TE KUITI NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 935, 31 March 1930, Page 16

TE KUITI NOTES

From Our Own Correspondent TE IvUITI, Sunday. Mrs. IT. T. Morton flew from Auckland to Te Kuiti on Friday in a D.H. Moth plane. She is the first woman passenger to make this flight, which was accomplished in 68. minutes. A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Chris. Craig, service-car driver, Kawhia, was held at Te Kuiti Courthouse on Friday. Mr. D. Aitken, of the Vacuum Oil Company, Limited, presided. Bankrupt’s debts were shown at £368 7s 4d, and assets £lO. He took over Magon’s garage at Te Kuiti in May, 1928, at a rental of £6 10s a week. At first business was good but after five months he was unable to meet his payments. He attributed his failure to the "fearfully keen competition in the motor trade at the time.” At the conclusion of the meeting no questions were asked and no resolutions were carried. The meeting was adjourned sine die. * * * An interesting visitor to Te Kuiti on Friday was the Hon. AV. J. Mann, M.L.C., of Western Australia. He is on his way to attend the Empire Press Conference in England. Mr. Mann paid a visit to Waitomo Caves in the evening. The marked success of the group settlement schemes in AVestern Australia was commented on by the visitor. In connection with St.. Luke’s flower show, the trophy presented by Mrs. Rolleston for the best-kept garden was won by Mrs. Marslack, of the railway settlement in Te Kumi Road. Only half a point separated the first and second competitors, so it was decided to award a consolation prize to the second best, Mr. McKenzie. The guessing competitions were won by G. Fearnley, Miss Taylor and T. F. Sparks. Mrs. J. C. Rolleston, by defeating Miss Mueller, 5 —G. 6—2, G—4, won the Te Kuiti Tennis Club’s women’s championship on Friday evening, after a keen contest. • • • The acquisition of blocks of Maori lands in the Te Kuiti district for settlement is now progressing. It is understood that the Crown is negotiating to purchase sections in the Rangitoto district. At a meeting held during the week it was stated that h&lf of the native owners were willing to sell, while the others contended that the valuation was too low. A further meeting of owners will be held in a month’s time, when it is hoped satisfactory arrangements will be made for the purchase of the balance. The Maori Land Board acquired the Totoro Block near Mahoenui, for the Maoris to farm. The block comprises 5,000 acres of undulating country, the. land being of good quality. The formation of a stock route through the centre of the block will be put in hand shortlj', after which subdivision will be proceeded with. There was a large gathering of settlers at the official opening of the new Awaroa bridge, between Te Kuiti and Kawhia. Mrs. Babbage, wife of Air. Babbage, ex-chairman of the Kawhia County Council, performed the opening ceremony. A feature of the gathering was the presence of an old white horse, which for the past 20 years had been used for transporting children and adults across the river. Air. and Airs. Broadfoot were present, also visitors from Te Kuiti, Waitomo, Kawhia, and other townships. The bridge has been erected with a grant by the Public AVorks Department and was constructed under the supervision of the Kawhia County engineer, Air. A. L. Fraser.