RATING ACT ANOMALLY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 456, 13 April 1912, Page 5

RATING ACT ANOMALLY.

If anything were required to con- j vince the outside public that the natives of this district are thoroughly j capable of taking care of themselves j and their lands the point which has j arisen in connection with the collec- j tion of native rates by the County Council should do much to carry conviction to the sceptics. As a result of long continued agitation, and in fulfilment of long delayed promises an amendment to the Rating Act was introduced by the Native Minister, and pasßed by Parliament during the session of 1910. The amendment provided for the rating of native- , owned land, and excellent provision was**>ade for the collection of rates. So successful has the application of the Act been in the case of the Waitomo County that the natives are considerably more prompt in their payments than the European ratepayers. In considering the matter of rating native Jands une of the chief obstacles which confronted the authorities was the making of adequate provision for the collection of rates from lands which had not been individualised. Various interests, known only to those having an intimate acquaintance with the subject, had to be considered in order to prevent an inequitable distribution of the responsibility. Still, in order to attain the objective the Bill had to be framed in such a manner that the rates were chargeable against the property, and any person interested in the property can be nominated as owner and called upon to accept the responsibility for the whole amount of the rates. Failing I payment, the amount may be registered against the title, and no dealings with the land can be made until tha amount due for rates is liquidated. The local body is thus fully protected. On the other hand progressive native owners are fully alive to the advantage of keeping a title clear of encumbrances of this sort, and the point has already arisen as to what security an owner of an undefined interest in a block would have providing he rates due op. the whole Clearly the authorities are not alive to the degree of progress and business acumen attained by the average native owner, and the idea of a single interested party in a block

paying the whole of the rates was evidently not considered. Such cases have arisen, and the natives who are anxious to pay naturally claim that power should be granted' them to register against the interests of the remaining owners the proportion of rates paid on their behalf. Such provision is eminently reasonable and ju3t, and it is to be hoped no time will be lost in making due representations to the new Cabinet in respect to the matter. Miss Pine's new school quarter commences on Monday, April 15th." No fewer than £14,613,877,000 in bills and cheques was paid through the Bankers Clearing House in London during 1911. The estimated wealth uf the United States is £25,000,000,000. Mr Andrew Carnegie gave away eight million pounds last year in charity. Horse and cattle owners will find Mr J. E. Walker's replace announcement in this issue particularly interesting. relates to veterinary medicines and the good qualities to those prepared in his pharmacy. Owing to the number of subscribers on the Te Kuiti telephone exchange having reached the required number the time during which the exchange will be open is to be extended from between S a.m. and 8 p.m. to between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. The extension will date from Monday next.

It is not generally known that .under the truck provisions of the Wages Protection and Contractors Lien Act, it is illegal to pay assistants with crossed cheques. For so doing, Norton Smith a publican, was fined in the Wellington Court yesterday ss, with costs. ,

Mr Graham notifies some important land and other sales. He will sell on behalf of Mr J. Boddie 20 freehold sections, plans and particulars of which will be available in a day or so. He also advertises an important sale of dairying country, and will also dispose of that very convenient property owned by the trustees of the Catholic Church, situated in Tawa street. For full particulars of the respective sales see advertisements in another column. A man named G. W. Rogan had a narrow escape from a fatal ancident on Thursday. Rogan was in the employ of Mr Swanton, contractor for the Waitomo County Council near the Waitomo Caves, and was engaged in blasting some papa rock. Owing to a mishap with the fuse the charge of powder exploded, severely burning Rogan about the face and hands. He was brought to Te Kuiti the same evening, where he was medically treated by Dr Fullerton. Rogan was afterwards taken to Wharenana private hospital. Mr Winston Churchill takes the utmost troubln with his' platform speeches. In the early days of his career he memorised them, and would pace up and down the room declaiming the important parts. In particular, his perforations are never haphazard. He would probably admit that his Dundee speeches were his most elaborate efforts, and they read extremely well in print.

Mr Lloyd George is at his best when he has fewest notes, or his Celtic eloquence is tame when he is hampered by typed sheets. He cultivates a conversations' style in Parliament, which is very effective. In moving, for instance, his resolution for the payment of members Mr Lloyd George had only brief notes. He spoke, however, for over an hour to a full House, and many of his "hits" were absolutely spontaneous.

