public at an early date. New potatoes have been sold at Dunedin this season as high as 7d per pound. Some of the residents of the districts interested are endeavouring to arrange for a re-union of settlers of the Mairoa, Paemako and Aria districts at New Year, and a meeting is to be held at Paemako on Saturday evening next to discuss the project. Considerable support has already been promised, and there is every prospect of a fine gathering. Many King Country residents have received benefits from the Waikato Hospital, and these and others will doubtless welcome the opportunity of expressing their appreciation of the institution in a material form. The subscription list circulated annuall.v by Mrs W. A. Graham, of Hamilton, for the purpose of giving every patient in the hospital a present on Christmas Day is again to hand, and all those desirous of contributing may leave donations at the CHRONICLE office. The object is la most deserving one, and as subscriptions are limited to one shilling general support is necessary in order to swell the total to respectable dimensions. The preliminary work in connection with the new Bank of New Zealand building at Te Kuiti has been taken in hand by the contractors, Messrs Mordaunt and Bailey, and the foundations will shortly be laid. The structure, which will have the distinction of being the first brick building erected in the King Country, will have a very fine appearance, and is being erected in such a manner that additions can readily be made'when necessity arises. Mr F. E. Smith, Architect, of Hamilton, under whose supervision the building is being erected, visited Te Kuiti during the week.

The Rev. Sanders Spencer has received notice that the S.P.C.K. (Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge) has allotted a grant of £2O towards the funds of St. Luke's Church at Te Kuiti, 011 condition that the Church is free of debt in five years. The collection at the dedication service on Thursday night next will be given to the S.P.C.K. The Church of England bazaar, which is to be held at Otorohanga on December 18th, promises to be a signal success. All the arrangements are thoroughly in train and the members of the Committee have worked unceasingly to make the function the brightest and best yet held in the district.

The followers of Rua, the Maori prophet, are in a parlous state at present time (says the Whakatane Press). Owing to lack of funds and the increase in the price of Hour many are in a condition of semi-starvation. As is only natural under the circumstances Rim's influence is on the wane.

Mrj. Case, of the Stock Department, who has been stationed at Kihikihi for many years, left last week for Opotiki whither he has been transferred. Mr Case is a very old Waikatoite, a good sport and a most enthusiastic cricketer; he is very popular in this district and his numerous friends will be pleased to hear of his promotion. Other changes in Stock Department in this district are : Mr B. Bayly of Ngaruawahia goes to Te Kuiti to take charge of the King County, and Mr J. Ross succeeds Mr Case at Kihikihi. The school children's excursion to Waikato Sow on Saturday was most successful, and was thoroughly enjoyed by the scholars. Upon the return of the party to Te Kuiti Mr J. Ormsby, Chairman of the School Committee, addressed the children and called for three cheers for Mr Power, the headmaster, who had organised and carried out the trip. The children were all in the "tired but happy " state, but signified their appreciation of the master's efforts in a manner which left no room for doubt.

Shearing operations are now in full swing in the district, rind the clip promises to be a good one all round. Up to the present the amount of wool exported from the King Country has not been great, but judging from the large annual influx of sheep (o the district, the wool returns will be a very considerable item in future. The new Church of England for Te Kuiti has now been completed by the contractor, Mr J. Mclndoe. The building will seat, tinder ordinary conditions, about seventy people, and besides occupying a line position, presents a particularly neat and wellfinished appearance. Mr W. Price, architect, and Mr Mclndoe, builder, are to be complimented upon the manner in which the work has been carried out.

Repairs to the road culvert near Te Kuiti school, which was damaged by the last flood, are now being carried out by the Roads Department:. A new culvert is being put in and the roadway raised. During the llood the road was submerged to a depth of three or four feet, and when the Hood subsided it was found that portion of me load jjad been 'washed away.

The McNieol Memorial Cup for (hu Champion hack at the Waikato Show was won by Frank McGoven's Loch Erne, by .Lake Shell- Nightingale, and the horse looked a picture of condition and a further testimony to high quality of the saddle horses of the district.

The wood-chopping contest at the Waikato Show gave rise to a keen struggle. The blocks were 15 inches in diameter and the winner proved to be P. Wihnont, with D. Pretty second and j. Peterson third, The new Church of England at Te Kuiti is to be dedicated on Thursday next November 2lst. Bishop Neligan wHlarrive from Auckland by train on T-huikiriy ai d concjuct tjie ce« ; e'i|idii.v: Special services ai;e io'lic' he:hf'ai/d the Bishop will preach the opening sermon.

The boundaries of the Waikato I-J os pn ald ist !• if• thay c heeii e1 er, <lec 1 so as to include Kawhia County and a ]io;-tio'i of West l";iUj<o County.

Mr E. Moore, of Mahocnui. who has been on a trip to the Old Country returned last week.