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King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 446, 9 March 1912, Page 5

A preliminary notice of Mr Prosser's clearing sale appears in to-day's issue. Mr Prosser is going Home and Mr Graham's instructions are to clear every line. Buyers are given a final reminder of that unreserved sale at Mr Gorringe's farm at Pio Pio, on Friday next, at 11 a.m. Mr Graham wields the hammer. The metalling of the Arapae road is progressing a3 well as can be expectd. The contractor, Mr Innis, has been greatly hampered by the broken weather, but hopes to have the workaccomplished before winter. Some idea of ths spread of settlement in the King Country may be oftrained from the fact that at this week's meeting of the Auckland Board of Education no less than four' applications for schools were received from this district. Rangitoto, Tangitu.Waimiha and Taringamutu settlers are the applicants. A statement appeared in the daily papers this week to the effect that Mr H. B. Huddleston, stock inspector of Te Kuiti, had died in Queensland. Needless to state the information was incorrect and was probably founded on the fact that a brother of Mr Huddleston's recently met his death in Queensland. The farmers of Waiuku have by the unanimous resolution of a meeting of the local branch of the Farmers' Union, expressed their willingness to go to Auckland if called upon in the event of a strike occurring. In the course of discussion some outspoken opinions were expressed aa to the duty of citizens opposed to industrial strife doing all in their power to preserve order should such an event occur. The effect of the dairying industry is already being felt at Te Kuiti, inasmuch a3 several of the larger holdings in the district are being subdivided into sections suitable for dairying. A portion of Mr W. Gadsby's fine property close to the dairy factory is being cut up into suitable sections and is offered for lease for dairying purposes. The Pall Mall Gazette, discussing the Board of Control's selection, says Minnett, Kelleway, Hazlitt, Matthews, and particularly Jennings, may well rise to the occasions. Whitty is likely to vastly improve when fully recovered from his attack of appendicitis. The bowling doss not lack variety, and the combination is one of immense possibilities.

At a public meeting held at Bobart to discuss the cricket crisis, Mr J. Darling, ex-captain of the Australian eleven, attacked the Board of Control, and declared that while it was constituted as at present the trouble would never be amicably settled. A resolution was carried that Mr McElhone be asked to resign the chairmanship of the board, a3 he had not the confidence of the cricket-support-in? public and players, and his presence was a hindrance to an amicable settlement of the whole dispute. Other motions similar to those passed in Melbourne were carried.

In view of the possibility of a general strike the following circular has been sent by the provincial secretary of the Farmers' Union to all branches of the Union:—"There is one trouble that is facing us, and it is one I am afraid that legislation is going to have some difficulty to prevent. That is the difficulty of When strikes threaten the delivery of such commodities that we are depending upon for our living, the matter is serious indeed,and though not wishing in any way to raise an alarm, it is as well to be prepared for emergencies. In the event (however improbable) of dicffiulty arising in unloading farmers' requisites, and necessities of life (not for the Farmers' Union only, but in the interests of the public generally) would your branch endeavour to obtain the names and promise of those farmers in your district who would assist if an occasion arises? I can assure you that every conciliatory means will be put forward with the before resorting to such a coVse, but if an appeal does not come for the farmers to stand up and assert themselves, let us show eome backbone, and be ready.

A challenge appears in another column from J. Harris to J. O'Sullivan to chop a match at Te Kuiti sports for £SO a-side. Mr Harris' depusit has already been posted.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie, was interviewed at Christchurch on his way to Dunedin. A question regarding his own future elicited the following reply:—■"! shall be content to take any position the party thinks I ought to occupy after it has exhaustively considered all the circumstances. My own opinion is that at a time like the present every member of the party ought to practise self-abnegation, each ought to be prepared to do what is moat likely to settle the difficulties and advance the cause of Liberalism." The metalling of the main Te Kuiti-Awakino road ha 3 unfortunatelybeen delayed this season from a variety of causes, but contracts in connection with the work have been let. From present appearances, however, there does not seem much chance of an extensive programme being carried out. The sseason is well advanced and the weather is so bad that little progress can be made unless the long delayed fine spell comes along ani lasts well into winter.

The- adventurous career of two youths terminated on Tuesday in the gaol at Wanganui. Two young fellows an Eurasian named Lee, and a halfcaste named Sutherland, had been living for the last few weeks, it is alleged, on the proceeds of various small thefts committed at Ongarue, To Koura and Piriaka. When they were accosted by a constable, who was on their track, they bolted for

the bush, lifted a canoe and started on a trip down the Wanganui river. The police again got on their track in a launch, and effected their capture, although they both dived overboard at the first attempt to arrest them. The missing vessel Himitangi has been found stranded at the Chathams, and four of the passengers have been conveyed to Wellington by the steamer Gertie The Himitangi on Sunday February lltlu was anchored in the roadstead off Waitangi, when she dragged her anchors, and was stranded on the beach. Efforts were made to float her by the crew, but without success. When the Gertie arrived, the Himitangi was standing upright and broadside on a level sandy beach. Id was considered there were prospects of getting her off with the aid of gear, and given suitable weather. The captain and crew are standing by her. and are being well treated by trie residents of the island. The Brisbane strike is ended, an official declaration to that effect having been made by Mr Coyne, chairman of the strike Committee. Mr Coyne declared that they had been opposed by the brutal ferocity of a lying press and every force of capital. It was not the Strike Committee's fault that the port of Brisbane had been closed. The committee had moved to alter that state of affairs, but the employers had declined to meet them. The assurance from the Employers' Federation covered most callings except tramways and railways. The tramwaymen and railwaymen who were out would not suffer; they would be provided for for some time to come. In order to ensure the safety of the workers the Strike Committee would nut disband, because the transport workers all along the coast would come out when instructed by the committee.