In to-day's issue Mr J. R. Graham notifies an important clearing asle of stock, implements and household goods, at Mr Davis' farm, Aria. The farm having been sold, every line must go, consequently a golden opportunity to buyers to get the stuff at their own price, and at their uWn door. For particulars sec advertisement.

An interesting operation was witnessed yesterday at Mr W. J. Black's shoeing forge, Te Kuiti, when a team of bullocks were shed. The bullocks are intended for hauling on the roads, and the shoes are for protection against the metal. Unfortunately the metal does not extend a sufficient distance to enable the hauling to be done by horses, yet the protection is necessary for the bullocks. In r&ponse to representations made by the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce a letter has been received from the Minister of Public Works stating that the matter of road connection between Oparure and Waitomo Caves is being reported on by the department. The secretary of the Chamber of Commerce has been instructed to write to the district road engineer concerning the road.

The traffic bridge over the river at King street, Te Kuiti, is now being repaired and strengthened in view of having the stone crushing plant lately acquired by the Borough conveyed to the Borough quarry. The plant has been at Te Kuiti for some time past, and has been lying idle until the necessary work on the bridge is completed.

The manner in which the Maori does business at times was disclosed at the Otorohanga Court on Thursday. A young Maori had been proceeded against for the loss of a horse, which had been killed while in his possession. He had failed to file a defence within the specified time and apDlied through a solicitor for an adjournment and leave to defend. It was explained that the defendant had been told by a native agent to come to him if trouble arose, and he would arrange for the defence. Upon the summons being issued the defendant proceeded to Auckland and informed the agent, who said it would be all right. Nothing further had been done and the defendant had te instruct a solicitor at the ' last moment. In view of the circumstances his Worship granted the leave 1 applied for.

A most distressing occurrence happened near Te Koura on Thursday morning. A Mrs Dean took her child from Ongarue for medical treatment to Taumarunui the night previous, and on the return trip ascertained that the child was dead.

Tho Chinese revolution is likely to have one curious effect, namely, to cheapen the price of silk. The reform movement is spreading quite as much among the well-to-do Chinese as among the lower classes, and in addition to dispensing with their pigtails, the Chinese are abandoning their former dress in favour of Western clothes, and for the silk garments whcih they used to wear are being substituted clothes made from Yorkshire woollens, and cut in European style. On this account large quantities of Chinese silk will find its way into the world's market and cause a drop in prices.

A meeting of members of the Te Kuiti Dog Trial Club was held in Mr Harton's office or; Wednesday last. After discussing the advisability of holding trials this season it was resolved on the motion of Mr Somerville seconded by Mr Sellars that a committee consisting of Messrs B. Hardy, Hunt, Sutherland, Shannon and O'Brien be appointed to receive a statement from the late secretary, have subscriptions collected for the current year, and call a general meeting.

Some indication of the growing capacity of Te Kuiti soil is afforded by a crop of faaize grown this season by Mr R. "M. Somerville. The ground on whicfi the crop was grown was all in scrub and fern last December. The land was cleared just ahead uf the nlough and disced once. No manure was used, and the crop is very heavy the stalks averaging eight or nine feet in height while the cobs are excellent. The crop is intended for ensilage.

The work in connection with the forming and metalling of the Ot.orohanga streets for which a special loan was raised by the Otorohanga Town Council ia to be proceeded with at once. The tender of Mr H. Rothery, of Te Kuiti (£620), for the formation of Maniapoto and Tuhora streets has been accepted, the work to be comDleted within six months.

The shortage of trucks for the carraige ot stock in the distict continues to exist, to the detriment of farmers and the loss of the department. On Thursday subsequent to the Farmers' Auctioneering Company's sale trucks were required for conveying a thousand sheep and about two hundred head of cattle in small lots. In consequence of the inability to obtain trucks the stock had to be driven by road.

Mr J. Moore, of the Tangitu block, is starting dairying from a good foundation. His herd although small as yet, is comprised of Holsteins and Jerseys. Mr Moore was a dairy factory manager in the Wairarapa distirct for a number of years, and from all appearances his farming is going to be profited by his past experiences. We have received a letter from Rev. R. B. Gosnell in connection with the formation of a town band. This matter should have the hearty support of all residents for places smaller and of far less importance than Te KtSiti have such an organisation and why not here? The letter is in our correspondence column, and should be perused by all. We understand that Mr Gosnell is a bandsman of some year's standing, and very keen on matters musical.