DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 66, 24 January 1908, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Mr T. C. Stanton, who was for several years in charge of Tc Kuiti School, and, until about a year ago, of Oparure School, is at present on a visit to Te Kuiti. Mr Stanton intends returning to Omanaia, North Auckland about the end of this month, but will probably come to Tc Kuiti to settle permanently within the next few months. Shortly after his arrival at Te Kuiti several of the Oparure Natives invited Mr Stanton to attend a little gathering of friends at Mrs Josephs' boarding house. A number of felicitous speeches were made by the Natives, expressing pleasure at Mr Stanton's visit, and conveying good good wishes to Mrs Stanton. The expressions of good will were suitably acknowledged by Mr Stanton, and a pleasant time was spent. It is stated that Doctor Zobel has made arrangements for purchase of Mr W. Standish's residence, at Te Kuiti.

A Maori race meeting is to be held at Otorohanga on February 29th. The programme consists! of six events, chief of which are the Cup, of £5, and hurdle race, of £.3, Arrangements for putting Te Kuiti Domain in order have now been made, and the work was begun this week. The reserve is to be fenced, and after being cleared and levelled, will be sown with suitable grass. The extended spell of dry weather, experienced this month,'was broken by welcome rains in the South at the end of last week. Rain also fell in portions of the North Island, though it did not come soon, enough lo prevent con-ick'i"ah!e loss to farmers. The milk supply in many districts was greatly reduced, and even with copious rains for !he remainder of the season, it is expected that there will be a shortage. The bush and grass fires in most of the districts have been got under, but the damage to stock and pasture is great.

Owing to the meeting, called for Saturday evening last in connection with the Te Kiiiti Annual Sports, being only poorly ."('.ended, it was decided, to call another meeting to take place on Thursday evening next January 30. The season is nowgetting on, and with the substantial balance in hand from last year's sports there is no reason why another successful day's amusement should not be arranged, In regard to the petition, sent by settlers, resident in portions of the King Country, to Mr Jennings, M.P., in which petitioners complain that their " thirds " were not expended, the Minister of Lands says lie will make enquiries, but the difficulties which generally arose in connection with "thirds" were chiefly in regard -to local bodies. Settlers were entitled to information relative to monies in hand to the credit of the various sections.

The Hon. R. McNab, Minister for Lands, who will be visiting (he Auckland district this month, has prqmised, at the suggestion of Mr Jennings, M.P., to endeavour to spend a i : c\y hours at Te Kuiti on his journey from Hamilton to Taumarunui on January 28th. It appears from the position of wool on the Home market that those growers who refused to accept values offering at the local sales and shipped to London will have to accept prices fully twenty-five per cent, below those they could have obtained in the Dominion. It is declared that crossbreds will probably not top Sli jn London this month, equal to y\ 2 or. a jjitllc ijiider in the Dominion.

Mr T. M. Wjlfoj-d's allegation a* |o the danger on the line north of Taumarunui is deprecated by the officials who say the track is good for fifty miles an hour. '] he regulation speed is 30 miles.

Farmer (to physician): "If you get out of my way, doctor, any tinier I wish you.d stop and see my wife. She says she ain't fcelin' well. Physician: What are some of her symptoms? Famer ; 1 dunno. This mornin' after she had milk the cows, and fed the stock, an' got breakfast and washed the disiics, an' built a fire under the sy/l-soap kettle in the lane an' done a few jobs 'bout the house she commenced feeling kinder tired. ] s,hould ! {U be sijpiised if l,ei. Ljloqd \Vi4S out of oidci. I guess sl]V needs' a dose of medicine."

Inspector Bennett, of the Health Department, paid Te Kuiti another visit during the week. In the course of his inspection of the township he found that several of the inhabitants were creating a nuisance by the pollution of the Mangaokewa stream, and, the inspection says, if this is not stopped lie will have to take ings against the law-breakers. The increased interest being taken in connection with land settlement in Auckland province is strikingly evidenced by the fact that no less than 15 nominations have been received by the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the election of a member to fill the vacancy on the Auckland Laud Board caused by the retirement of the Hon. W. W. McCardlc, owing to his having become a member of the Legislature. The candidates for election are nominated by [vr-oiis who, on January I, were '.'■.■'! rs of a lease or license of or in r • < : of Crown lands in Auckland'!.' ■.•"■' in other words, Crown teiKIP: . The \ i.-il of the Premier to the King Country, although not yet definitely fixed, is practically assured for the beginning of next month. It is probable the Waikato centres will be visited first and dates have been arranged in that district for early in February. The first line of new season's oats is being at present delivered at one of the Ashburton grain sheds. Although bright, the Isamplc is lean, in consequence of the crop having been unduly hastened. Christchiirch millers are not buying old seasons's wheat at all, preferring to hold oil'till the new supplies are to hand, and old grain only being taken ' lo'iill immediate local demands. The number of holders of old grain is small, and (lie quantities are in small lots. The Thames Borough Council has decided to co-operate in the movement inaugurated by the Mayor of Hamilton (Mrjas. $. Bond) for the installation and transmission of electrical power from the liuka or Orcrc Falls, or the Mora Ilora Rapids. The Mayor of Thames (Mr A. Burns) will represent his Council on the deputa- 1 tion to wail upon the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) during his forthcoming visit to Waikato'

