DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 71, 28 February 1908, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

For some time past efforts have been made to have a sitting of the Magistrate's Court established at Ohura, and the Matiere Hall has now been gazetted as a place where a Magistrate's Court shall be held. During the past two years the telegraph extension of lines and wires erected by the Department in the Egmont electorate amounted to 176 miles of wire and 33 miles of poles. The Hon. J. McGowan, Minister in charge of the Roads Department, writing to Mr Jennings, M.P., under date of February 2lst, says : " The question of procuring a stone crusher for use on the Te Kuiti-Awakino road will be considered, and it is probable one will be secured in time for next season's metalling."

A large meeting of ladies took place in the Congregational Church, Te Kuiti, op Wednesday afternoon last and after some discussion it was decided to hold a sale of work, in aid of the church, early in April, Full particulars will appear in our advertising columns next week. The Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Auckland District is at present in the K&whia County investigating the amount of damage done to the settlers by the recent bush fires. During last session of Parliament, Mr Jennings, M.P., moved for a return showing the number of acres set apart as reserves for various purposes as at June 30th, 1907. Printed copies of the return are now to hand, and it shows that in the Dominion there are 1,541,458 acres reserved for education ; 113,387 for municipal purposes ; 308,647 acres for harbour boards; 168,952 acres for scenic, purposes; and §,545,240 acres reserved for other public purposes. The total reserved is },6? 7,684 acres. £ach land district in the Dominion is specified,' Auckland reserves were as follows ;—Education, 147,814 acres; municipal, 23,883 acres; harbour board, 2,649 acres; scenic, 13,884 acres ; other public purposes, 449,870 acres. After a hard fought race at Wanganui on Tuesday, Webb still retains the title of champion sculler of the WQfJ4,. At t i mes during the race it looked as iftfce ustpjian was going to win, and at one siagy" y;a§ overhauling the New Zealand in fine style but was unable to get closer than 2-M lengths to the champion at the finish. -fHe face was completed in the fast Jime of 2Q f+Ufl.' a§ sef.

The last issue of the Govern metu Gagette notifies that section 22, Te Kutti Village Settlement, is to be so}d by auction o» April 24th r>est. The upset price is fixed at £l5O, &nd the section is weighted with £604 valuation for buildings and dairy plant

The Alpha Hotel, Kihikihi, has recently been taken over Mrs Lindsay, and is at present undergoing a complete renovation. The new proprietress has had a large experience in catering for the wants of the public, and visitors to Kihikihi can now rely on having their requests immediately attended to at the Alpha Hotel. An advertisement in reference to this oldestablished hotel will be found on our fourth page. The first shipment of Angora goats to be imported into the King Countryarrived at Te Kuiti on Monday last. The goats, which were obtained from the Bay of Islands by Messrs Somcrville and McAdam, are intended fcr Tokipohuki, Te Kuiti, with a view to eradicating the blackberries which are growing on portions of the property. Opinions arc divided as to the value of goats for dealing with blackberries, but that the animals are beneficial if properly worked lias been well established in certain districts, and there is every indication that the Angora will be much more commonly used in future than has been the ca.se in the past.

A striking feature in connection with the new valuation roll for Te Kuiti is that many of the sections in the outskirts of the township, to which there is no reasonable access, are assessed at a considerably higher figure than sections in central positions. The anomaly is due to the fact that the valuation is based upon the rents, and those who were fortunate enough to secure sections in a good position a couple of years ago at the upset price, will reap the benefit until the valuation is properly adjusted. The present position strikingly exemplifies the law of supply and demand. It may also be used to point a moral in connection with the " early bird and the worm." The question of a re-adjustment of the ridings of the Waitomo County cropped up at the last Council meeting, when a letter was read from an Aria settler, .asking for information on the subject. The Councillors were agreed on the point that action in the direction suggested was necessary, and it was pointed out that another riding could be added to the present number, although the number of Councillors coijd not be increased. The Ohura riding, which at present includes the ia'ia district, has the distinction of having two councillors.

The new valuation roll for Te Kuiti was produced at the last meeting of the Waitomo County Council. The roll includes the owners of sections purchased at the last sales and the valuation of the township now reaches the respectable total of £17,407 an increase of about £9,000 on the previous valuation. The unimproved value of the township is assessed at £11,714 and the value of improvements at £5,693. It is stated that turnip crops in several parts of Otago are very seriously affected by a form of blight. This is especially ihe case in the Taieri district and round about Milton and Balclutha, also in North Otago. With the present decided shortage of feed in almost every quarter this is a matter of more than ordinary seriousness.

