THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. Wednesday, March 2, 1910 LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 238, 2 March 1910, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. Wednesday, March 2, 1910 LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Te Kuiti Post and Telegraph Office will, in future, be open from 7 to 8 p.m., commencing from tomorrow evening, for telegraph business only.

A popular living picture exhibition istobs given at the Town Hall on Saturday night, when some very fine coloured, educational, humourous, dramatic and scenic films are promised. The proceeds are for the purchase of steroscopic views for use by the scholars.

A concert was given last night in the Town Hall, Te Kuiti, in aid of the Fire Brigade funds. Owing, doubtless, to the extremely short notice, the audience was a very small one, and some of the artistes themselves failed to put in an appearance. It is to be regretted that the Brigade funds will not benefit unJer the circumstances.

Mr. C. B. Lever advertises an unreserved sale of drapery to be held in his mart on Friday and Saturday next on account of Mr. D. Meikle, commencing at 2 o'clock each day. Owing to this sale his usual sale of fruit and sundries on Saturday will commence at 1.30 o'clock.

The Marokopa Sports are to be held on March 17th, and the very attractive programme arranged by the committee is advertised in another column. Te Kuiti folk should welcome this opportunity of viewing the fine scenery of the Marokopa Valley, the marvellously rich river flats, and the rugged grandeur of the West Coast, and no better time than the present exists for travelling in comfort over good roads.

Mr. S. F. Mackic, who until recently held the position of accountant in the Union Bank at Te Kuiti, has been removed to Napier. It is Mr. Mackie's intention to proceed from Napier to Australia. During his stay in Te Kuiti, Mr. Mackic has made himself deservedly popular, and his many friends will wish him good luck inthe new country to which he is going. Mr. Ormaby L. Jones, who comes from Wairoa, takes the position in Te Kuiti vacated by Mr. Mackie.

On Monday afternoon last Lord Kitchener and staff, accompanied by the Premier, passed through Te Kuiti, en route to Auckland. The train stayed for some minutes. A large gathering of Europeans and Maoris assembled on the platform to gaze upon the renowned soldier. The Maoris present gave hakas of weclome. Lord Kitchener, who stood, upon the carriage platform while the train was in the station, appeared to be both amused and gratified at the welcome extended. As the train left the station three cheers were given for Lord Kitchener and Sir Joseph Ward. At Otorohanga on Thursday last, befora Mr. F. 0. B. Loughnan, S.M., a Maori named Tei Wipa was charged with the theft of a one pound ■ note.V After hearing evidence he J?as convicted and fined £2, and ordered;, to refund the pound stolen apd pay.cgs cost, qr, in default, one month. Mqsokqpa and Tony Qrmsby were charged with allowing bulls to wander about the rpaoV. They were both/convicted, and fined 10s and. 7s costs. The following civil qasg * were dealt with: —J. C. Eanby v. Henry Bishop, a claim of 18s s'ft. Judgment for amount claimed and 5s costs. H. Isaac v. Frank Morley, judgment for £1 and 5s cost. S. Wright v. H. Coe, a claim of £l2 7s for storage o£ furniture. Mr Finlay appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Swarbrick for defendant. After hearing evidence judgment was given for- '£s lcfs; 6d and £2 lis posts. Gerald Outfield, v. Walter Turner, claim for return of one calf valued at 90s. Mr Finlay appeared for Turner After hearing evidence the magistrate nonsuited plaintiff.

Eltham has a grievance, says the Argus, and possibly it applies to Te Kuiti as well:—One of the conditions of our "local affairs that promises to retard the progress of Eltham is the high 1 price o,f tynd. and consequently jiigh rents. We are not referring to farming lands'; we are dealing only with the matter of residential areas within the confines of the borough and within easy reach of the centre of the town. There is an entirely unsatisfied demand for houses. Some people who were desirous of settling here have been unable to do so owiijg to. the impossibility of obtaining houses;' there s»re pcqpje Hying in lodgings because they' canno}; obtain bouses"; and there'are' some who are paying Wfa£ can only be regarded as extortionate tents. Wo caqnqt see how this condition of aft'aira in going to be ameliorated, and we are rather afraid that it is likely to be accentuated. High prices Cor land will appear to go hand in hand with prosperity. If empty houses were plentiful rents would be low and sections cheap; but such a condition of affairs would bei4&6n'dujl fhftfcs.