DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 137, 8 March 1909, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

With reference to the application of the settlers for a twice a week mail ; service from Te Kuiti Mr Jennings, member for the district, has received the following letter from the Postj master General: I have the honour to ! acknowledge the receipt of your letter : of the Bth instant, urging that the fre- ', quency of the mail service from Te | Kuiti to Aria, Piopio and Paemako be 1 increased from once to twice weekly, and to inform you that the matter is under consideration and you will be communicated with asfsoon as a deci- j sion is come to.

I Attention is called by the members | immediately concerned in the getting up of the Anglican concert to such of the good people of other denominations resident in and ab,.ut Te Kuiti to the fact that mo t cf the b?st musical talent here have kindly consented to contribute towards the entertainment, which should induce many lovers of music to attend, and ho contribute their mite towards reducing the debt now hanging over the church, and judging from past experience this appeal %vill not be made in vain.

Attention is drawn in our advertising columns to the Nagruawahia Regatta, to be held on the 17th March. This regatta is annually becoming more popular, and King Country residents should not miss this opportunity of a good day's outing..

I Mr John Hcslop, member of the Tarauaki Land Board, has been expressing his opinion regarding the Strat'*ord Railway in Auckland. In conversation with a "Star" representative, Mr Heslop said that he left .Stratford on 17th February and travelled overland to Tc Kuiti, being favoured with splendid wralhcr, with the exception of one day. Asked as to [

his views on what he had seen, Mr Heslop said: "They are briefly expressed in a telegram which I sent to be read at a banquet to the Hon. Mr Hogg, which I was invited to attend. It reads as follows: "Regret exceedingly that I am unable to attend the banquet at Whangamoma. Just finished a satis-

factory inspection on Saturday. The settlements have made wonderful progress during the last five years. They only want good roads and railways to complete thejsuccess of the land policy. I think the railway should go from Managroa to Te Kuiti valley. From Mangaroa for miles it is practically level country containing miles of coal land'."

Nominations for candidates to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr Hone Heke, late representative of the Northern Maoris in Parliament, will probably close at Russell on the 10th of March, and if so the election will follow on the 20th. Amongst the probI able candidates mentioned are Messrs Hone Piripi, Te Rangihiroa, Riopo Puhipi, and Kaka Porowini. The two latter are chiefs of the Ngapuhi tribe, and T<- Rangihiroa belongs, on his ■ mother's side, to the Xgatiawa tribe, ' Taranaki. Mr Hare Hongi, the well- I kown interpreter, of Wellington, who j is a descendant of the great Hongi, is ' also mentioned as likely to become* a \ candidate for the .Northern Maori j seat. I

j Though no official announcement has yet been made as to who will Mr A. Barron as Land Purchase Inspector, telegraphs the Wellington correspondent of the "Auckland Star , -' it is an open secret that Mr J. D. Ritchie, secretary of the Department of Agriculture will be installed in his stead. It is understood that Cabinet will come to a decision early next week as to the filling up of the numerous vacancies brought about by the early retirement of civil servants in accordance with the superannuation regulations.

i The report of the Ministerial tour , of the Waitcwhcna Valley andTeKuiti I districts unavoidably held over until I next issue.

j Mr Ji-nnings, member for the distrcit : who accompanied the Ministerial party on the tour through Ohura and on toTe ! Kuiti, left by th- express for Otorphanga ihis morning. Mr Jennngs in- \ tends proceeding to Taumarunui this ' evening.