DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 144, 1 April 1909, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

In the Public Hall, Te Kuiti, on Saturday, April 3, Buckingham's Biograph and National Concert Company will appear, in its varied programme of Illustrated songs and moving pictures. It is seldom that two such good singers as Mr S. Caelli, tenor, and Edmund H. Buckingham, baritone, are heard in the same programme. On Sunday the company will appear in A Sacred Concert, and Ben Hur Recital, in the same hall. A musical and Pictorial treat is in store for patrons. The Kawhia County Council has decided to request the Government to acquire an area of about 14,000 acres of land near Te Rau-a-moa, owned byKing Mabuta. Constable McCarthy who has been in charge of the Police Department at Kawhia, for the past -seven years has been appointed to take charge of the new police station at Frankton Junction. Constable Ward, of Whangarei, has been transferred to Kawhia. It is rumoured that a Maori meeting will be held at Waahi or at Ngaruawahir shortly, at which the Minister for Native Affairs and the Premier will attend. The object of this meeting, it is surmised, will be for the purpose of adjusting Native matters, especially where the agreements of the kingite sections have traversed or interfered with the arrangements of the Royal Commission on Native land. Should an understanding be arrived at it will be a step in the right direction. A suggestion was recently made by the Raglan County Council that a conference should be held for the purpose of suggesting some legislation to enable rates on Native lands to be collected. Each of the County Councils which as yet have considered the proposition are favourable to the holding of a conference, and all members who have spoken on the matter, recognise that owners of Native lands should be liable equally with their pakeha fellow subjects for their proportion of the cost of roads and bridges, which add enormously to the value of the Jands they hold. At the present time the Council can get judgment for rates owing, but the power to decide as to whether judgment shall be enforced rests with the Native Minister. A solution of the question would be to make unpaid rates a lien upon the land. The probability is that the rates would not exceed the increases on the value of the land. The heavy downpour of rain on Sunday and Monday last has had a bad effect on the roads and settlers are hoping for another dry spell before winter comes in order to allow of a little more metal being placed on the roads. The worst places on the Awakino road from Te Kuiti to the eight mile peg have been metalled but there are still some ugly holes that could be greatly improved. On the road approaching Aria township metalling operations have just been fairly started, and with two or three weeks fine weather the whole of the hill road should be placed in a satisfactory state.

With reference to the new post office to be opened "at [Glengregg, the Postmaster-General, Sir Joseph Ward, has intimated that the name selected for the office is Moeatoa, an old Maori place name in the locality. The request that the name of Glengregg should be retained for the office was not entertained, the Minister stating that a* a general rule he was averse to having new offices earned after local per ions unless in cases of those who have distinguished themselves in the history of the Dominion. As will be seen by advertisement in another column a meeting of the Mokauiti Branch of the Farmers' Union will be held at Kaeaea on April 3rd. A full attendance of member is requested, as important business is to be dealt with. Sir Wra. HaeGregor, Governor of Newfoundland, has been appointed Governor of Queensland, in succession to Lord Chelmsford, who is to be Governor of New South Wales. Sir Gerald Strickland, Governor of Tasmania, has been appointed Governor of West Australia, in succession to Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford. For Influenza take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. —Never fails, Is 6d and 2s 6d. At the wool sales just closed in London, 317,000 bales were offered and 95,000 sold for the home market. W, \ 000 for the Continent, jiiifi 1 ?.,<.'(■■<> for: the American market, while 12.0'i'J bales were held ovi-r. Comparer: with : the closing rate.- of the February ?eri'■ = superior frn-a.-y i:.<■:-;:.■.> a.-iva:.fi."i ~> ].<-r cent., n'n-diui'. "" \ ■ •: ■■••:. i.. i::f-rl"r 7 : ° to I<> p<-iv,■:.!.. ;m;; .-y .--..■.,ur. ,i Tj v, 10 per c.-i.v., i:.f-;i'.;r:j iu'erior ar.d aii fine half *ur--d.- 1 n \j ! ■"• p.-r ■.., ::.>•- dium cro;-.~hrffi.H o to 7; per cent., aha coarse 5 per cent. In addition, all j lambs' wool advanced 5 to 7£ per cent.