DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 162, 7 June 1909, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

Now that it is proposed to build an Australain Navy, a description of the work and the everyday happenings on H.M.S. Powerful of tbe Australain squadron should be of more than ordinary interest A very well written article by one of the officers of the Powerful appears in tbe June issue of "Life," and we arc especially pleased wi|h the many illustrations printed in the article. Nearly every phase of the many activities of a warship have been photographed, and we think have never before been as well shown. The same number of this magazine contains another of the Bushranging stories of Dr Fitchett, the dramatic tale of Frank Gardiner being the subject.. "How I found tbe Golden Mile," is another article of Australian interest, and in it a former prospector tells how he wa< the first to prospect in the ironstone in which the gold has been so richly found in W.A.'s "Golden Mile," and bow he found the actual deposits that were floated into the large companies that have proved so profitable. The requisition of tbe Hairdressers and Tobacconists within Waitomo County, fixing the closing hours of shops appears in the Gazette of May 20th. The hours fixed are: Mondays, ; Tuesdays, Wednesdayn and Fridays, 8 i p.m.; Saturdays, 10 p.m. while the 1 statutory half holiday is Thursday, i when the shops close at 1 p.m. The ' notice gazetted on the 31st May, { 1906, fixing the closing hours of all shops in the County is varied accordingly.

An indignation meeting was held at Hamialton on Thursday under the auspices of the Farmers' Union, at which reprsentatives were present from all parts of tbe Waikato. Strong comments wre made regarding the treatment meted out to objectors at the recent meeting of tbe Assessment Court, and the following resolution was carried unanimously:—"That the system of valuing adopted by tbe Government is wrong in principle—i.e., valuing land on the selling values, and that members of Parliament be asked to bring the qusetion before the House with a view to having valuation done no a more equitable basis; also that practical valuers be appointed, who have a thorough knowledge of farming, and who have been resident in the district a long period." The second resolution was also carried—"That the Assessment Court should be so constituted that one of the assessors should be a farmer in whom farmeis have absolute confidence."

A telegram from Wellington state < that present indications point distinctly to the fact t v at Mr Massey will not go Home with Sir Joseph Ward to the Naval Conference, and that the informal proceedings in connection with th> gathering of members on Monday will net be open to the Press. Parliament will last About a week, and the Premier will then go Home. The \»hu. session will commence early in October. The drought which is at present existing over Argentina i« causing grave anxiety to breeders and agriculturists generally, and it is feared tha unless rain falls shortly the flocks and herds of the country will be seriously depleted.

The Fire Unmade Social which takes place on Thursday evr-ni.-ip nr-xt prom-n:-tr,-;::i.--(-f:. a:.-: n !?.?■;.-<■ ii:-..<-v.:; of pubit. With o ■ -:.t v.- C athor I: is confidently r.r.ticiraH.d a record gathering will aHSon;i:!'' at To Kuiti Hall on June 10 th. Mr John Burns, President of the Local Government Board, speaking before the National Liberal Club, jtated that there were now 1300 fewer paupers in London than at the end of February, and 1000 fewer than in June. 1908. This indicated that trade was reviving. Information was received today by Mr Langley Shaw of the death of his aunt, Mrs Donnelly, wife of Mr G. P. Donnelly, of Hawkes Bay. The deceased lady was a noted Maori chieftainess, and only a short time ago paid a visit to England and was received by His Majesty the King. A Wellington contemporary reports that an exceedingly amusing story about the post office was told to the Postmaster-General by a country settler recently. An inpector of the DeI partment went out to examine, officially, the working of an office not a hundred miles from the Empire city, the name of which appears in the Postal Guide. The Postmaster was at work in his shirt sleeves, and the post office appeared to be merely a candlebox. This upset the official's idea of propriety.and he urged the importance of having more appropriate facilities for transmitting State business. "If you don't shut up," retorted the gruff, amateur postmaster, "I'll hit you over the head with the bally post office!"

A young man out West had a cold on his chest, But Woods' Peppermint Cure he derided, And he let that cold rip till life gave him the slip, For Bronchitis and death coincided. The moral is clear, if you wish to stay bere. Don't neglect your breath-box when it's wheezy; And be warned while you've strength, keep a cold at arm's length, * Woods' Peppermint Cure does it easy!