DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 102, 15 October 1908, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Attention is called to the meeting of settlers advertised to be held at Paemako on Saturday evening next. Several matters of interest are to be discussed, including the settlers annual picnic, and the proposed alteration of boundaries of the district for the registration of births, deaths and marriages. A full attendance of settlers is expected.

v In connection with the request for the establishment of a school at Piopio a visit from an Inspector of the Aucklnad Board of Education ig expected next month.

It is well known that much of the country between Te Kuiti and Ohura is coal bearing and several seams are known to the settlers. Mr G. Elliott constantly uses coal from a seam near his homestead, and has taken specimens from another seam in the locality and sent them to Auckland in order to have expert opinion as to the quality of the coal. A large coal scam on the Waitewhenua range has been on fire for several months past and the inroads made by the fames are plainly to be seen. •It is stated that several attempts have been made to quench the flames, but.the undertaking has proved to be beyond the powers of the settlers.

It has always seemed an anomaly in connection with inquests, that witnesses received no expenses, and that the coroner had no power to grant such, allowances under any conditions. It is satisfactory to note that the new Act provides that the Coroner may grant expenses at his discretion. The rate of payment for witnesses in connection with the criminal cases is also worthy of revision. With the increase of wages and the cost of living during recent years, witnesses usually lose, in time and expenses, considerably more than they receive. The standard payment for witnesses has remained fixed for many years, and in the interests of justice it is widely held that the rate should be increased in proportion to the rise in wages and living.

With regard to the running of a late train from Ohaupo to the King Country on sale days, the Minister for Railways informed Major Lu3k that enquiries would be made, and if no unexpected difficulties presented themselves tho timetable would be altered to give effect to the rcqurst.

In connectiori with the drowning of J. C. Meyer at Te Kuiti, it was elicited at the inquest on the body that deceased had just paid £IOO on a farm near Te Kuiti, and had a banking account of considerably over £7OO. On the river bank does to where Meyer's hat and coat were discovered, some pieces of paper were found. These proved to be portions of a letter to deceased, and on the back a note Bad been written in pencil.- A number of the fragments, into which the letter had been torn, were missing, and it was impossible to connect the.rem%mder so as to make the epistle of U3e as evdence. _

A very pleasing function was held in the Congregational Church, Te Kuiti, on "Wednesday evening last, when a welcome waa extended to Mr and Mrs Potts, who have recently arrived from the Old Country as assistants to Rev. Mr Mitchell. The church was comfortably filled, and the chair was occupied by Mr Boddio, who in a few well chosen remarks welcomed the recent arrivals arid assured them of whoje hearted assistance of the officers and members of the church. The reverend gentleman suitably responded. A musical programme was rendered by the choir and solos by Mesdames Rouse and Forsyth and Mr Turner. Refreshments were handed round and a pleasing evening was closed by the singing of the Doxology.

It is not generally known by Officers commanding Cadet Corps that each cadet is entitled to 25 rounds of .303 blank ammunition per annum. Each Commanding Officer of Cadet Corps should apply to the nearest Defence storekeeper for the regular annual supply of blank ammuntion. It is Al for teaching recruits to overcome rifle shyness and enables the various corps to engage in sham fights amongst the various colleges, which without blanks are fairly tame affairs. Recruits can receive excellent instructions in firing drill by loading the .303 rifle with blank cartridges and firing at lighted candles, set say at a radius of three to four yards from the muzzle of the rifle and set one or two yards apart. , The recruits must aim and the charge of air caused by the explosion must strike fairly near the centre of the candle flame before it will put it out. The ordinary candle has too large a flame, night lights are best for this purpose. A recruit can b'e taught all the rudiments of shooting with the rifle in this way and it tends to make his nerves steady. It is most useful for steadying recruits in quick firing drill. All British soldiers (regular) are put through a course of firing drill with blank before they are allowed to fire ball. For some reason blank ammunition is very little used in Now Zealand, either by the Volunteer Forces or Cadet Corps. Many Companies do not trouble to draw their annual allowance.

The Farmers' Auctioneering Company .will hold a stock sale at Matiere on Tuesday next, the 20th.inst. Excellent entries have been received and a good 3alc is anticipated.

The "Chronicle" representative will pay a visit to the Ohura district next week, and will be at Matiere on Tuesday.

Mr W. T. Bowater, the Opposition candidate for Taumaranui electorate at the coming election, paid a visit to tlft district last week. The visit was merely a preliminary one with a view to making arrangements to speak at the various centres later.

The Rev. Morse has been definitely appointed to the King Country Horr.e Mission District, and he will take up his residence in Tc Kuiti next week.

The election campaign for the has commenced, and in another column will be found Mr Jennings' announce- ' nv.-nt to the electors. As member for the district for the past six years Mr ■:,■ .lomrings is already well known to the pubile and his appearance will be awaited with interest.

As will be seen by notification in another column Mr A. C. Johnson hes' entered into partnership with Mr W. Lorigan, the well known land and estate agent of Te Kuiti. Mr Johnson, who has had considerable experience of mixed farming in the South Island, and of valuing in the North Island, is greatly enamoured of the prospects of the King Country and predicts a prosperous future for the district.

A considerable number of visitors from Hamilton were present at the Bachelor's Ball at Te Kuiti on Thursday evening; last. The majority of the party, which comprised thirteen ladies and four gentlemen, remained at Te Kuiti for a few days, the time being n

spent in sight-seeing and picnicing, including a most enjoyable trip to the Waitomo Caves.

It is rumoured that a petition is to be circulated in the district for the purpose of inducing another bank to establish business at Te Kuiti. -At present the Bunk of New Zealand has a branch established at that centre, but the institution! e only open on Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings for about an hour and a half. .

The petition to the Minister for Railways, requesting that Te< Kuiti be, made the point, of connection on the ■ Main Trunk lino of the Stratford-Main Trunk railway has been largely signed in the town and district, and is t* be forwarded to Wellington next week.

Owing to pressure on our space this week several letters have been held over for publication till next week.

Mr A. S/Gresham, surgeon dentist, ; Te Kuiti, will be in Paerhako on S&tur- >', day, Aria Sunday morning, Mangapapa Sunday evening, Mtaiere Monday even-, ing and Tuesday.---Advt.

The appointment of the Hon. HallJones to the position of High Commissioner for the Dominion has hesn re-* ceived with very general approval. Naturally, speculation is rife as to who will be called to fill the vacancy in the Cabinet and several names have been mentioned as "possibles," among them being that of the Mr Jennings, member for the district. It is considered probable, however, that a South Islander will be chosen. Fresh interest may be created in the case of the Hon. G. Fowlds being beaten at the poll, an event which is considered far more improbable, and then the claims of Mr Jennings for Ministerial distinction would be second to none.

When contemplating the purchase of a milking machine, you want one that will do the work, and the very best test is made on the farm itself. The ''Lawrence-Kennedy-Gillies" Milking Machine is being tested every day of the week, every week of the 'month and every month of the year on hundreds of farms in New Zealand alone, and more than that the tests have been going on for the past six years. The results are always the same, perfect satisfaction being obtained. Drop a P.C. for list of satisfied users and read what they have to say. J. B. MacEwan and Co.,Ltd.,Solo Agents, Fort Street, Auckland.