DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 61, 20 December 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Judging from the amount of railwaybusiness transacted at Te Kuiti it is hard to believe that it 'is only about four months since a stationmaster was appointed, and Mr White has had a busy time since taking charge ot the station. The business for the for the last four weeks reached about £I2OO, about £3OO being taken in tickets and the remainder being goods and parcels traffic. The wool season now on is responsible for about a waggon load a day, while the carriage of live stock both in and out is a considerable item. The building trade is responsible for much business, a large amount of timber coming to hand every day.

The early train from Te Kuiti is being largely patronised of late, the booking averaging fifty or sixty a day from Te Kuiti alone. A considerable portion of the recent traffic is no doubt due to the sitting of the Native Land Court, at Otorohanga, but in any case the running of the train is fully justified by the ordinary bookings.

It is stated that Mr Charles Lake, of Fencourt, has been requested by the settlers to stand as representative on the Auckland Land Board for the seat rendered vacant by the retirement of the Hon. W. W. McCardle. The sum of £IOSO has been subscribed within a few days towards the new Catholic Church for Hamilton. Hamilton has experienced some warm weather lately, the thermometer as read at the Waikato Hospital has on more than one occasion registered 82 degrees in the shade. Messrs May Bros., milk suppliers, of Hamilton, have installed a pasteurising plant which is capable of treating about 500 gallons of milk a day. Lionel Terry has been re-arrested ; he resisted his captors, but was over? powered.

Widespread regret was caused by the death of Mr Charles Barker, of Te Awamutu, last week. Mr Harold Barker, of Te Kuiti Post-office stall, is a son of deceased.

King Country towns are being brought into line with other centres in regard to sanitary matters. The visits of Doctor Purdy, Health Officer, and Inspector Bennett have led to the adoption of night soil services at le Kuiti and Taumarunui and arrangements are now being made for the purpose stated in both centres.

Jt is reported that the appointment of aijothet SUpendiaj-y Magistrate lor the King Country is to frc ma'dc aj ai] early date. Mr Northcroft stated at Taijmarunui last week that he would probably not again visit the district in his official eapai-jty.

The Minister for Lands stated recently that 39,000 acres of land would be thrown open for selection in the Auckland district within the next six months.

The entries for the Hamilton Rugby Union Sports, to be held on Boxing Day, constitute a record for Waikato. The number of competitors in the seven principal events is as follows Cup, 75 yards 45; Quartermile, 31; Half-mile, 31; Mile, 21; Twomile Bicycle Handicap, J'); One mile Bicycle Championship, 16; total for the seven events, 182.

Among the areas acquired by the Government for scenic purpose recently are three acres, including the major portion of the Waitomo Caves, for which the Native owners claimed £IOOO compensation, and for which the Court awarded the sum of £6/0. One acre was acquired by tine (.government about six years ago for £25, but as this was found to be insufficient the increased area was taken over.

" The Infant Life Protection Act, 1907," which comes into operation on January Ist next, renders it the duty of the occupier of any house in which a child is born, to notify the Registrar of Births for the district of the fact of such birth immediatnly, the time allowed being seventy-two hours in a city or borough, and twenty-four hours in any other case. The penalty for non-compliance with the regulation is fixed at a maximum of five pounds. The particulars to be supplied under the new Act include the date of birth, and the name of the father or mother of the child. A mob of about 2000 sheep was brought in Te Kuiti at the beginning of the week from Awakino, and were distributed amongst our sheep farmers by the local representative ot the N.Z. Loan Jand Mercantile Company (Mr J. O'Brien). From to-day (Friday) to Thursday, January 9th, 1908, inclusive, an extra express train will leave Auckland at 10.35 a.m. During the same period the afternoon train from Frankton to Taumarunui will not leave the former place till 2.30 p'm. (after the arrival of the 10.35 a.m. extra express from Auckland), and will run correspondingly later to destination. On Saturday, December 2lst, a special train will leave Taumarunui at 7.30 a.m., Ongarue 8.15 a.m., Mangapeclii 9.10 a.m., Te Kuiti 10.5 a.m., Te Awaniutu 11.25 a.m., arriving Auckland at 4.15 p.m.

Mr Alf. Bayley, President of the New Zealand Rugby Union, died at Wanganui on Sunday last at the age of 41 years. The deceased was a very prominent footballer, but owing to an accident retired from the game some years ago. He is a brother ol Mr L. Bayley, of Te Kuiti, with whom much sympathy is felt in his sad bereavement.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company held a sale of Mr F. R. Gibson's stock at Ohaupo on Tuesday last, when good prices were realised for the cattle, sheep and horses offered. Fat wethers brought 19s 6d, while the best price obtained for horses was £32 lOs.

