KING COUNTRY AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 5 January 1903, Page 2

KING COUNTRY AFFAIRS.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, this day,

Mr Wm. Jennings, M.H.R. for Egmont, is representing to the Minister for Railways that settlers at Ongaruhe and Ohura are placed at great disadvantage owing to the Department not taking over that portion of the Main Trunk Railway now completed between Poro-o-tarao and Ongaruhe. The settlers wish to get rails, fencing materials, etc., before winter sets in, but owing to the Public Works Department still retaining control of the above-mentioned portion of the line the railage rates, say on one ton of barb wire from Auckland to Ongaruhe, would amount to £2 8/1, whereas under the Railway Department the same mileage would cost £2 0/11.

The Piriaka School petition, which was presented by Mr Jennlng-s to the Minister for Education, asking for a school, contained 148 signatures. There are over 60 children in the place now. When Messrs Crowther, Lang and Jennings and party passed through in 1895 there was no sign of people or houses at Te Kuiti.

Representations have been made to have the survey pushed on with regard to this township, and also to have a Maori Council set up. Various other matters, such as the post office and savings bank at Piraka, pushing on with the road to Mangaotoki, near Paemako, etc., have been brought under the notice of various Departments.