DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 199, 14 October 1909, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

An amusing incident occurred at Piopio last week which serves to show that superstition among the Natives is still unconquered. A Native had a cow which died in calving. After the usual tangi it was decided to bury the body. Spades were got to work but before the grave was completed the diggers had a rest. One of the party sat down on the beast, which not yet cold, and the weight on the body cauaed the leg of the cow to shift convulsively. The party left the grave in a hurry and no amount of argument could persuade them to return and complete the burial.

The petition in connection with the proposed deputation to Wellington on road matters is being already largely signed by residents of Piopio and surrounding districts, and there is every chance of a record petition being carried to Wellington by the deputation. The forthcoming Auckland Agricultural Show has been fixed for Novem ber 26th and 27th, and arrangements for the fixture are well in hand. Entries close on November sth, and will be received at Hamiltotn and Cambridge, as well as at the offices of the Association, Auckland. On Tuesday evening last about 20 couples attended an evening given by Mrs Cross in the Town Hall, and with good music by Messrs Duke Hetet, .T. Hetet, Lever, Cross and Morgan, and extras by Miss Buckworth and Mr J. Hetet, a very enjoyable evening was spent.

Like all growing centres Te Kuiti is beginning to experience the difficulty oC arriving at unanimity regarding the days upon which shops are to be closed. In the past it was an easy matter for the two or three business people to arrange at any time. Now, however, with the advent of many more businesses the matter of closing or not closing on certain days is more difficult to arrange. It is felt by certain of the business people that the time has arrived when a definite understanding should be arrived at, and a programme fixed. A meeting to discuss the matter has been called for Thursday evening next in the "Chronicle" office.

To germinate her dancing clashes and series of monthly socials, Mrs Cross has decided to hold a plain and fancy dress ball on Thursday, October 28thj and arrangements are well in train for the successful carrying out of the function. Given fine weather and the best of music, this will eclipse all previous functions held in the hall. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns. The "Times" states that, taking 100 per cent, as the standard, the crops in England on October 1 showed:— Wheat, 91.7; barley, 93.25; oats, 91. Owing, however, to the deplorable harvest weather since mid-August much damage was done, and a considerable portion is still ungathercd, so the figures must be reviewed conditionally.

A return of condemned stock slaughtered and for which compensation was paid by the Government in the year ended March 31st, 1909, shows 2941 cattle and 6 pigs so destroyed, for which the sum of £5042 Is 5d was paid in compens?tion, against which £920 17s lCd was received in respect of the disposal of the carcases. Mr Stallworthy on Wednesday asked the Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals by whose authority and on whose certificates the man George Allwood was liberated from the Avondale Menial Hospital within a short time of his committal thereto, and seeing that this liberation led to the coldblooded murder of a lady in the open street of Dargaville, what precautions he intends taking to prevent like tragedies in the future. • A young man, named Got-rge Lomas, met with a painful accident at Te Kuiti yesterday afternoon. He was lifting a side of beef in Mr Albrechtsen's slaughterhouse when his foot slipped, and he fell against a hook, which cut his arm severely. He was attended by Dr Fullerton who found it necessary to put five sticthes in the wound. The banking returns of the Dominion for the past quarter which are just to hand make very satisfactory reading and indicate that within the space of twelve months the country has recovered from the "tightness of chest" with which it has been afflicted. In every department the banking business has returned to the normal, an important feature being the reduction in advances of over two and a half millions. Advices have been received in Sydney from the American Lawn Tennn Association that their representatives for the Davis Cup matches will - be Loughlin and Long, two Californian players.

The Victorian Marathon race, which was run on Saturday last was won by Sime, Sydney; Bamford, Sydney, being second and Connor Geelong, third. The winner's time was 3h 4m 255. The last few chains of pack track formation in the Waitewhena has been let. This, when completed, will effect through communication between Te Kuiti and South Taranaki, via Aria, Kacaca, Waitewhena and Mangaroa.

In reply to a question in Parliament by Mr Massey the Prime Minister stated the reecnt loan was for one million at par on 3J per cent, interset for a term not yet decided upon. Among the figures given in the Parliamentary return relating to the public accounts are those in connection with the disbursements under the Second Ballot Act. Altogether £1613 was claimed by the 35 candidates who reached the various second polls. The smallest sum claimed was £l9, by the Hon. J. Carroll, whilst most of the other candidates epxenses were just under the maximum allowed, viz., £SO. Mr Geo. Hutchison sent in accounts aggregating £49 19s 9d. At Wairoa, Hawkes Bay on Tuesday evening last Mr T. Foy who has been appointed manager of the Bank of New Zealand at To Kni'i v.-a= entertained by th- loet.: :-.-id' r.?--. (i-.r.eral regret x\:: c,yarli:ro oi ..Ir Fov, who V.tir ic-r, :,.:,-',"iaU-ci with Wairoa f-T ■■: \:v.-:\ <r ' : At. of a il.jueur Ktar.d. a beauti- {,;] • ;■.-<■ of =rr:"kf-i-' r- suisito- were },;.,,.;..: i •,, Mr ]■>,;.-, who n.ade a sir.taLh- rv\:\y.

