King Country Chronicle Saturday, March 25, 1911. TOPICS OF THE DAY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 347, 25 March 1911, Page 5

King Country Chronicle Saturday, March 25, 1911. TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The settlement of the old-standing Mokau Jones estate dispute will result in some great developments in the lower King Country within the next few years. It is well-known that valauble coal deposits have been found on the land acquired by the new company, and there seems every promise that the venture will be strongly financed by a group of interested capitalists. Already a substantial amount has been taken up in shares. The newly acqquired estate is, of course, only a portion of the various interests owned by the syndicate. A sentimental clause in the agreement gives the native owners now disposing of the freehold the right to retain £2500 in shares in the new company. The Maori, like many a European, does not like parting with his lands, and that ia the reason why the natives have retained a proportion of the shares within their own hands.

The Acclimatisation partition difficulty has sprung up again. The Cambridge movement, at a shilling a head, has roped in several hundred nominal sportsmen, who were reported to be enthusiasitc in demanding a cutting of the painter which bound them to the parent body m Auckland. Had this meant that Cambridge only was affected, no one would have much cared But when they coolly demand that Thames, Ohinemuri, YV'aikato, l'iako, Waipa, Kawhia, Awakino, Waitomo, Uhura and parts of West, Taupo and Matemata be included in the new Waikato district, like Oliver Twist, they are asking for more, and in doing so, are asking too much. The King Country has protested most strongly against the unwarranted inference that they desire separation. The Auckland Society is at one with them in this protest. Huntly again, res-ants separation. The commandeering of the hatcheries, upon which the Society has spent; huge sums, is only one aspect of the scandal. To cut the country away from Auckland and leave the central body powerless and helpless, would be to wreck the society and do no real service to the new body. This partition proposal will be fought to the bitter end by members in this, district, and if our information

it! accurate, there is evory prospect of success attending the defenders. "King Country Schools" is a heading which we wouid willingly see resting for a few weeks, but the important visitation of Mr C. J. Parr to various King Country centres last week demands a few words cf comment. Our belief is that an immense amount of good lias boon done by the frank and full interchange of views between the chairman of the Board and members of the local committees. The committees, on th<! one hand, have

found Mr Parr seriously anxious to do his beat for the district, and fully alive to the responsibilities of the Board to this vast area of newlysettled counrty. On the other hand it has to be recognised that there has been a lack of unanimity amongst some school districts, which has led to ruption and strife. The promise made by the Chairman cf the Auckland Education Board that he will make threemonthly visits to the King Country will be welcomed by settlers and school committees as a sign that Mr Parr is impressed with the importance of frequent personal contact with the desires and needs of the back-blocks, and intends to keep in close touch with them.

The letters we have published from correspondents anent the sanitary condition of our principal streets are not a word too strong. It needs an outsider to view these things in their proper light, and our thanks are due to the writers for raising the question. Our native friends have had ample opportunity of observing and practising the correct way of living, and it is time they were shown that liora street is neither a public lounge nor a midden. Apart from this, it is the duty of the police to see that the pavement is not encumbered, and of the borough authorities that refuse is not allowed to accumulate. In turning our eyes towards the distant prospect- -which embraces drainage, water supply and other good things to come, we have overlooked, to some extent, the problem under our feet—noses, we were going to say. May a word to the wise be sufficient.