King Country Chronicle Wednesday, Nov. 26th, 1913. NATIVES AS RATEPAYERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 622, 26 November 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, Nov. 26th, 1913. NATIVES AS RATEPAYERS.

For man} - years a decided grievance ; existed in this district in respect to the rating of native-owned 'and? and i notwithstanding strenuous efforts nn the part of the European residents the application )f a remedy to meet the situation wae delayed. Prior to Palo the machinery for the colh'oi ion of native rates existed, hut the consent of the Minister had to be obtained hefore steps could be taken to onfoive the provisions of the Act, The amendment to the Rating Act, passed in 1910, however, removed (bo power veto from the Minister and provided means for registering against the tide of native blocks on which rates bad accrued Few local authorities took the trouble to attempt the collodion of rates on native-owned "lands, hut the Waitomo County Council ban been particularly active in placing all ratable native land in the county on the rate book. During the two years for which the Act has been in operation ihe amount of native rate? collected has been a substantial addition to ihe revenue of the county, and the fact chat. each year sees an increase in the amount received is a gratifying indication that the natives are realising their responsibilities. This year the first two ratepayers to discharge their liability to ihe county were members of the native race, and there is little doubt such an example wiii bear good fruit. In the whom county the amount of unratabie native land is 25' SO acres valued at £5475 while the non-ratable Crown land is valued at .£10'.),332 There is no doubt a considerable portion of the native rates will rerpcirc to be. registered against the tides of the blocks on which Pee vatvs hsve accrued, but there is reasonable assurance that the amount so dea.lt with will be collected, The making of the native lands ratable was a big stride towards the solution of the native problem, and the present Minister of Native affaire is to be commended for providing further facilities in th■ same direction. A DAIRYING SUGGESTION. <? The dairying industry of this district is assuming such import ant dimensions that anything which may he calculated to assist in its development should be eagerly welcomed. The j majority of the dairy farmers of the King Country have hitherto carried |on their operations in the face of many disabilities in the way of transit difficulties, and the isolation eonimon to nc-i.vly-settPd districts. These difficulties are gradually being overcome ana attention is bpirtg turned ii> the improvement of herds and nmw.ods of working. The doctrine that is being preached by a!J who have a grasp of what dairying really means is testing. and upon this feature of the work the j Bucess or failure of the individual j practically depends,. It is obviously j essential for the farmer to know e\- | actly what his cows are returning in I order to form an estimate, of the num- i her of payable animals he is milking : and the necessity of discarding" unpay- i able utcck is apparent. Only by test- j ing consistently can the farmer ac- 1 quire the information which should j guide bis efforts. Proper success in ] dairying is only achieved in years of | effort, and each season should -ee an j improvement in every properly-man-aged herd. A valuable suggestion has been recently made which should be highly suitable for this district, it is that groups of farmers in the various locaities should appoint a man to test for them for the season. The tester should he employed at nothing else, and his wages would be a very small item on each of the group, while the advantages would be greater than the ordinary farmer could estimate. This system appear? to be specially suitable for a district, such as this where the milking is carried on in isolated districts, and the suggestion is well worthy of consideration by our dairy farmers generally. It is stated the Salvation Army in tend establishing a branch at Te Kuiti and have purchased a section in Taupiri street upon which barracks will be erected.

