WAIKATO NOTES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 176, 26 July 1909, Page 5

WAIKATO NOTES.

1 Own Correspondent. I Waikato got a great advertisement in Wellington the other day, when Mr J. W. Chapman made a display in a window in one of the principal streets there, of produce from the virgin soil hereabouts. Roots and vegetables were shown and it wa-f declared that land upon which such produce can be grown may be had at form 90s to 170s per acre. The land referred to is reclaimed swamp in the Morrinsvillc district. The progress of Frank ton was the theme at the official opening of a new local auctioneering company's place there the other night. The chairman of the Town Board promises that within twelve months every road leading into Frank ton shall be metalled and levelled, and footpaths formed whereover there are sufficient houses built. He does not think Hamilton and Frank- | ton will ever be one borough. . Mr Greenslade. who also spoke, thought , the progress and development hard to 1 believe Dr Barnardo's Boys visited Hamilton last Monday. I saw them in their action songs, and bells, and other musical selections. To think that there fine sturdy lads were waifs and strays, picked up from the streets at home, makes one wonder what new surroundings and care cannot do for almost any boy or girl. Yet 8000 ! children cr- resident in the various Barnardo Homes and that over 60,000 children have parsed through tbem is to me, not so much a matter for pride, as for regret that such institutions should be neccessary. It is an ironical criticism on our vaunted civilisation to suggest that such harbours of refuge are wanted, are necessary, and are at present inevitable.

The New Zealand Dairy Association notifies that a profit bonus of lsd per pound will be paid on the past season's output. A dividend of 6 per cent on share capital will be paid. The sea-

son has been a record one. Choicest New Zealand butter is quoted on the London market at 107s just now. Danish is 114s and Siberian 102s.

I have seen a specimen block of a hard building material made by a , Waihi inventor from mine tailings. ] It looks very much like concrete, and ' should be useful for building purposes. ! The Auckland Education Board has j now defintely decided to acquire the • site for the new High school at Ham- i Jilon ,and the architect to the Board is j to prepare the necccsary plan 3 for the j new building. j The Waikato Hospital Ball was held i on Wednesday night and proved to be , a great success. The Orchestra played j from. thc'gallery," tie floor was smooth, the hail decorated, the dre33es beautiful and the general arrangements j most satisfactory. Looking down j from the gallery I was charmed with ! the gay scene, and though no dancing J man myself I could yet enfer into the feelings of pca«ure which those taking part enjoyed. Mr Edmund Filzpatrick, a 12 years res; den If to Ngaruawahia, and one of its most respected citizens, having < disposed of his business there, is going ; to live in Auckland, and was tendered j a farewell social the other night. I There were many kindly expressions j of friendship and regret at the parting , from both Pakehas and Maoris present. | The Minister of the Valuation Department writes to the Raglan County i Council that the system he is carrying I out is to provide a substantial margin between actual selling values and the capital values, fixed for rating purposes and the unimproved values fixed for land tax. He thinks from the letter be has receive 1, that the system is as good as it is possible to make, though he admits some confusion exists with regard to the designation of unimproved land. ______