THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1908. DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 67, 31 January 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1908. DISTRICT PARS.

Speaking at the meeting held at Te Kuiti, on Friday evenin'g last, to discuss matters before the Minister for Lands during his visit to Te Kuiti, Mr Darrow stated that lie was convinced the most important factor in the progress of the place was providing of metal for the main road. The settlers must have decent highways for communicating with the railway, and the prosperity of the town centres depended upon the back country settlers. He urged that the metalling question should be strongly advocated and pointed out that thousands of pounds would be saved by the Government providing stone crushers for metalling purposes.

. An addition has just been made to the businesses of Te Kuiti in the shape of cabinetmaking and house furnishing, Messrs Blackmail and Cobb having started operations in the premises adjoining Cotter Bros'., butchers. The new firm is prepared to supply all descriptions of furniture and household fittings, and goods of all classes will be made to order. A special feature will be made of repolishing and re-upholstering, and an artistic selection of mouldings for picture framing will always be kept on hand.

The tenure of King Country townships was referred to at a meeting at Te Kuiti on Friday night last. Mr Tammadge proposed that the matter should be brought before Minister for Lands, with a view to allowing the present leaseholders to obtain the freehold from the Native owners. He contended that progress was being stayed and enterprise throttled by the existence of the present Maori leasehold system and no opportunity should be lost in agitating for a change After some discussion it was decided to defer dealing with the matter with a view to bringing it before the Premier on his forthcoming visit to the King Country. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., report having received the following advice with regard to the wool sales from their London Office: —" Sales opened this day at level of last sales, except that the market is easier for faulty merino wool. Cross-bred slipe is lower since close of last sales by about par to Yzd per lb. Competition is brisk. During the course of his speech at Te Kuiti, on Tuesday evening last, Mr Allen Bell in outlining some of the work accomplished by the Farmers' Union in the Auckland district stated had started the Farmers' Freezing foi|F or five years ago. They then did not anticipate peing able to declare a dividend for some considerable time, but were content to have raised the price of stock and lowered the cost of freezing. He wis pleased to state, however, that they had been able to pay a dividend of six per cent and carry £2OOO to the reserve fund. sLast year they had started the Farmers' Auctioneering Company in the ancj ljad at fiirst met with great diflkulties. Tfye year's operations were now about completed,' ai}d he hoped that when the the balance sheet was presented there would be a pleasant surprise for the shareholders. >ia^e| ; s i;i connection the Te ffuiti Postroftjce site to be settled aif an eatly da(e. Upon arriving at Taumarunui this week Mr Jennings received a wire from Sir Joseph Ward to the effect that he had instructed the Department officials to have the matter referred to him when in Auckland next week.

The itinerary for the Premier's pro- ] jected tour of the Auckland district has not yet been arranged, and Mr Jennings, member for the district, received a wire from the Premier on Wednesday, stating that he would inform Mr Jennings of the arrangements immediately on the completion of his business in Auckland. Sir Joseph Ward will be in Wellington on Friday to meet the Hon. HallJones upon that gentleman's arrival in the Colony, and will leave for Auckland on Sunday. In connection with the installation of the proposed telephone service by the settlers of the Kaeaea district, Mr Allen Bell advised the Secretary of the local branch of the Farmers Union to write for information on ilie. subject to Mr B. Hewett ofWaimai, and Chairman of the Raglan County Council. Mr Riddle adopted the suggestion and this week received in reply, a comprehensive explanation of the manner in which the Waingaro settlers installed the service in that district. The whole of the details arc clearly and lucidly set forth, and diagrams are given showing clearly the various points of importance in the construction of the lines and the making of the connections. Mr Hewett also kindly offered if circumstances permitted, to come to the district and personally demonstrate to the Kaeaea people the best methods to pursue. Such practical sympathy is not too frequently experienced, and the Kaeaea settlers will doubtless appreciate deeply the courtesy and consideration exhibited by Mr Hewett in their behalf.

A living picture picture display by Mr Whitehousc is advertised Thursday, January 30th, in the hall, Te Kuiti. An excellentprogramme is promised.