In consequence of the reduced i h Iridic on the railway 1 r I t th Dnpjitment haa i ( [7 mil) ' he train liei 1 i 11 ion, which The train unlays. i I ( ( vliic.h haa (ii i last few oinowhat si for tho i I'd some 1 I ho accrue I ii ( Oxford i in ovation Mr 1 tie alinp with i solution connl ■* land proi ' \ votes to id red a perI ] George. I icret aeri o the Bel- * and amo reach Ulster i lit numbers, rifles are openly, the I mg forwarded ' i" present for \ f 1l Kuiti Illusi i \ ii i at the \ liim received 11 quarters on i in ui( tion, and the ' in of the sou- \ (In Chronicle. u Illustrated is l Hie manner in i th district are i il ilities it is intho first rates i ( ounty for the in in Maoris. \o\i mber 17th on ratepayer \ \ caterday the i i h irge the liafootballers in ) i on Saturday, i \ } r > points to 0. wk for VictoriQ, fell i u l before the i irried off the i d died in a few i j lit it first that mcuß3ion. A however, showri i n heart weaki 1 iiifi due to exi i uit j r Club is betho direction of rdi) for the next i \ i' takes nlace on \ alterations i the course i i i<cr accom■unnirig track n i t attention. i r published mil with k niv there ih \ \ (e that the i ill be better well in hand for i P Associa- ( have been i nt-quence of n ltd to have Hiring this i Mate of the i i id it imposi iry arrange--cheduleß can i < j will be obt '■oapi cts. Fortuii imp to be done ( hn (mag holidays inc work will be i i lion s i i marily with k i il IE the praci n mers of buy:i(u on the hireBooth, Co. v. (ho Official i i- ii upied several N i reme Court, i] 1\ u'-ed is the i, i i \ < ther non- , i i in Monday his >i i r remarked i \tended from i nine s to gramand tven to i flu c ise was re ill; express, timed to i i n minutes paßt i >\ i vening, was ' u d station until \\o o'clock on i inc to the line 1 i While \ u proceeding hi rtly after \ t iar. which iiid the points ( uion, and H *-., blocking i m lines. A necessary api despatched ii th line. The w is successful it half-past one i ii wcic not damu iid out, of the \ KI \ i ;t\ minutes (i • ' ni of the To s , ! s show, i w in the ( I rived are , , (ieipate.l ! .-ii with i ! uitr. etc. il- known \ t hiive a Messrs , > have a !l ,'.t.s etc. I i hie in tho I , I in \t rv t i special , i ,(hero [ i i nn ili d 1 ri c win I ' 1" | jl f II ' tio I 1 )C X V I |h in ' i'K , oi [ id ii \ i 1! pit ruiu cd Ihi il 1 i « i ( Ifimb diessefl b\ M <• i I n«.

Mr T. Mackenzie, High Commisioner, Btates that the United States authorities agree to accept New Zaeland meat transhipped from Britain, with*' out indelible stamping, provided the wording on the tags indicates ante andpost mortem examinations disclosing freedom from disease and chemical preservatives, and that the tags are securely fixed by wire and sealed. The workmen's co-operative glass factory at Paria haa been obliged to close its doors despite the fact that it is over-run with orders, and bis received the active support of the trades unions. The men are unable to agree amongst themselves, and strikes are of almust weekly occurrence. The managing committee is composed exclusively of workmen, who are alleged to be harder upon the men than any private employer. The Rev. A. Armstrong, who arrived back from the south this week, will occupy the pulpit at the Presbyterian Chruch during all the services on Sunday next. Mr Armstrong wilt shortly be leaving Te Kuiti to take up church work elsewhere, and Sunday's services will practically be his farewell as a preacher to the congregation. Mr Armstrong wis the first resident Presbyterian minister at Te Kuiti, and has always taken a keen interest in any wo'k for th« goad of the com*, munity outside hn immediate church work. Father O'Reilly, the champion of the Catholic Federation movement, created a sensation in an address at the Cootamundra Catholic Church, denouncing Mr W. A. Holman, Premier of New South Wales, for allegedly causing the issue of a secret circular advising Labour candidates not to bind themselves on Catholic questions. Father O'Reilly advißed Catholics to vote against all candidates, whether Catholic or Protestant, Labour or Liberal, refusing to aniwer the Catholic Federation's questions. He declared that though for twelve years he had voted Labour, he intended to vote Liberal, becuae the Labour candidates turned down the Federation. The good story illustrating the manner of a Maori in posseßßion of sudden-ly-acquired wealth comes from Taihape. A Maori sold some land. He visited the bank manager who took his money freely and gave him a cheque book in exchange. The Maori voiced his appreciation of the cheque system, left the bank, and proceeded to "cut it out." He entertained fail friends right royally. For every debt be incurred a cheque wbb forthcoming. A week later the bank manager saw his dusky friend once more. "Here, Hon'," protested he, "your'e making it hot. You've spent SO much money that you've got an overdraft. You owe me £40." "No fear!" replied Hori, with a pitying smile for the white man's lack of perspicuity, "I got the cheque still; look 1" and with that be pulled out a much besmudged cheque book, whereil one Bolitary blank form remained. "Oh, no!" said the manager, and with trouble he impressed on Hori that Hori's overdraft was £4O, that Hori, in fact, owed the bank £4O. "AH ri'," said Hori, with a resigned air, "I give you t' cheque for itl"