DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 70, 21 February 1908, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

In connection with the selection of the site for Te Kuiti Post-office, a telegram has been received from Mr Jennings, M.P., stating that Messrs J.W.Browne, President of the Mania-poto-Tuwharetoa Maori Land Board, and J. D. Louch, District Engineer for the Public Works Department at Raurimu, have been appointed to inspect the sites suggested with a view to selecting the most suitable for the projected building. in response to numerous requests Mr W. F. Massey, M.P., Leader of the Opposition, has decided to deliver a political speech in Hamilton at an early date, most probably on Monday. March 2nd, and he will take this opportunity of replying fully to the policy speech delivered in Auckland bv the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward.

The roads in the out districts have suffered very severely through the fires. Many of them are practically blocked through large burnt trees having fallen across the roadway, while bridges and culverts have been burnt in all directions.

A pleasing function took place at the District Roads Office, Te Kuiti, on Tuesday, when Mr E. H. Baker was presented by the staff of the Assistant Engineer with a silver teapot and cream and sugar bowl. Mr Julian, in making the presentation, congratulated Mr Baker upon his marriage, and wished him and Mrs Baker every happiness. The sharp advance made in the price of butter is still maintained, and there is a likelihood of it going still higher. The High Commissioner cabled from London on Monday that there was a genera) advance in the market, and New Zealand butter was quoted at lf|o (shillings. Cables arc being received by factory managers, asking for as much butter for the Home market as possible. Prices arc therefore going up locally, and with a failing production on account of the drought, there is reason to anticipate very high rates. The latest quotation locally for butter is is 4d per pound. A race meeting, under the auspices of' 'the Tawataha Maori Band, was held ' at' Piorjio on "SauiHlay last. There was a good attendance and' the races provided great excitement for the Natives, the chjef event on the programme being won by Whaf-'c Hotu's Kaipara.

The tender of Messrs James Lee and Co. (£575) has been accepted for the erection of Mr J. T. Helot's villa residence, Tc Kuiti. The present losses of the settlers by fires are likely to be added I>> unless rain falls within [the m\l w. ck. as the turnip crops of the Waik.ito and other places will be destroyed, and winter bed will be iinpos.dblc. The crops which are already above ground are probably doomed, and in numerous instances the around has been resown. '1 he elect mi die markets is bound lo lie serious and, with the. turnip crop a failure, there is little possibility of a recover) until next season.

A meeting of the Waitonio County Council will' be held at Tc Kuiti <»n Mondav next.

It is feared, as a result of (he bush fires, thai the Tc Rnu-a-moa dairy factory will have to close. The damaec done in the district is extensive, and only by incessant amid almost superhuman efforts were the flames prevented from destroying the whole settlement.

Crown tenants are reminded thai votin.a," papers, in connection with the forthcoming Land Board election, are returnable on Monday next. February 24th.

The damage done by lire In the Oparau and Tc Rau-a-moa districts is estimated at £20,000, and the Government is to be approached with a view lo assisting the sufferers.

His Excellency. Lord Plunked was to have visited Kawhia last week. nnd the Government steamer, Tutanekai, arrived with the Governor and party at the harbour entrance on Thursday. The atmosphere was so thick with smoke that it was decided not to attempt to cross the bar, and the Tutanekai proceeded to New Plymouth.

The Rev. S. Spencer, who has been indisposed for llie i;isl ferlniehl. is now well <m the w.iy lo recovery. Mr Spencer has had definite news as to the probable date his departure from the Kin;;' Country, which will be about the end of next month. The Rev. 11. Flavell. who is to succeed Mr Spencer, has. for the hist eighteen months, been doine: Home- Mission work with the Rev. H. Reeve, in Taranaki. Mr Flavell is to arrive al Te Kuiti about the end of March.

A rather peculiar siluation has been created by (he action of the Maoris with regard to am;lin;; in this district, writes our Manc.apcehi correspondent: " The Deparlmenl in charge of fisheries lately placed a quantity of youn;!,'trout in the W'aimcha stream above Tiroa. Ow.: o| the local sports visited that place a forlnij;'lil a:;o and secured several fin-.' fish. 'J'he Natives have now ;:"! to hear of this, and have forbidden the Pakclias t(> trespass on their property."

Durini; the visit of the 11 on. Mr McGowan lo New Plymouth. Mrjennins. M. L. brought under his noiice various re(]uirements ol North Laranaki. He ure.cd the Minisler to make provision for of the Mokau river, a subsidy towards W'ailara bridge, the providini;' of a portable crusher for use on the road Iviwccn Awakino and Te Kuiti. and some other necessary works. The Minister said he would consider the mailers represented when he was makine; his Estimates.

The sculling nuv for the World's Championship, which hikes pi.ire ;it Wanganui on February -Sill, h exciting .ureal interest. i'.olh Webb and Tressidder are in excellent condition, and a good eonlesl is anlieipated. The New Zealander's supporters are confident of the local man's ability to retain the championship, and visiting Australians, who have seen Webb training, declare he has made a deal of improvement in style and finish since his race with Towns. Webb will row at about It stone, and Tressidder at about \2 stone 8 pounds. An addition to the fleet of' Wanganui river boats has been made in the shape of a new motor boat, which has just been built for traffic on the upper reaches of the river. The new vessel, which is named the Taniwha, is fitted with a 30 h.p. Thorncycroft engine, and is capable o\ carrying \\}i to thirty passengers. A satisfactory trial trip was made by the Taniwha down the river from Taumarunui on Sunday last. It is intended, if sufficient inducement offers, to run a special trip from Taumarunui to Wanganui on Sunday next. Passengers will have an opportunity ol' seeing the World's Championship Soulling contest, as the Taniwha will follow the race.