The coming Christmas and New Year holidays arc to be celebrated 011 a broad scale by the Natives of the district. At Oparure, preparations are already being made for a good old Christmas dinner and Tc Kumi is to be the scene of several Maori weddings at New Year time. The festivities in connection weddings are being already organised, and a feature will be made of Maori dances and songs.

The large influx of sheep to the Kins Country of late is a decided indication that the wool and mutton industries are to be largely undertaken in the district. In anticipation of an increased demand for sheep during the present season it is reported that at least one sheep fair is to be held at Te Kuiti during the summer. The East Coast Maori lands were visited by the Native Land Commission last week, and the work which has been accomplished in the district by the Natives drew forth warm praise from Sir Robert Stout. 1 lie Chief Justice considers the Maori has demonstrated that, given proper encouragement, he is an excellent farmer and is capable of working out his own salvation on the land.

Angling in being indulged in on several of the streams in the district, and though large baskets are the exception some fair sport is being obtained. Fish continue scarce in the Mangaokewa, and it is to be hoped attention will be given to the stocking of the stream, as tlie upper readies are jdeal fishing places. Metalling work is now being carried out on the Awakino road, a number of teams being engaged railing grave! from Te Kuiti to various places as far as the four mile peg, while similar work is being done at the fourteen mile peg, the material being obtained from the Mairoa road. Mr H. C. Bull, of Waingaro, who has recently completed an English and Continental tour, evidently did not relegate himself solely to the pleasureablc enjoyments ol sight seeing, but has taken the opportunity of making the trip of some prac|ica| value to his fellow Dominionists. While on a visit to the world-famed hardware establishment of Lockwood Bros., at Sheflield, the idea was presented to the heads of the firm at Mr Bull's suggestion, that an addition to their cutlery manufactures, in the way of sheep shears, would be opportune. The notion caught on tremendously ; Mr Bull was given a free haqd nt the works, and the result was the finished article \vhich is n<>w on view in Raglan. The sample js a well-finished pair of shears, in the characteristic style of the manufacturers, bearing the "Pampa" trade mark of the Lockwood cutlery. On the reverse blade is stamped " The Silent Shear; Bull's patent," and the novel character ol the shears is the circular slot into which cork knockers are fitted to prevent the noise so objectionable in a shed, while Uiey are already set and ground for the shearer to commence operations. Willi the name of Lockwood Bros, as a guarantee for quality of material, and Complete in other details, Ihe Silent •?!'should have a good run nc.*l season, and take its place among the best. 'Unfortunately, this season is too far advancer! to give the. instrument » !°n"' l»'t snliincnl w;l] be known in the cutting out ol late flocks and stragglers to allow experts to form a decided judgment, which, on appearances, has been altogether favourable.— Raglan Chronide.

Considerable excitement has been caused in the cricket world during the past week. The Kngland-Austra-lia test match was productive ol much interest, and the great score put up by .Auckland against Canterbury, for the possession of the I'lunla I Shield, was a theme of genera! interest. The Te Awanuit 11 llaxmill, owned by Messrs Sutherland and Bee, was partially destroyed by fire 011 Tuesday afternoon. The damage is estimated at about £125, and there is no insurance.

In consequence of the decrease in the price of Hour Ihere has been a general demand for a cheaper loaf. On Tuesday last the Master Bakers of Auckland met and derided to reduce the price of bread from <|d to 3/i ( ' 2lb loaf. At Wellington the bakers have decided to reduce the price from January Ist. The idea of universal military training lias received a great tillip in New Zealand in consequence of its adoption in the Commonwealth. All classes of people are now familiar with the idea, and with the constant menace of Asiatic action confronting them, the people of the Dominion, like their Australian kin, are probably on the eve of committing themselves to a system of compulsory training on sensible lines. Mr Masscy, leader of the Opposition, delivered a speech to his constituents, at Pukekohe on Tuesday last. Referring to the Native lands, Mr Massey said the question had not been satisfactorily dealt with last session. What was required was a simplification and modification of the existing laws, so that they could be generally understood. In forecasting next year's elections, the Opposition Leader said he believed they were going to have a struggle between three parties —the present two and the socialists.

The Prime Minister, during his speech at Taiihapc, suggested that it would be a fine tiling for the pct>ple of the Dominion to build the new Parliament building themselves. If every person gave a sovereign towards the reconstruction of the buildings it would provide a magnificent edifice which would not be the property of one particular city, but of every person in New Zealand. It was also suggested that thenewpapers should open subscription lists for the collecting of a national fund. The next meeting of the Waitomo County Council is to be held on Friday, December 20th, at Te Ktiiti.

Summer has come in early this season, and some exceptionally hot. days have been experienced of late. On Monday the thermometer registered 90 degrees in the shade at Te Kuiti, and Tucsda.y was equally warm.