The medals provided by the Government for presentation to nil school children to mark the raising of the status of New Zealand to a Dominion, will be presented to the scholars when the school work is resumed in the beginning of next month. It is stated that 170,060 medals have been ordered, a Dunedin firm having the contract in hand. The medal, which will be of magnalium, will be about the size of a florin. On one side it is indicated thai New Zealand was proclaimed a Dominion on September 261 hj, 1907, and on the opposite side King Kdward's portrait is given, surrounded by the British and New Zealand ensigns, with the inscription: "(!<!<! save the King, Edward VJ I, of the British Dominions, King." The statement of Mr Wjlford, M'P., regarding (heexcessive speed of trains on the Main Trunk line, is substantiated by Mr W. Davidson, of Mornington, Otago. who slates that when he was travelling on the line a few days ago, the train, at one pari of the journey, was allowed lo gather speed until if seemed to be going at a tremendous pace. For a few minutes he stood on the platform of the carriage, and while there saw a woman in ;'ii adjoining car thrown off her seal. Finding grc it diihcully in keco'ng his hold and footing he enter,- ' 1 '•-..■ <■ t. Hvcrvbody seemed i ■' : ' :,n ihed al Ihe apparciv. ;■ :!e at which I hey were lr.iv.. ! i ... I. aier on, when passing throe;. ' ;V train, the guard said thai the o,v. .i- was making up time, and tint the rate of speed was about 42 miles an hour. Mr Davidson says that it seemed more like do 0r.70 miles.

The Culvcrdcn Kslate, North l',i\nterbury, which has been acquired b.V the Government for closer settlement will be ripen for selection about May next.

An extremely satisfactory balance sheet has been prepared by Mrs W, A. Graham, of Hamilton, in connection with her Hospital Christmas J Gift Fund. The receipts from the j various districts total £So l.js Oil ; the 1 amount expended on presents for inI mates of the Hospital was £]S 12s sd, leaving a balance of £O2 2s id. Of J this amount it was decided to make a voluntary donation of £OO to the Hospital, and as donations carry a Government subsidy of 1" for £, the Hospital Fund will thus be augmented to the extent of £l2O. Mrs Graham wishes to acknowledge the great assistance received from Mr 11. Valder, to whose generous efforts much o|* the success of the movement was di|c. Sawmill employees contributed, j ally from all districts, aiu| it is. Rr-alu lying to see that the worker.* warmly appreciate the benefits derived from the institution. Mrs Graham, as organiser of the movement, is to be congratulated upon the result of her efforts, and with such a hearty response to applications the complete success of the annual subscription is assured. We are informed that the next meeting of the Maniapoto-Tuwharc-toa Maori Land Hoard will he hclcj early in February. To secure hearing at that meeting applications must be sent' in not later than the 25th, in*!-. ()neo| the grievances of the Koto* rua native is that all the native fish arc falling victims to the trout. Their favourite Koura (t he j freshwater crayfish) is sharing the fate of the other native fish and the Maoris (stated Sir Robert Stout in conversation with a Herald representative) are loud and bitter in their complaints against the ravage of the voracious trout. The grievance is not palliated in the eyes of the natives by their prohibition from catching trout without a license. One native, who caught trout at the beginning of fish were taken from the land on both sides of which was owned bv him, " Where does (he p.j Waiumgi come in J l 'the wondering native ask*.

Mr J. A. Young, the honorary correspondent for Hamilton to the Royal Humane Society, has received the Society's silver medal awarded to MacFarlane, of Kiwitahi, for a conspicuous act of bravery in January 1907, when she rescued Mr Charles Grigsby from drowning. Arrangementwill be made for the medal to be to Mrs MacFarlane at someT>ublic function. Matters in connection with the preparing of a rifle range at Te Kuiti are being pushed ahead. The opening day has been fixed for January 29th, and all those interested in the volunteer movement are requested to assist in getting the range completed by the appointed time. A meeting of Te Kuiti residents is to be held in Hetet's Hall this (Friday) evening for the purpose of arranging to meet the Hon. R. McNab, Minister for Lands, who visits Te Kuiti on Tuesday next, The Minister has been induced b} r Mr Jennings, M.P., to stop at Te Kuiti for a couple of hours, and it is to be hoped the residents will take the opportunity of introducing several matters of importance to the Minister. The meeting should be well attended by all those desirous of doing anything for the town in the direction of progress. Interviewed by a Dunedin Star representative, Sir Joseph Ward said he had to be in Wellington on January 28th to meet the Hon. Hall-Jones, who had advised him that he had sufficiently recovered to take up work straight away. A pleasing function took place at . Taumarunui on Saturday evening last, when the Rev. Sanders Spencer was entertained at a social by his numerous friends. Dr Cairns presided, and during the evening presented Mr and Mrs Spencer with a handsome silver tea service, suitably inscribed. Mr Spencer responded, and expressed appreciation of the gift on behalf of himself and his wife. Messrs Langmuir, Brown, Fisher, Maher, and Long* also spoke, and congratulated Mr and Mrs Spencer on their marriage. General regret was expressed at Mr Spencer's impending departure from the district, and those present wished Mr and Mrs Spencer long life and happiness in thei?new sphere. The Te Kuiti branch of the Bank of New Zealand will not open next week as usual, in consequence of January 29th being" a public holiday. The January series of Wellington wool sales were held 0.1 Friday last, when between eight and nine thousand bales were submitted. Buyers were strongly represented. Prices showed a decline by comparison with previous figures. A good deal of rough-conditioned wool was included in the catalogue. The fall, as compared with December, is put down at a farthing on fine wools, a half-penny on medium coarse-bred, three-farth-ings on coarse wools, and a penny on inferior wools.

A sitting of the Native Land Court is gazetted to be held at Otorohanga pn February 4th. A great deal of interest is being taken in the Hamilton Regatta and Acquatic Carnival to be held on February 15th. Special trains have been arranged to run from Auckland, Paeroa, Thames, Cambridge and the KingCountry on that day. A programme of twenty events has been prepared including nine rowing and sculling, six swimming races and one motor launch race. Humorous events, such as a greasy boom contest and a tub race, have also been provided, and a good day's sport should result.