Speaking to the lion. Mr McNab, at Hawera this week. Mr Jennings urged the Minister to acquire Junes' Mokau property for settlement purposes. The member pointed out that the large block of land unutilised, was a serious drawback to the progress of North Taranaki and South Auckland. The Minister said inquiries had been made by the Department, but there were some difficulties in the way. lie fully recognised the importance of having the land settled.

A gentleman who has just returned from a trip up the Wanganui river says that many of the feeders of (lie river are absolutely dry. I'nnn i.\aumarunui down stream, it is noticeable that with the exception of the Ongarue (which was discharging a fair amount of water), the streams were very poor indeed. The Ohura was just a trickle the same maybe said of Ketaruke while the Manganui-a-te-ao, was giving" a fairly good supply from its mountain sources, Ruapcnu. The Tangarakau was a driblet. Kuithei" up-stream, Oloimui, Otou-iti. Mango Pourau and oilier sircams that generally diseliarg'e reasonable quantities of water ware absolutely dry. ft was particularly noticeable that all the streams that generally give water-falls in reasonable good weather were dry or almost so. The feeders of the river are mainly the Ongarue, Ohura, Tangarakau, and Retaruke. Probable the Manganui-a Je-ao' is the best o\ the bunch, and this takes jts source I'i.om Ruapchu, which is no doubt the giant feeder of tijc Wangaiiuj river. —Taihape Timet.. i

The Rev. R. Mitchell returned to Tc Kuiti on Friday last, after attending the Congregational Church Conference al Wclliimtoi,. Mr Mitchell journeyed ov i.e.'! i . I City, vi; i ,: a . .ouie lb>|oi u;iT%aupo and N'apn '. and r,-t 111 \)r t \ bv vay of ilie Main I ' nib. hue I'he join Di.v over ihe \\''a e ...u in. ■>i 101 was not a plea.-ani ' aie, .: ;','■■ 1 . i. nid ot smoke ob'-em ina; the ■ ".an; -, . and (he effects .if the bush In in in; 1 , seen on all side;.. M r Milchell, who has probably one ''!' ihe nio-.i extensive and illri ladi'ii dr-l rii Is in the I'; miinion lo work, w.r. fe-iiii", Ihe ellecls of his lalx >ms li'. fi a e he led. Iml returns .:.', really In ueliMed in die dip. M r \'. Jack..on, lif K alanui. reports i lie disci ni 1a o| some 1,1. .a In aies in ili.it ili.l not. I|,e 1 ,in nvi e disci n , 1a . 1 m .a ei eel-, bed. and ale in a .".ood • fate ni' pie-.eiv.iij,-,.,. Mr Jackson slab a fhal hones ~) (he r.rcat wine le s IT d have been found al various (hues 111 Ihe e,nue locality, which pr. > b 11' 1 \ was < aie I<[ the favoui in haunts I>l Ihe rm >a. ,\ n endea\ 1 mr is jo be made by the mi nihea-. .if T< !-. nib ( '1 im.i oj-ational ("liureh U1 have al le.e-l one service every Sunday held al I e Kuiti. Mr M ilehi li is hi:) lei'ul 1 u bcin.a able to arrange for dm carrvin;; out of (lie project, and an assb lanl may be appoinled lo rciicve Mi Milchell of porlion u|' !m present woik. Sonic idea of die I rax ellina ni cessans to work the district is conveyed bv the fact that Mr Milchell. durine, the last month before leaxine. for (he Conference at Wellington, rode a distance of nearly 700 miles, and held Iwentytwo scr\ ices darine the eouise o( his joiirnc) incs. 'l'he t'antei bin y da'u \ll iij, season owiny lo tin' want o|' Iced, is rapidly comin;; to an end, and unless heavy rains set in shm Ily ncnlv all the cheese factories on (he I'eninsula will close down on or bi !'oi e Ihe end of the month thus shorleninc, the season by more than Iwo in. mile-. From informalii >n lo hand fiom a source which may be considered reliable the ( 'ainaru Mail isablc fo|-,ivcan estimate of the a vet ace c.rain yields pei' acre ti'oujdifoiil Ihe disfricf as follows : Wheat. Iroin y : , \>, y bushels ; oats. .10 ; bai ley. _; v .Another fort nia hi si lon Id see harvest in;; almost Ihrou.ali.

In eonipnri'.i >n wit h the cyrrcsponin;;" in 'nth hisl year I here was a fallin.; i 'II <iurin,e lanuarv in e\ ports f roni the I >.>,, union, of ao.oa i owl. of buffer iS.j.' vwt li.i.yn bet i. 10.),;■ \ \ carcases million, 1 .s. I oj care a'-os lamb, X.'o Inns il.:\ and an increase in cheese of 10000 ewl.