King Country Chronicle Wednesday, August 10, 1910 LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 284, 10 August 1910, Page 2

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, August 10, 1910 LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Fire Brigade plain ami fancy dress ball is to be hold to-morrow night in the Town Hall. The object is a most worthy one —to benefit the funds of the Brigade, ami a large support is asked. Handsome prizes for the most original costumes and the best waltzers are offered. All those desirous of having the characters which they represent published are requested to leave, on a slip of paper, their names and the characters with the doorkeeper. At Christchurch yesterday, Te Arai won the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, and Nyland the Winter Cup. At the Exchange Rooms on Saturday a large catalogue of general goods will be, offered. For full particulars see our advertising columns. We note, amongst others, nine bicycles, a lot of produce, shrubs, fowls and furniture, etc. We have received word on reliable authority that the New Zealand Axemen's Association have allotted the fifteen-inch championship chop of New Zealand to the Te Kuiti Athletic Club, which will hold its annual meeting in March.

Mr J. Nicholl's store in Te Kuiti has just been enlarged to enable him to cope with his rapidly expanding business. The premises have been considerably improved, a marble slab for the butter and bacon depatrment being one of the features. The alterations provide ample room for showing the numerous articles dealt in.

To-morrow (Thursday) at 12 o'clock noon, Mr J. R. Graham will sell at Puketiti, on behalf of Mrs Hunt, her household furniture .and effects, including the implements and sundries on the farm. As Mrs Hunt has sold this property the auctioneer's instructions are to effect a clearance. Full details are given in our advertising columns.

The result of the election of representatives of the North, East and Westwards of the Auckland Education Board is as follows:--West Ward- G. J. Garland 301, W. Duncan 275. East Ward--H. J. Greenslade 454, E. C. Banks 448. North Ward -G. W. Murray 575, J. D. McKenzie 470. Messrs Garland, Greenslade and Murray have therefore been declared elected fop their respective warnSf

Notice of the utepp'on ■ '.'>sd in the Hauturu East portion of the Orahiri survey district is given by the Public Works Department, as advertised.

At the Magistrate's Court at Otorohanga last week, before Mr Loughnan, S.M., Karena Thompson and Joseph Baxter, were each fined .£'2s for keeping liquor for illegal sale. Frederick Murdoek was fined .£lO for selling liquor without a license. Following upon the heels of TV Kuiti and Taumarunui, Ohakune intends to become a borough. The necessary petition has been circulated and more than the required number of signatures has been obtained in favour of the movement. It is expected, therefore, that Ohakune will be declared a borough in time for a municipal election next muiuh. Taumaninui is to be gazetted a borough some time this month. Its population will be 1300, and it is estimated that its annual revenue will provide £7OO for the first year.

An impassioned appeal was made to the House on Friday, by Mr T. Parata to lend a deaf ear to the proposal of the Greymouth pakehas, respecting the freehold for the lessees of the native reserves in that district.

Preliminary arrangements have been completed for working the great soda lake in British East Africa, which is estimated to contain about 40,000,000 tons of soda, or sufficient to supply the demands of the world for 100 years.

Lambs are beginning to make their appearance in some numbers in the Feilding district. A Halcombe sheepfarmer counted 30 in his paddocks the other day. Mr A. E. Glover, M.P., contends that as Auckland does the largest trade with the Islands, and is the natural distributing centre, the northern port should be the final call in New Zealand for both steamers to the Cook Islands.

Jack Johnson has made £20,000 since the fight with Jeffries, and is now buying a mansion in New York's most aristocratic quarter.

In response to a representative deputation of bowlers from both Islands, Sir Joseph Ward said he would include in the legislation to be brought, down thin session a clause permitting local authorities to remit rales on bowling greens.

It is estimated that the public of Taranaki will benefit to the extent of nearly .fJOOO as a result of the shipment of manures and merchandise direct from Liverpool to New Plymouth by the Viganella.

A witness at the Arbitration Court the other day stated that the freezing companies in Canterbury had relinquished bacon-curing because they found that that branch of the industry did not pay. Tho Hon. T. Mackenzie in deploring the declining birth-rate, said that had the increase last year been in proportion with that of 1870, there would have been 14,000 more births in New Zealand.

With a view to helping our farmers the High Commissioner in London has been instructed to secure for the Agricultural Department a man with a thorough scientific knowledge of agriculture.

Gisborne has decided to build a 10mile tramway at an estimated cost of £12,000 in order to obtain a metal supply. The Borough Council is having a report prepared in regard to a city electrical supply. The South Island Dairy Association lias propounded a scheme which provides for the concentration of the dairy produce trade by monthly sales at the chief ports or by consignment to selected firms in London. A number of settlers in the Waikato have decided to export pork to the London market directly the price offered for pigs by the local buyer falls below fourpence per pound. A consignment, of pork sent Home from the Waikatu through the New Zealand Dairy Association a few months ago gave a net return to the farmers of 4 1 o-l(id per pound. About fourteen years ago the turnover of the Stratford Co-operative Dairy Co. was only £7000; now it is £70,000. The Native Land Court sitting at Nganunvahia, has been brought to a close, and many natives have returned to their homes. Balclutha coal merchants have resolve! (says the "Free Dress") to try the prompt cash on delivery system, or payment to be mad>: not later than the ltUh of the month following delivery. Great indignation is expressed by residents of Ngaruawahia at the action of the Town Hoard in cutting down the trees which for years have been one of the greatest attractions to the place. Ngaruawahia has always been considered the most picturesque of the Main Tiunk townships, and it is to be regretted that these trees should be dsetroyed simply to satisfy the whims of a few narrow-minded people.

"If had to make a .start, in life over again." says Mi' Will <'rooks, "the Dominion of Now Zealand, of all places on the map, is the one where I should wish to carve out my future." Referring to the chance for the workingman, he says: "Labour conditions there are none too bright, hut, it did appear to me that the hopelessness one linils on every hand at Home is absent in New Zealand. The vast tracts of land waiting for men point to the fact that whatever check there is for the moment can only be temporary."

It is stated, on what seems to be very good authority (says a correspondent of the "Dominion"), that coal of a iirst-class bitumous quality has been discovered on a farm at Tc Moire, fifteen miles down the Wanganui river from Taumarunui. The properly possessing the valuable deposit comprises 1-100 acres, and has just been purchased by Mr 1). M. Cooper from Messrs Dunn Bros, for Ms an acre, with the right of convertingit into l\ freehold on payment of a further sum of IJOs per acre.