THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1909 DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 182, 16 August 1909, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1909 DISTRICT PARS.

As will be seen by advertisement in another column a concert and dance has been arranged to be held in the Miroahuiao Hall on September Ist., in aid of the Mokauiti Football Club. The ladies of Paemako who bad arranged to hold a dance on August 27th, have kindly consented to forego their entertainment on that date and everything points to a most successful gathering on September Ist.

The following tenders have been received by Mr Price architect, for additions to Mr McNaught's premises:— James Mclndoe £215; Fletcher £213 10s; G. Hitchcock £202; W. Fullerton £201; Markwick and O'Regan £192; Reid and Carmody £lB5 6s; J. Pearson £lB4 10s—accepted. Also for additions to Mr Lineham's premises:—J. Pearson £160; D. Fletcher £128; W. Fullerton £124; Markwick and O'Regan £119; James Mclndoe £lls—accepted.

A meeting of the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce is called for Friday evening next when matters of considerab'e importance will be dealt with. Ordinary members of the Chamber arc invited to be present. It is understood that matters of considerable interest to the township will be discussed at the Waitomo County Council meeting this evening, and there is reason to believe the outcome will be the formation of a separate local body for the administration of the township.

The first special to travel the full length of the North Island Main Trunk on other than State business left the Thorndon station, Wellington, for Auckland, at 1 p.m. on Saturday. It consisted of five carriages, one van, and two engines, conveying 150 members of Williamson's "Jack and Jill" Pantomime Company. New Zealand used to be a notorious country for lost time with professional actors, who are usually engaged on th» "no play no pay" principle. That means that they do not draw their salaries every week, but every six playing nights. Before the transport facilities were as good as they are today it was, quite a common thing for a full fortnight to be lost during a tour of the Dominion. Now it is almost impossible to lose more than two or three nights during a well arranged tour. In the case of "Jack and Jill" Company, a performance was given inDunedinon Thursday evening, and yet only two nights were lost between that centre and Auckland.

The question of nationality was being discussed in a small but representative gathering of Maoris in the King Country recently. One confessed to an infusion of Celtic blood, others to other admixtures. "For my part," said a full blooded Maori who was present, "I'm Scotch." He explained: "Scotch missionaries came to the country owned by my ancestors. They disappeared. I am Scotch—by absorption." Mr Elsdon Best, who lives in the wild places of Tuhoe Land, in the Urcwera Country, and who has given great services to the dominion by preserving the interesting folk-lore and legends of the ancient Maoris, has published a simple little fable in the forty-first volume of the "Transactions" of the New Zealand Institute, which was issued recently.' The fable, which is very typical of the Old World's folk-lore, deals with the ant and the cicada, a noisy Hummer insect which settlers know genernlly as a locust. "Let us be diligent and collect food during the summer, so that we may retain life when the winter come 3," said the ant to the cicada. "Not so," replied the cicada; rather let us ascend the trees and bask in the sun on the warm bark." So the ant laboured at collecting and storing food for the winter, while the cicada enjoyed life. "This is true pleasure, to bask in the warm sun and enjoy life," the cicada said to itself; "how foolish is the ant. who toils below!" But when the winter came, and the warmth went out of the sun, the cicada perished of cold and hunger, while the ant was snug in hi 3 warm home underground, and had abundance of food.

Information has reached the ActingPrime Minister, the Hon. J. Carroll, that some members of the Maori performing troupe, which was engaged to play at the New York Hippodrome, had been refused admission to the United States. The reason was that they were suffering from eye trouble, and Mr Carroll was asked to intercede on their behalf, but he felt reluctant to interfere with the health regulations of any other country, and, therefore, could give them no assistance.

The rebuilding of San Francisco after the earthquake in 1906 is to be celebrated in the week beginning October 19th, and the city will be declared officially re-opened to the world. On October 15tb eighty million American people will cca-c work simultaneously and drink a toast in honour of the new city.

A strange find was made recently in the bush near Tauranga by sportsmen while out shooting. The find consisted of a very dilapidated old Maori whare, thatched with raupo, and containing two barrels of gunpowder, the barrels themselves being contained in an old military chest. There were also a couple of old fashioned rifles and a supply of old moulded lead bullets. On being opened the contents of one of the barrels was found to have disintegrated into its original ingredients, the saltpetre, charcoal and sulphur lying in three layers. The other barrel was almost unfit for use, effervesence having commenced. It is supposed that this plant has lain there undiscovered for about 80 years, having been brought from Nelson at that time. Speak to me only with thine eyes But let those eyes be clear; A cold soon makes them otherwise — Dim swollen red and blear. But still if beauty would allure Wben colds have made her plain Woods' Peppermint Cure will soon secure Her speaking eyes again.

Warren Bardsley, the young New South Wales batsman, has made a unique record. In 86 tests he is the first to make two centuries in the one match. His 136 and 130 in the fifth test of the present series will be marked down in the annals of cricket as a performance of conspicuous brilliance. It is the outstanding feature of the game which has just ended so inconclusively. The Australian team favoured with propitious weather conditions, were able to give an idea of their wonderful batting capabilities. With the close of the present series 86 test matches have been played. England have won 35, Australia 34, and 17 have been drawn. The Australian team still retain "the ashes" and their success will be acclaimed by the thousands of enthusiasts who have followed the games with so much interest in Australia and New Zealand.

Dominion Day, September 26th, this year falls on a Sunday, and Cabinet has fixed that day for its observance. It also expresses a wish that volunteer church parades shall be held, in accordance with which the chief of the defence staff, Colonel Robin, has ordered officres commanding districts to arrange for Church parades, to include all branches of the defence forces under their various commands. The afternoon has been suggested as the most suitable time, to enable surburban corps to parade with the garrison troops.