THE KING COUNTRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 261, 25 March 1911, Page 5

THE KING COUNTRY

ITS GREAT DEVELOPMENT. By Telegraph.—Prew Assoaiatta. Auckland, Last Night. Mr. W. T. Jcnninga, M.P. for Taumarunui, has just completed a 3000 mito tour of his electorate, which is about the largest in the Dominion. Intelviewed on his arrival in Auckland ttiia morning, Mr. Jennings spoke in an optimistic strain of the progress and potentialities of the King Country. The development of the last four years he describes as little short of marvellous. In the course of a 56-mile ride across the country from the seaboard to Te Kuiti this week, the member for the district had an opportunity of witnessing the effect of the recent heavy bush fires. The result, says Mr. Jennings, has been beneficial in the highest degree, as most of the land has now been cleared of stumps and undergrowth. The difficulty of roading native land is still acute, and settlers are feeling very sore that the Act of last session has not Drought greater relief. "Speaking generally," continued Mr. Jennings, "I must say I have never seen the King Country in a more flourishing condition. -The fact that so much native land still remains locked up is, of course, unsatisfactory, yet the progress of tho last few years has been most remarkable. A case in point was the initial King Country show held ten days ago, when 1000 persons were present. Seven years ago there were not 14 persons living in the district."