DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 222, 5 January 1910, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

A rather remarkable dive was accomplished at the Wajrere carnival by Mr Pearson, who plunged from the top of the traffic bridge into the river. The height is fully thirty feet, and the dive was a perfect one.

The horse swimming event at the Wairere carnival provided a contest of special interest, and was voted the most exciting event on the programme. The race was won by Mr Gresham, who was successful in the same event last year. The list of subscribers to the telephone in Te Kuiti has steadily increased. Recently, the requisite number to obtain an 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. service was reached, and on Wednesday next the sth inst., this service will come into force.

Lord Kitchener leaves Melbourne in H.M.S. Encounter for the Bluff on February 12, and visits Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington, and arrives at Auckland on March 1, where his official visit to the Dominion will end two days later.

The Transvaal Government has asked Mr Deakin to select and appoint a flo.ck master to superintend the Transvaal stud sheep, and to travel the country to instruct farmers in the selection and management of sheep. The salary is £650, rising to £BOO. The attendance of Europeans at the Wairere carnival this year was fully up to previous records though very few Maoris were present. The majority of the Natives of the district were away at the tangi being held at Mokau Heads, owing to the death of Kingi Wetere. A man named A. Goll met with a painful accident at Puketiti on Tuesday. He was killing a sheep and received a nasty gash in the hand, the sinews and artery being severed. The man was brought to Te Kuiti and attended by Dr Fullerton, who found it necessary to put six stitches in the wound.

The Ohura County Council have expressed an unwillingness to take control of a punt across the Ongarue River, at Taumarunui, as a bridge H necessary. The land adjacent is not vested in the Taumarunui Town Council, so the body is powerless. Petitions are being largely signed, urging the Government to build the bridge at once.

Fifteen years' experience in any one profession entitles a man to claim to be an expert in his particular profession. Dentisty is an art in which much care and skill are required, and the more; experience an operator has the more? sure anj reliable is his work. Mr Dransfield, surgeon dentist, will commencespractice at Te Kuiti in rooms above Mr Lever, auctioneer, about 15th "January. Cricket at Te Kuiti this season has not flourished in consequence of matches with other centres not being obtainable. A similar state of things exists at Pio Pio, where th 6 local club possesses some really gocidv talent. An endeavour is now being made to arrange a match between the two clubs at Pio Pio for Saturday,-J,anuary 22nd. At preesnt there is eviery hope that the game will eventuate. The opening of the new Masonic Lodge at Te Kuiti, which takes place on January 19th, is giving rise to a grea§ amount of interest locally. The installation ceremony is to be conducted by Lord Plunket,' who is to arrive at Te Kuiti on the morning of the 19th. Special preparations are being made for the Ball which is to take place in the Public Hall on thp evening of the 19th, after the installation ceremony has been concluded.

The Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister for Mines, visited the-Stat*! coal mine on Monday, and had a conference with the miners' executive regarding the matters in dispute. The Conference' lasted over an hour. On being interviewed, the Minister stated that he could make no statement, as nothing had been definitely settled. The miners will meet to morrow to consider the matter, and will communicate with the Minister in the evening. The Minister is hopefuul that a satisfactory' settlement will be arrived at. Sheep worrying by dogs is rather a common occurrence in this district, and losses in consequence of the depredations of mongrels are occasionally heavy. During last week, Mr J. Boddie was a heavy loser, owing to dogs getting among his sheep on his Oparure property. About thirty sheep in the flo(\Jj: were killed, and a number of others badly worried. One dog was shot among the sheep, but the task of discovering an owner for the canine is calculated to baffle the pro-verbial-Philadelphia lawyer. Apparently, like Topsy, the dog just growed, and was of a too independent spirit to acknowledge a master.

In view of the failure of the Government to commence work on the roads of the district, and in view also of the fact that the season is well advanced the people of the district have been greatly concerned. During the past few days, a number of Te Kuiti residents wired to Mr W. T. Jennings, urging him to further the agitation for the starting of the work. "On Tuesday the following wire was received by Mr F. H. Sims, from Mr Jennings:—♦'Went to Stratford to urge on Engineer to apply for authorisation for amount on Estimates for metalling Awakino road. Will also wire Premier." Similar replies were received by others who had wired to the Member.

The modern Maori is no fool, says the "Bay of Plenty Times," but sometimes he has queer ideas. The other day a Native in Tauranga wanted to have his watch cleaned and repaired. He proceeded with caution. Pirnt he visited a shop on the Strand, and producing the watch to the lady in charge politely asked .''You weigh this for me?" It was done, and then the native took his. timepiece to the watchmaker'> 4 establishment. In due course it emerged from there duly cleaned and repaired, and the first thing the owner did'was to visit the lady of the Strand with an anxious request that the watch might be again weighed. This was done and the weight declared to be the same as before." ; When he realised that none of the works were missing, he vented bis feelings with "Kapai te pakeha,' '■ and left the premises with a sinije onhisfape^