The grain crops throughout the Dominion arc reported to be fairly good this season. Owing to the world scarcity of wheat it is expected that prices for that cereal will he well maintained, and from present indications should average from 4s to 4s oci per bushel. The oat crop in the South is expected to be heavy, and prices are likely to show a decrease compared with last season. Mr Ngata, member of the Native Land Commission, arrived at Otorohanga on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of entering upon the work of the Commission, in connection with the King Country lands. Sir Robert Stout, President of the Commission, has not yet arrived, but is expected shortly. It is not expected that a large area of land will be given voluntarily to be dealt with by the commission, as in the best districts there are very few blocks left that are not leased to Europeans. On Sat. Marth 7th, the older pupils of Te Kuiti School will have the opportunity of visiting the Waitomo Caves. "Mr Power, the headmaster, has made arrangements for the children to be taken through the Caves at the nominal cost of sixpence per head, and as a concession will be obtained on the railway the trip can be undertaken for about 2s ()cl each. H is an excellent opportunity for the pupils to become acquainted with one of the most striking features of the district, and doubtless the trip will be undertaken by a large number. The children will' be in charge of the teachers, and \yill arrive home by the express train in the evening. We regret to have to chronicle the death of the infant son of Mr and Mrs F. M. Hattaway, which took place on Sunday last at Te Kuiti. The child had only been ailjng a tjay or two, and its death was somewhat unexpected. The body was conveyed to Ho wick on Tuesday morning for interment. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents. The following tenders have been received by Mr Price, architect, for the erection of a building for offices for Messrs Green and Colebrook, Ltd., at Te Kuiti:—W. Fletcher £697 lOs, A. F. Lauri £664, James Mclndoe £656, Snell Bros. £654, Mordaunt and Bailey £636, Sheldon and Aitken £tiig, Scott Bros. £598 10s.

W'The Farmers' Auctioneering Co.'s sheep fair at Ngaruawahia on Wednesday was very successful, about 8000 sheep being sold at improved prices on recent sales. Small 2-tooth ewes, 14s ; 4 and 6-tooth ewes, 15s lid to 17s ; sound and f.f.m. ewes, 12s sd to 15s; lambs, 5s to lis; forward wethers to 17s 2d ; 2-tooth wethers to 15s 7d ; fat ewes, 16s.

A sale of town and suburban lands at "j\faiiga*o;t js ]to take place on April 29th next. 'The to\vu sections are about %-acre in extent, ah'ci th'e upset price is fixed at from £6 10s to £IQ each. The suburban sections f,'omnpse areas pf from 4 to \ti acres and ate valusc! at about £6 an acre. Ten village sections aj. ivlaficre and three at Tatu are also to be offered for gaje. Tlie sections comprise H- ae ? e each, the upset price be? ing fixed at £5.

In connection with the damage done to settlers' holdings in the Egmont electorate by the destructive bush fires of late, Mr Jennings, M.P., klegraphed to Sir J. (!. Ward, Premier, on February 17th, dial aid was necessary in a number of cases; and suggested that responsible department officials should report as to extent of damage and what aid was required. The Premier replied that lie deeply regretted to hear of so much damage. and that assistance would be given to settlers, to whom he extended his sincercst sympathy. Notwithstanding the extremely dry and unfavourable season the entries for the Waikato Central Show, to he held in Cambridge on Wednesday and Thursday, March .jth and 5111, have reached the splendid total of 1550. Of this number the stock entries are exceptionally large horses number Qls, cattle 2;o, sheep too, pigs 45, total 1120: miscellaneous 430. Considering the nature of (he season the Committee is to be congratulated on the line response of stock holders, and given line weather the Show should be one of the nm:l successful yet held. Excursion trains are to be run on all the lines, commencing Tuesday. March .}rd. and available for return up to Thursday, March 12th.

In response to the invitation extended to the Premier by the Wahonio County Council to pay a visit to the district during his present lour of Auckland Province, a reply has been received by the County Chairman. Major Lusk, stating that the Premier hopes to visit Te Kuili aboul the end of March. Sir Joseph Ward's plans are arranged up (o March folh, and he has promised to staid definite information in ample lime to prepare for his reception.

A public meein:;' is to held in 11 u■ Hall. Tc Kuili, on Friday eveninc, February 2!"Uh. to receive the ]"(i'"ri of the committee appointed arrange matters in connection witli the lveinier's projected visit. The committee will submit recommendations to the mcetine;. for discussion, and the matter of appointing speakers lo introduce various mailers to the Pivmier will be dealt with.

Locusts arc proving a menace I<> orehardists in the King Country, says the Taihape Times. At Ohura. a

settlement which lies some 20 mile-. west ot'Taumariniui, this pest is ca.u: - ing nuich damage to fruit trees, 'l'iie locust comes cut of the surrounding bush and, settling on the bough o!' a fruit tree, makes a, scarf around il and burrows a hole in tlie nearest fork, where it proceeds to lay its egg. In a little time the branch decays and drops off. has been going on extensively in (he Ohura district and. so far nothing appears to have been found to checkmate the pest, but it is hoped that as the bush is cleared away the nuisance will vanish. The work of clearing (he Ainmgipu river of willows, which has been carried out under the supervision of Mr Galbraith, has been suspended owing to the money granted for the purpose having been exhausted. Good progress has been made with the work, but the amount of money allocated was only sufficient for a good start being made. Efforts are being made to secure a continuance of (lie work as the llood danger is increasing every vear.