DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 154, 10 May 1909, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Mails for Fiji, Canada, United States of America, United Kingdom and Continent of Europc.connecting with Vancouver steamer leaving Fiji, close here on Tuesday 21st May at 7.30 p.m. The Presbyterian Maori Mission at Taumarunui under (he charge of the Rev. J. E. Ward evidently" intends to make its influence felt in connection with the future of the Maori, not merely the future which refers to the hereafter, but the material worldly welfare of the race as represented by the growing generation. Mr Ward is at present negotiating, on behalf of the Mission, for the acquisition of a block of )and which is to be used as a training grguod for the Maori youth, who will be tnstrueteri in CP n pral fanning methods.

On Friday last at Auckland, two men, named William Harris and Thomas Fanning, were charged in connection with tbet recent theft of a purse containing £4O, from u Jady travelling by the night express on the Main T»unk line. The accused were remanded for eight days, to appear at Taumarunui. The enq*iu«r into the petition of Pepene Ekctone in eoiUi*;c*jj?n with the recent election of Maori member oof, f Parliament is opened at Hamilton today. Messrs Earl and Kent appear to jwppprt of the petition.

In connection with the opening of Parliament Sir Joseph Ward states that he has no intention of caiiing Parliament together about i •-.<-■ l"th or 15th inst., us has been rumoured. He knew of no social reason for departure from the usual custom. The exact date is not yet fi:-:ed. but the general belief is that it will be June 24 or 29.

On Friday last a young man named Richards appeared at Te Kuiti Police Court before Messrs Tammadge and Sims, Js.P., charged with drunkenness and obscene language. Mr Finlay appeared for accused. After hearing evidence, accused was fined 10s on the first charge and 20s on the second. The work of culverting Te Kuiti main street, close to King street, is now almost completed. This will be a welcome improvement to the town though the carrying out of the work has caused some inconvenience and one or two unpleasant experiences. It is stated that'a lady made a sudden and unwelcome acquaintance with the bottom of the open culvert one evening, and a well known Waitomo settler had a similar experience last week. With reference to the inspection of rolls in connection with the valuations in Ohura County has been fcund that he residence of Mr G. Loveday, which was advertised as the place where the rolls were to be inspected, will not be convenient. It has therefore been decided that the roll shall be left at the Ohura post office for inspection. The appeal of Captain Naylor against th finding at the enquiry in connection with the wreck of the Penguin was heard atWellington last week. The appeal was not sustained the Court holding that the Captain had been guilty, not of a mere error of judgment but of conduct default in not putting out to sea some time before 10 o'clock. Captain Naylor's enduct after the casualty was deemed entirely free from blame.

A return of hemp and tow graded for export during April shows a decline for the period ended April 30 of 49,425 bales, comparad with the quantity graded during the twelve months ended April 30 last year. The actual figures for the twelve months are 74,356 bales, as against 12,378 for the previous year. The chief hemp expert reports that the quality of hemp last month showed a falling off to the extent of 10' per cent, in good fair grade but the quality of tow was maintained. Mr Slattery, town Clerk of Taumarunui, has recceived the following from the Under Secretary for Lands: "I am directed to inform you that the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, has been instructed to have a reservation made of the area of 835 acres Crown Land at the source of the Makabikatoa stream, so that your council may deal with it as a water supply reserve. The Commissioner has also been instructed that the recreation reserve in Taumarunui township is to be brought under the Domains Act, after which local trustees can be appointed. The racecourse reserve will also be gazetted and brought under the Domains Act; it is Crown land, and the appointment of trustees will be considered later." The Australian cricketers bave opened their campaign in England aus piciously. In the first match of the tour, against Nottingham, the colonials have established a strong lead, and if time permits should score an easy win. The County team in the first innings made 239, to which the Australians replied with 389. Notts have two wickets down for 58 in the second innings. Towards the Australians' total Armstrong contributed 106. Trumper 94, Barddsley 63, and Carter 61. Messrs Dalgety and Company, Ltd. Auckland, have received the following cable from their London office, under date 7th inst.: —We have declared an interim dividend of 3s per share, being at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, payable on 17th inst.

Ex-President Roosevelt,in an article in the "Outlook," emphasising that it is America's duty to wait and see whether Japan is able to prevent emigration to America of Japanese labourers and small traders in any appreciable numbers, remarks that if not, America must protect herself, either by treaty or legislation. Mr Roosevelt urges America to continue to build a first class fighting navy if she wishes to withstand any nation that might choose to disregard her policy concerning immigration, and for the protection of her interests in Panama or her citizens abroad.

A new land agency business is about to be established at Te Kuiti in the shape of a branch of the well known Hamilton firm of Shaw and Akerman. Offices are now being erected for the firm adjoining Messrs Cotter Bros'. Butchery in Rora Street. The branch will be under the charge of Mr Akerman, who has a general knowledge of the district, having resided at Te Kuiti for a considerable time until he joined Mr Shaw at Hamilton last year. It is reported that an exceedingly valuable deposit of hematite iron ore has been round v/ithin a few miles of Kawhia townbip. The Government analyst reporting on the sample sent to him states that the ore contains 83 per cent, of oxide of iron, which is equal to 57.80 of metallic iron. He remarks: This is an iron ore which if in sufficient quantity is of very great value commercially. The deposit is said to have been traced for a distance of three miles, and as there are large deposits of excellent limestone, and beds of ii} the same district, this discovery may be regarded as of national importance. 9

Mr Clement Wragge supplied the following weather forecast In Auckland on Saturday:—"The intervals of clearing skies around Auckland today must not be taken as an indication that disturbance 'Millar' has ceased to operate. His isobars, in fact, cover all New Zealand at this time and the wU,ds generally, in terms of yesterday's advice, will increase, in velocity when the main rise in the- barometer seta in. "Millar" wears a somewhat milder aspect this morning, but it is suspicious and may prove delusive. Cisturbance "Massey," now to the southward <a Bay, in Western Australia, follows, and ivi.. pro- ' bably affect the Dominion about May j 16th to 19th." "It must be remembered." Mr Wragge adds, "that these fbfecasjLß geufcrally refer to New Zea* land as a whole, save for distinct specifications."