Mr Dudley Raine's recent purchase, the Arab sire Titus 11., has been installed in his new home at Waingaro, and everyone who has looked him over is loud in praise of the new comer. In sounding the praises of Titus 11., Mr Raine points out that his horse won the Poonah Arab Derby and all the weight-for-inches races there; also the Bombay Derby and similar races there, until weighted out at 14st 71b. the highest weight ever allotted to an Arab in India.

An interesting sequel to sly grog prosecutions of the past was seen at Ohakune S.M. Court, when Mrs Middleton, of Horopito, gained judgment against Messrs Innes and Co., of Hamilton, brewers, who supplied her with the liquor sold by her, and for the selling of which she was prosecuted and fined. Mrs Middleton claimed the amount of the two fines, that had been imposed on her, and all costs. The S M. in giving his decision said, can this beer be said to be of mercantile quality, under the sale of goods Act, if for selling it, plaintiff is fined. It would be an unreasonable thing to suppose, plaintiff would buy an article for the selling of which she would bring herself within the licensing act. Judgment would be for the full amount claimed v. 7 ith costs.

The rapid and increasing growth of the King Country centres may be estimated from the fact that both Taumarunui and Te Kuifci school committees are making applications to have their respective schools enlarged. Te Kuiti school has already been added to twice within the last three years. The recently established Taurnarunui Chamber of Commerce is already making its influence felt, and has taken steps to promote the formation of a County taking in Taurnarunui, Kaitieke, Raurimu, Waitangi, and part of

Retaruke down to the Waitomo County boundary. The P. and 0. Steamshp Company has decided that three of their steamers during February, March, and April next shall continue the outward voyage from Sydney to Auckland, returning to. Sydney, thence proceeding homeward. It rarely happens that a private house is required to do duty as a Court of Justice, yet such was the case at Taumarunui on Wednesday evening, when Mr Loughnan, S.M., was forced to take advantage of the offer of a resident of the use of his dining room, in order to conclude the Court business The necessity for a Court ac Taumarunui has long been manifest and surely the recent experience of the Magistrate will hasten the erection of a proper building. It is well known that other places on the circuit that are provided with Court buildings do much less Court business than Taumarunui. Horse breeders in the T« Kuiti and Otorohanga districts are to have the opportunity of securing the services of the pure bred Suffolk Punch Stallion "Sudbourne Silver" this season. The horse is beautifully bred and was imported from Australia by Mr N. I. Hunt, of Paemako. It is held by many that the Suffolk Punch is the ideal farm horse for this district, and such a fine type as Sudbourne Silver is bound to command widespread attention. Mr D. McDiarmid of Te Kuiti has charge of the horse and is now travelling him in the district. Mr H. W. Northcroft, S.M., has recently given a very important judgment on the question,raised under"T*ne Gaming Act, 1908," as to the right of proprietors of billiard saloons to allow players to be constantly playing games for money. Mr Northcroft has held that rooms where the frequent playing of games for money or money's worth takes place, are "gaming houses" under the Act. An explosion occurred at the Otira tunnel on Tuesday, as the result of

which one man, W. Dick, was killed, and three others, W. Rushton, J. S. Jones, and E. Gambirazzi, were more or less seriously injured. Dick was overseer at the tunnel face, and the other men were working with him. Several fuses had been lighted and the men were engaged in preparing others when the first lot exploded prematurely and unexpectedly. Pieces of rock were hurled in all directions, and the men had not timo to seek shelter. Dick was killed instantly, and the other men were also struck, but were able to escape alive. On the motion of Mr Ho-Tg, a Parliamentary return was ordered last week, showing the Native land leased or otherwise disposed of during the past five years in the King Country, giving particulars of the land leased and sold, the naems of the lessees and purchasers, and the payments and rentals agreed upon, also a summary of the sawmilling rights agred upon and the terms and conditions upon which the timber had been sold. A meeting of the King Country Acclimatisation Society will be held tomorrow evening to discuss the ques-

tion of "Shooting or no-Shooting for next season." As next season is a close one for certain game, it is desirable that this subject be discussed, as the Auckland Society will have to make representations to th 3 Government, if tbe decision to shoot is fixed on. The New Zealand "Trade Review" states: — "The anticipated improvement in the market is not yet strongly in evidence, though in some quarters a more buoyant tone is reported. The dairy trade is becoming active, and in another month or so the butter money circulating will give an impetus to country trade. The general prospects of the produce season are distinctly cheerful, and a more decided improvement is looked forward to with confidence." The "Review" also says that "the majority of butter factories in the North Island have now made arrangements for the season's output, several, chiefly smaller factories, having sold for the season at from lojd to 10fd per lb. Others have arranged _lo consign under advareo at I'>a to l'Jtd. guaranteed without recourse: others. again, have decided to ship on ope:: consignment. .•lost o: the larger tactoreis have ado; '-• d one of the last two courses." Snec-zed down the Larrel of a t:t::i: V,'h>.:. they have colds use Woods' i'ei;;jerrriint Cure.