King Country Chronicle Saturday, June 10, 1911. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 368, 10 June 1911, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, June 10, 1911. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

♦— ■ —- At the last usual fortnightly meeting of the Loval Te Kuiti Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U.", the following Brothers were presented with Past Grand emblems: —Bro. P. A. Larrett, P.G., Bro. C. F. Verrall, P.G., and Bro. H. 0. Barker, P.G. The presentations were made by Bro. Chilcott, P.G., who in a pleasing little address to each of the recipients, spoke of the high esteem in which they were held by their brother Oddfellows. During the evening feeling reference was made to the late Bro. C. T. Orrcisby, and a vote of condolence with his wife and family was passed. The names of four candidates for admission as benefit members were handed in. In our advertising columns, Messrs Chas. Begg and Co., Ltd, of Dunedin and Welilngton, announce a special sale for one month of their well known makes of pianos and organs. This is a favourable opportunity to secure an instrument at your own door upon most reasonable terms. Old instruments taken in exchange. All information may be obtained from their travelling representative, T. B. Hunter. At the meeting of the Board of Education held this week it was decided that plans be prepared and tenders invited for school "buildings at Mokauiti Valley, Motumaoho and Maipu. The Taranaki Petroleum Company has been advised that the sum of £2500 has been lodged to its credit at the Bank of New Zealand by the Government, being the bonus for the production of 250,000 gallons of crude petroleum. This established an easy record as the largest quantity of crude petroleum yet produced in Australasia. Since the Government inspector certified to the production of 268,000 gallons, the two flowing wells, Nos. 2 and 3, • have yielded many more thousands of barrels, and the store is being added to every day. There is a prospect also that No. 5 well will be brought in before long, and commence to add its quoca to the yield. While at the races at Ellerslie, his Excellency the Governor expressed a wish to meet .the farmers present, and, although the notice given was very short, about forty of them assembled in the members' room, and were entertained by his Excellency, who in a brief speech expressed his pleasure at the friendly relations existing between the farmers and the members of the Racing Club, which, he thought, was a very gnod thing as long as racing was not given too much prominence. Mr Isaac Gray, in responding for the farmers, thanked his Excellency for his hospitality, and expressions of goodwill, and called for cheers for Lord and Lady Islington, which were heartily given, and acknowledged by Lord Islington. Mention was made in the last annual report of the Post and Telegraph Department that it was hoped a supply of boxes to enable rural deliveries to be established would soon be available. The Department is now in possession of a number of theae boxes, and proposes to carry out the intention expressed in the report. The idea is to gradually provide every back-block settler with a post-office at his own gate, the mail carrier as he goes by placing the inward letters in the box and taking with him the outward correspondence to the nearest centre. Provision is made for the locking of the boxes. In Canada, where this system of mail deliveries has worked very satisfactorily in the interior, the post boxes are seldom locked, robberies of letters being of rare occurrence. The replacement of the old candle box that has done useful duty in the past, and is still doing so at settlers' gates, by a convenient, modern contrivance for mail storage purposes, will be welcomed by those for whom this improvement is being introduced. Mr A. J. Boughton announces by advertisement in this issue that he has commneced business in King treet, Te Kuiti —oppoiste the "Chronicle" office —as tailor and costumier, and hopes by strict attention to business to merit a fair share of patronage. Bushfelling is being carried out on a fairly large scale in the King Country. Since last season there has been a number of new arrivals who have taken up a number of leases and are getting large areas down. The majority of contracts are well under way with the hope than an early burn will be secured. The attention of beilevers in the freehold tenure is drawn to the advertisent in to-day's issue of the sale of Mr J Brennan's property, comprising 15 acres, situate in a desirable part of the borough. Mr James Boddie, Mayor of Te Kuiti, returned home yesterday afternoon, much improved in health. His Worship will preside at the Borough Council meeting on Monday night, and at the meeting of the Irish Envoys on Tuesday night. In recognition of her husband's twenty-four years' services as member of the House of Representatives for Parnell, Mrs Frank Lawry was on Wednesday made the rceipient of a presentation from the elector* valued at £SOO.

It is reported that over twenty thousand acres of Crown land in vari-

ous parts of the Dominion will be thrown open for settlement during the ' present month. The area in the Wellington district is under one thousand acres, being a national endowment section for renewable lease.

There are rumours that Mount Ngaruhoe is showing signs of violent activity again. Recently an immense cloud of dust and ashes was ejected from the crater, a jet of steam being followed by a cloud surcharged with fine ashes and minute particles of dust One side of the mountain, and also the top of'L'ongariro, together with many Of the adjacent hills, are covered with a deposit of ashes.

Some men take their revenge m devious ways. Take this suggestion, for instance, from the "Levin Chronicle": "Some annoyance has been caused to a Levin settler by the circulation of an absurd rumour to the effect that he has been appointed hangman for New Zealand. He desires to have the report contradicted, as it is entirely without foundation." A hangman! What a subtle suggestion!

Vice-Admiral Shimanuira, commander of the Japanese squadron now en route to Spithead to participate in the naval review in honour of the Coronation of King George V., was interviewed on May '2 at Colombo on board his flagship, the brst-class armoured cruiser Kurrama. Having 1 described as ridiculous nonsense, at least so far as Japan is concerned, the recent rumours of war between Japan and America, the admiral remarked that the establishment of the Australian Navy was undoubtedly a very good thing. The new navy would fulfil a useful purpose in the Pacific. He had spent some time in Australia, and found it a delightful country, with charming people, whose hospitality was boundless. He had been particularly struck with this feature of their character. The pjrumour that Japan had designs ■„ New Caledonia was, he said, even HTmore ridiculous than the idea of a war between Japan and America.

Mr J. R. Graham notifies by advertisement that he has a well built four room cottage for sale. This cottage will be offered by auction at the sale rooms, Taupiri street, on Thursday, he tr>tb inst, at p.m.

Mr Gaynor, Mayor of Mew York, recently declared that be had deprived the New York police of of graft, meaning that he had stopped the collection by the police of hush money from gambling houses and other disorderly places.

A system in vogue at the Mar ton railway station might advantageously be introduced throughout the Dominion. A blackboard in placed in a conspicuous position on the platform, on which are legibly announced the hoiiz-H of departure of the various y trains for the day. The ollicials are thus saved the bother of answering frequent iu-edle?s inquiries from Strangers and others.

Dr Charles Harris:-!, direcotr of the Empire musical festival, cabled to Mr Hugo Gorlitz, his New Zealand representative, from Fremantle:- - "Managed to catch Marmora after conducting the opening ceremonies of the Festival of Empire and Pageant of London. 1 bad the honour of being received afterwards in audience by their Majesties the King and Queen. Our festivals have been a wonderful Buccess, and I am confident New Zealand will prove equally meritorious. 1 had a chat with your Prime Minister and Lady Ward in the King's tea room on May 2th."

Messrs Verral! and Price advertise that vehicle* of every description are made to order or repaired at shortest notice. The linn also undertake to carry out all calsses of general blackP smithing. \ The Valuer-genorai in another column notifies) the ratepayers in the Kotorua. I'last Taupo, West I'aupo and Awak'mo Counties, portions of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid District, who have not paid their Hospital and Charitable Aid rates, thiit the 10 per cent penalty accrues un all rates unpaid on 2;srd June.

The special prize fund of the King Country A. and P. Association is now approaching X l7O.