DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 64, 10 January 1908, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

In our report of Wedding festivities atOparure, on 'Xmas Day, we omitted to mention that the success of the whole gathering was undoubtedly due to the effects of Rukuruku and Tuketarewa. Miss Beswick's classes at Te Kuiti which have been suspended for a couple of weeks during the holidays will be resumed on Monday January 22nd. *? A very enjoyable time was spent on Saturday evening last, at the residence of Mr G. Hetet, Te Kuiti, the occasion being a birthday party. Mr G. Hetet was born in January, 1845, and the members of the Hetet family, together with the present occupier of Tokipuhuki (Mr R. M. Somerville), thought that an opportunity afforded itself when they might make him a presentation. A splendid dinner was provided, to which all did full justice, after which several speeches were * made. " The King," " The Old and New Occupiers of Tokipuhuki " and " The Hetet Family " were the principal toasts honoured. The presentation was made by Mr John Hetet who spoke in high terms of his brother's capabilities and also of the goodfellowship which exists between him and the European tenants. The presents consisted of a beautiful brass-mounted double bed, a silvermounted pipe and moustache cup. Miss Pine, music teacher, etc., Te Kuiti, notifies intending pupils that the next quarter commences on January 13th. The tender of Mr Jas. Mclndoe, builder, has been accepted for the erection of the new Courthouse, on a : site fronting the Roads Department offices, Te Kuiti. Mr D. Cook, solicitor, and Mr A. Jenkins, one of the firm of Wilkie & Co., Dunedin, were visitors to Te Kuiti during the past week. The Wairere Carnival, for which great preparations had been made, had to be postponed from New Year's Day to January 3rd owing to the unsettled state of the weather. Contary to the accepted tradition concerning the ill-luck of postponed events, the carnival proved a decided success. A full account appears in another column. Strangers in Maori parts, especially those who are not conversant with the Maori language, are apt to " fall in " occasionally. The other evening a visitor from Waipounamu was wending his way along Te Kuiti street and by chance happened to kick up against rather a large piece of wood. Surprised, of course, at meeting obstacles in the main street, the visitor turned to his companion and { asked what he had kicked against. The friend was quick with his reply " that it was only a piece of rakau." •" Rakau be blowed," said the Southern friend, "J think it was a blooming lump of wood." The Maori is usuaily regarded as a fairjy good business man, but at times In money matters the ehapce of getting a little material benefit jn (he present, blinds him to the ultimate ads vantage to be gained by making a small sacrifice. The Wairere Carnival was started by Maoris, twenty* four of whom contributed £1 towards the gathering. The Carnival having proved a financial success the majority of the Native committee wished to divide the surplus (about £3B) among themselves. A smaller section, with a thought towards future necessities, want the money banked as the nucleus of a fund for an annual carnival. At latest reports the inevitable "korero " §0 dear to the Native heart, was proceeding, fcjjt as both parties are staunch Jo tfr«r coition, there will be arnpje scope for rhetoric for same tim » come. Probably fre qjsfrucrioaists wfjf te*p ft<?'' Jtorerof going till it is time to get gorog for next carnival, when public opinion will be actively in their favour.

The settlers in the out districts are beginning to realise the necessity of having places set apart for social intercourse, and at the recent Settler's Social a meeting was held to discuss the adviability of procuring a suitable site for a hall at Piopio. It was pointed out that the locality was a most central one, and would serve settlers from all the surrounding districts. It was decided to urge the Government to acquire.a piece of land for the purpose mentioned. The fondness of the Maori for the picturesque was exemplified at the recent Settlers' Social at Miroahuiao. Being anxious to make a donation to the social, 'the Natives who were present gathered together, and the offering (which was a substantial one) was given to the leader. The party then gave a war haka in an effective manner, and calling upon the M.C. tendered the donation amid the strains of a Maori chorus rendered in the real old-time style. Building operations at Te Kuiti are proceeding apace. The Bank of New Zealand building is well on, the brick work being almost completed, and the whole structure should be finished well within contract time. The twostory shop building for Mr Nicholls is also well in hand, and several residences on the Eastern side of the river are also nearing completion. The holiday season has been very busy on the railway, and since the excursion fares came into force the bookings at Te Kuiti have reached a total of about 2000. Mr J. Strauchon, Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands of the Wellington district, will take charge of the Auckland district from April I; and Mr MacKenzie, Commissioner at Auckland, will be transferred to Wellington. The change is being made in view of the great amount of survey work that will be necessary in Auckland. MrC.F.E. Barton, who has occupied the position of assistant clerk to the Hamilton Borough Council, has been appointed clerk to the Kawhia County Council. During the time Mr Barton has filled his present position, he has proved himself a capable *and courteous officer, and it is pleasing to know that he has been appointed to a higher office. m MrG.P. Wake has announced himself as a Government candidate for the Egmont electorate. At the last election he stood for Patea, in which Egmont was then incorporated, as an Independent. It is expected that there will be a number of candidates for the new seat. Sun-drying hay is not curing it at all To cure hay so that it will retain its highest feeding value, it should be taken out of the sunlight as soon as possible and put into cocks of about ioolb weight, covered with a hay cap, and made to cure slowly by its own heat, thus practically curing it in the shade. Cut at the right time, cocked up as fairly well wilted, and thus cured, not sun-dried, the hay retains a high degree of nutrition. Mr G. W. Sare, Manager of the Waikato branch of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, has been promoted to the Dunedin branch of the Company, and will probably leave Hamilton for the South in about a month. Mr Sare has been in charge of the Waikato branch for about twenty years, and though it is pleasing to see his ability recognised, his departure will be regretted by a very wide circle of friends. Mr Sare's successor is to be Mr Heywood, of Auckland.

The present season is voted all round a good one for burning off, and operations in this direction have already begun in the district During the past week the horizon has been obscured by the smoke of the bush fires out back, while close to Te Kuiti there have been several good burns. Despite the fact that labour has been difficult to procure, it is estimated that the area ready for burning is well up to the average of the past seasons.

Metalling is proceeding on the Awakino road from Te Kuiti, and the completion of the unmetalled portions to the five mile peg is nearly accomplished. Work at the fourteen mile peg is also proceeding, and the material used, though not so good as limestone, is much cheaper, and appears capable of carrying winter traffic. The settlers will welcome the increase of metalled road, though there will still be much to be desired when winter rolls round. " Elementary Weather Studies," by H. T. Gibson, F.R., Met. Soc., is a book which should be thoroughly welcomed and appreciated by New Zea-landeF-s We have to acknowledge a copy of the work from the publisher, and must congratulate him upon having put in lucid form a great amount of useful information, easily understandable by those who do not pretend to have a knowledge of scientific terms and deductions. The book contains twenty-one chapters dealing with the different forces which affect meteorological conditions, and points the simple way in which all may readily acquire a sound and sufficient knowledge of the subject, without having to wade through the masses of scientific data, which constitute a bogey to the ordinary layman. The concluding chapter deals appropriately with the subject as applied to agriculture, and no farmer can study the information given therein without acquiring and benefit therefrom. Mr <sibson is" a resident of M a fa, Ragjan County.