DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 62, 27 December 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

The gatp money taken at the Otorohanga Sports (£2B 15s) easily constituted a record. Matters in connection with Christmas celebrations at Oparure are well in train, and a large gathering is expected to assemble. The New Year celebrations at Te Kumi also promise to be on a large seale. The Wairere Carnival, on the Mokau river, will -be the first occasion upon which aquatic sports have been organised in the district above the falls, though not by any means the first aquatic carnival held on the river. Last year a regatta was held at Mokau and some excellent sport was witnessed, The marriage of the Rev. S. Spencer, of Te Kuiti, and Miss Ivy Vicary, daughter :>f Mr W. Vicary, of Otorohanga, is to be celebrated on January Ist. A large number of friends have been invited, and the function promises to be a brilliant one. The canoes for the Wairere Carnival, on New Year's Day, are now about completed, and thi Maori workmen oust be congratulated upon having got off a smart piece of work. The carnival promises to be a great success, and both Europeans and Natives are working hard to have everything complete by the time the eventful day rolls round. The holiday traffic on the railway has now commenced, and bookings are heavy. Christmas stocks and hampers are also being largely handled, and the officials have an extremel/ busy time. The workmen's train from the " front," carrying the men to Auckland fct the holidays, was run through on Saturday last. One of the large American engines was used for the occasion, and about 400 passengers were.'tsken. The shilling subscription, promoted by Mrs W. A. Graham, of Hamilton, for the purpose of giving every patient in the Hospital a Christmas gift, has been well filled at Te Kuiti, and a sum of twenty-five shillings has been forwarded to Mrs Graham. The sum of fifteen shillings was collected by Mr J. F. Walsh, at Wilson's Portland Ceniept Works, and the remainder at the Chkqmicle office. Of tht many trials to a stationmaster at a country station is subject that of giving change for the money tendered for tickets, is not the lease. Of course there is a regulation to the effect that the correct amount must be tendered by the person desirous of obtaining a ticket, but this it> mote honoured in the breach than in the observaniits, During the holiday rush at Te Kuiti, one man tendered a fifty pound cheque, and looked aggrieved when the change was not produced. Notes to the value of twenty pounds are also presented at times, and five or ten pound notes are common. This is a tribute to the wealth of the district and of the individual, but the modest person, who produces the correct fare, if it is only a matter of pence, is more highly thought of by the official in charge. The first sheep fair to be held in the King Gauntry will be conducted by it»p Mercantile Agency Company on January 29th. Already thci-e oiip qOCQ sheep entered, and a considerable addition to this number is expected to be yarded. In view of the annually increasing demand for sheep in the .district, the institution of local sheep sajes is a decided convenience to settle* §, yftq will thus be enabled to buy in the disttj.ci instead of travelling to \Vaikato, or funt;ef. tpf fljc purpose,