DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 127, 1 February 1909, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

—r—-+— : As will be seen by an advertisement in another column, the. Young Men's Social Club of Te Kuiti intend giving a concert in the Town Hall on February 17th, the proceeds of which are to go towards furnishing their meeting room.

An advertisement from Messrs ton and Ross, house furnishers of Hamilton appears in this issue. The firm, which is well known in the King Country, draws attention to the fact that they have a large stock of furniture and furnishings at their warehouse, Victoria Street, Hamilton. The prices catalogued compare favourably with Auckland, and with the advantage of having a complete plant and an efficient staff of workmen in their factory, l".aves no excuse for placing orders outside the district.

Soon the Registrar-General should have the joy of announcing that New Zealand's white population has reached a million. The arrivals for December totalled 5612, and the departures 2533, giving the Dominion an increase of 3079. " In December, 1907, the gain was 2355—arrivals, 4651,- departures 2296. Immigration is increasing the proportion of bachelors to spinsters." Last December's increase of 3079 comprised 1172 males, including 207 boys, and 1307 females, 221 being under 12 years.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have received from their London office: —'' Wool market: As compared with last sale's closing rates, prices are about par to five per cent, higher for lambs and scoured crossbred. Tone of market is weaker for merino, shabby and wasted. Good demand for America."

At Hastings on Wednesday afternoon, the Prime Ministeer laid the foundation stone of the new post office, in the presence of a large gathering, [n the course of a speech, Sir Joseph Ward dealt with the successful results of the operations of the Post and Telegraph Department, and went on to give an assurance that the statement of the Dominion's finances for tlie past nine months, which would come out very shortly, would show that New. Zealand was the only one of all countries, including America, and the United Kingdom, to show an inrceased revenue.

Mr David M. Ross, of Hawke's'Bay, author of the volumes of poems "After glow" and "The Promiseof the Star," has translated into verse for early publication the ancient Gaelic poem "Fingal" from the original rendering by the late Mr McPherson. The poem is dedicated in felicitous terms to Mr J. A. Gilruth. - . "

A couple of Southern bowlers amused themselves and a crowd of •'spectators on the Christchurch green' the other morning by playing a "blindfolded championship." Each player was blindfolded, put in position on the mat, and invited to draw shots. Some of their attempts-were ludicrous in the extreme. One player found the side ditch fairly consistently in the first head, while the other's bowls roamed at large over the green. In the second head both men put up really good performances, getting within quite a respectable scoring distance, of the elusive kitty. The "championship" went to Payne, two points, Campbell, whose last bowl had a leg too many, filling second place. Annivesary Day, January 29th, was not favoured with holiday weather this year. Rain started gently on the previous evening and on Friday morning there was a heavy downpour, which lasted most of the forenoon. During the afternoor. the weather cleared somewhat, but it was too late to be taken advantage of for holiday making. The Te Kuiti Congregational Sunday School picnic,, which was to have been "held on Friday last, was interfered with by bad weather. In the circumstances a picnic in the open was out of the question and the children were entertained in the church; games and races being indulged in at intervals, in the grounds. Despite theunpropitious conditions a most enjoyable time was spent.

A further contract in connection with Te Kuiti town improvements has been secured by Mr Mahood, who has in hand the work on Rora, King and Sheridan Streets. The new contract includes the formation of Taupiri and Alexandra Streets on the Eastern side of the railway, and several streets on the Western side of the railway. The contractor has an excellent plant for the work, and no time will be lost in putting the contract in hand.

Te Kuiti cricketers suffered a disappointment on Friday last. Despite the inclement weather they left home to fulfill their engagement with the Ohaupo team, but the hope of better weather, which animated ihem to' catch the early train, grew gradually less as the journey proceeded. Upon arriving at Ohaupo it, was seen that play would be impossible and the team proceeded to Hamilton, where the time between trains was devoted to indoor amusements.

The public schools of the district reopen today, and it is gratifying to know that the Board of Education has at last decided to open a school at Piopio. The school will be held in the Miroahuiao Hall, and Mr Benton has been appointed' to take charge. Some considerable difficulty has been experienced by a few settlers to get the school started, and it behoves the parents of the children within easy distance to see that their "children attend and so maintain the institution.

The project for the establishing of saleyards at Piopio advanced a step further as the result of a meeting of settlers.Jield at Piopio on Friday last. A committee consisting of Messrs Elliott, Livingston and Burnett was appointed to acquire information as to a site, and report on the same within a month.

Mr P. A. Larritt, proprietor of the oldest Established plumbing business at Te Euiti, notifies that he has taken into partnership Mr Young, and the business will henceforth be known under the style of Larritt and Young. The member of the firm has had a wide experience in all branches of the trade, and the "firm can look confidently for a continuance of the patronage which has hitherto been ' granted to Mr. Larrit by both town and country residents.