DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 163, 10 June 1909, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

A presentation by the officers of the Roads Department was made to Mr D. McNaught today. The presentation which took the shape form of a purse of sovereigns was made by the District Roads Engineer, Mr Burd, who asked the recipient to accept the purse as a wedding presant from friends in the Department who wished him a very bappy future. Mr McNaught suitably responded and thanked his brother officers for their kind presentation. The executive of the N.Z. Alliance has passed the following resolution: "This meeting enters a strong protest aaginst the granting of wholesale licenses for the sale of liquor in the Ki-g Country. It regards such action as a gross violation of the compact made by the Government with the Maori Chiefs of the King Country, namely, that the sale of liquor should be prohibited throughout the district. As these licenses were granted on the deliberative and casting vote of the presiding magsitrate, again it the majority of the elected members, this executive resolves to bring the matter undecr the notice of the AttorneyGeneral,as it is clearly a breach of the spirit and intention of the Government proclamation " A good deal of disappointment has been expressed at the Railway Department's decision to cease running passenger cars with the goods trains between Taumarunui and Obakune. The cars attached to these trains proved a great convenience for wayside settlers, who regard their stoppage with dismay. By the women who desired to shop at the larger centres the concession was especially appreciated. It is probable an agitation will be made with a view to getting the position improved. The water diviner promises to become a recognised institution in the country and Taumarunui has just affirmed its confidence in the divining art by letting a contract to bore a depth of 100 feet in the township,in order to secure an artesian supply for the domestic requirements of the town. Messrs Steele Bros, of Mamaku are the contractors, and Mr Raw, the expert diviner associated with the firm has indicated three places where he considers a sufficient supply will be obtainable. The contract price for boring 100 feet or less is £32, the Council to provide 40 feet of case piping. The informal meeting of members of Parliament to discuss the question of the Dominion being represented at the Imperial Defence Conference to be held in England in July, opened at Wellington on Monday. On the question of representation of the Dominion by the Prime Minister, the members were unanimous, but the proposal to prorogue Parliament during the Prime Minister's absence provoked a sharp debate. The motion to prorogue was carried by 45 votes to 30. Sir Joseph Ward will leave for England on the 17th or 18th of June.

In passing sentence in the WellingSupreme Court upon a middle-aged man, who had pleaded guilt}' to bigamy, Mr Justice Cooper remarked that he hoped that, some day, some system would be introduced providing that men who were imprisoned would be compelled to work in such a way that the wages which they earned while in prison would be devoted to the maintenance of their wives and children. Mr Justice Cooper's remarks were referred to the Hon. Dr. Findlay, Minister for Justice. "Such a system was tried in America," Dr Findlay remarked, "and the work on which the men were engaged came into competition with free labour, and gave rise to great opposition. Both individual labour, and a contract system, under which the prisoners were engaged by contractors, were tried. Some of the best modern penologists agree that a prisoner should earn a certain amount of money to give to those dependent on him. I have considered the matter fuih. br: I cannot see my way to introcm■?•:■ i: at present. It is too much in advance of our present system: it lies far aimm: of other reforms which arc m r; important. I have C'-ni'ic-c: : m> been done in America, vhrnm m_ .-;mtern has been tried with >miy partial success. I may say that it is in contemplation, but not with a view to immediate adoption."

On Saturday next, the 12th inst., ' Dalgety and Company, Limited, hold i their usual monthly sale in the Te Awamutu yards, details of the entries appearing in the advertising columns. At this sale they will offer a]": the dairy herd, horses, harness, house-hold effects and sundries on behalf of Mr John Attwood, who has sold hi- form. Those requiring good dairy stock should not miss the opportunity offered at this sale. The letter carrier at Te Kuiti started his duties on Tuesday, and there are now two mail deliveries a day, the first beginning at 8.30 a.m , and the second at 4.30 p.m., the latter being confined to the principal business streets. It should be noted by business people that, Thursday being the weekly half holiday, there will be no delivery on Thursday afternoons. Residents should also note that in case of being absent when the carrier arrives a receptacle should be left in which the mail can be placed. The Waikato Hospital Board has decided to extend the fire service to the nurses' home. The Kawhia County Council has informed the Borad that it will not pay any further contribution until granted representation, and the Board has decided to proceed against the Council for the amount due.

In the course of his reply to speeches made at the informal gathering of members of Parliament, in reference to the Defence Conference, and the prorogation of Parliament, the Prime Minister referred briefly to the question of the unemployed, and to the retiring civil servants. The number of men out of employment, he said, had beea greatly exaggerated, He went on to state that the Government had decided to acquire a portion of land in each island, with a view to assisting civil servants wno had been retired under the retrenchment scheme, not having superannuation amounting to £75 a year, to earn a living.