DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 140, 18 March 1909, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Following the decision of the Magistrate in connection with the recent conviction of Aria residents for keeping liquor for sale in a prohibited area a petition was circulated in the district praying for a remission of the fines. Upwards of two hundred and fifty signatures were attached to the petition, which was duly forwarded, through Mr Jennings, member for the district, to the Minister for Justice. The Minister has replied mating that the matter will receive consideration.

With reference to the petition of settlers urging that a further sum of money be granted for the Arapae road, Mr Jennings has received an intimation from the Minister to the effect that authority for further expenditure was issued on February 25th. Excellent work is being done on the road, which, when opened for traffic, will prove a great convenience to settlers in Mairoa and adjoining districts.

The Te Kuiti Young Men's Debating Club have had some enjoyable evenings during the last month. With each meeting new members are joining, and the old members are feeling encouraged to join issue with the recognised speakers of the Club, and already the raw material is making for finished articles. Next Monday evening, March 22nd, a really interesting and amusing evening is promised.and the Committee are anxious that a record number of friends will attend at the schoolroom of the Congregational Church when the long-looked-for Breach of Promise case will be tried. Leading counsel have been engaged and many side lights will be exhibited of this case which has caused considerable local interest.

Messrs Dalgety and Company, Limited, hold their usual monthly Stock Sale in the Te Awamulu yards on Saturday next, the 20th March, at 12 noon, when they will offer a good yarding: of over 100 bead of cattle as advertised.

"A number of our teachers think they are little tin gods, and when they get a cane in their hands they don't know when to stop. I think there is no need for a great deal of the punishment that takes place in our schools. No doubt some pupils will not work unless they are punished, but the trouble seems to be to get teachers who will use the necessary discretion." — Mr Pirani, speaking at the Wanganui Education Board on the question of corporal punishment in schools.

At the last meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce it was decided to bring under the notice of the Minister for Railways the question of the shortage of trucks experienced on the Auckland lines. A reply has since been received to the effect that the Department has sent 100 trucks to Auckland during the past three weeks, and this number is to be further increased later on.

A Napier firm has received the fol- j lowing report from their London agents in reference to the wool entered for the January sales:--"The market for all wellbred, good conditioned wools suitable for America is very strong, ■ but Bradford is lagging very much behind, and if anything ordinary poor class New Zealand crossbreds are barely holding their own. This is partly accounted for by the fact that small farmers in New Zealand, with clips of, say, from five to twenty babs, are not taking sufficient trouble about the breed of their sheep and skirting of the wool. The new clip is, the most part, in gcod condition, well grown, and generally bright in appearance. It is most important that clips to- which the above description refers should be free as possible from all skirty matter. It can be readily understood that the presence of such may often prevent American competition and mean a difference of 2d to 2Jd per lb. in the price realised."

During the course of his speech at Marton on Tuesday evening Sir Joseph Ward anonunced that Mr T. H. Hauler. Under-Secretary for Mines, had been appointed to High Commissioner's office in London, and Mr T. E. Donne, general manager of the Tourist Department, to take control of the development of trade and immigration'between Britain and the Dominion. Both gentlemen will leave for London at an early date.

Court business at Te Kuiti is increasing to a large extent, and the whole of last Court day was taken up with one case. In view of the amount of business on hand, the Magistrate intimated that he would probably fix another sitting of the Court before the April sitting, in order to overhaul the arrears.

A meeting of the Te Kuiti Railway League was held in Messrs Tompkins and Davis' office on Tuesday night. Owing to the poor attendance, and in view of the importance of the subject to be discussed it was decided to adjourn the meeting until Friday evening next, at 7.30 p.m.

A matter of the utmost importance to town residents was introduced by Mr J. Nicholls at the last meeting of the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce. Mr Nicholls drew attention to the lack of provision to combat fire outbreaks in the town, and suggested that steps be taken to place matters on a better footing. After a brief discussion, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Nicholls, seconded by Mr Ormsby, that the matter be referred to a public meeting, with a view to having a fire brigade established.