DISTRICT PARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 7, 7 December 1906, Page 2

DISTRICT PARS.

A change is to take place shortly in the proprietorship of one of the Te Kuiti boarding houses, Mr F. Sims having completed arrangements for taking over Mr Rountree's business and will enter into possession on January Ist next. Mr Rountree lias been engaged in the business for the past four years, and has earned a high reputation as a host, and it is understand that he is to remain in the district.

Messrs Devlin and Donovan, the delegates from the Irish Nationalist Party, are now touring New Zealand, and an effort is to be made to get them to deliver a lecture in the King Country. There were 20,000 persons present on the second day of the Auckland Show, large numbers going from the Waikato and King Country districts. A curious example of red iape in the Lands Department has arisen in connection with obtaining a Church site in Te Kuiti. When the township lands were thrown open for selection in Jaunary last the lease of several sections was secured by a Maori at the upset price. The Church people subsequently made a bargain with the Native for a transfer of the lease to them. The usual documents were duly executed and sent for registration, but the Registrar objected on the grounds that the transaction was with a Maori, and steps would have to be taken to have restrictions removed and the land gazetted for the approval of the Maori Land Board, before the documents could be registered. As the land was Maori-owned in the first instance and was offered by the Maori Land Board for lease by public auction, these steps had already been taken, but the Registrar held that as the section had been secured by a Maori it was necessary to go through the same process again. Such are the advantages of the land tenure in the. King Country, and this instance affords an example of the devious road to be travelled by those who are optimistic enough to undertake simplest of land transactions with a Maori.

Bacon pigs arc fetching 4c! per pound at the factories, and at this price many of our farmers are finding that pork growing is not the least profitable branch of the farmer's operations.

A meeting of the Te Kuiti Sports' Committee was held in Mr Hardy's office on Tuesday night last, when matters in connection with the forthcoming carnivali on January 29th, were arranged. A programme of about twenty events, with prize money aggregating about £SO,_ was adopted, and it was decided to initiate a vigorous canvass for subscriptions. A large amount of interest is being taken in the carnival, which promises to be a thoroughly .representative gathering. The estate of the late Mr Seddon was sworn for probate at £14,297. Wool is steadily increasing in price f< tt ! hd is selling both in the North and South Island markets at an increase of from 5 to 10 per cent, over previous values. Advices from England state that there is a strong demand for all classes, and American buyers are investing heavily at the increased prices. The total takings at the Auckland Agricultural Show this year, amounted to £B4B 10s 6d, as against £748 for the two days last year. The South African football team, at present touring Britain, set the seal on its fame by defeating Wales by 11 points to nil. As showing the steady advancement of the King Country it is worthy of note that the building trade is showing greatly increased activity in Te Kuiti. Messrs Mordaunt and Bailey, besides the work in hand, have orders for four new buildings, and Mr R. Taylor is also busy with the preliminary work for several new houses.

The potato blight has made an unwelcome appearance in the Matiere district, though it is not so bad as in previous seasons.

Several local Natives recently journeyed to Otorohanga and sold blocks of land situated in the Kawhia district to the Goverment purchaser. One owner in the the swamp, near Kawhia, refused £7 an acre for his share. —Kawhia Settler. At the first wool sale of the season in Auckland last week prices ruled high, showing an all round increase. The bulk of the wool offered was cross-bred, and every line brought satisfactory prices, showing an advance of Id to 2d on last year's figures: The top price realised was for five bales of half-bred merino offered by G. W. Binney and Son, which brought is 2d per pound. The Loan and Mercantile, Farmers' Union, A. Buckland and Sons, and C. B. Kingswell and Co., all sold good lines from lod to is iHd. For high-class circulars and up-to-date billheads, you can't beat the Chronicle office. Our entire plant is new, and our types in the latest style. The Gisborne Sheep Farmers' Freezing Company has paid a dividend of 5 per cent, for the year, and in addition, a bonus of 3d for evevy sheep, or two lambs, received for export from each shareholder during the financial year ; one head of cattle received for export to count as twelve sheep. The demand for oil engines to drive milking machines lias been so great during the last few weeks that nearly every agent in the Colony ts sold out. It is estimated that over £lo,ooo of milking machinery and plant has been sold in the North Island this season.

Wc have received n letter from Mrs Graham, of Hamilton, who for several years past has collected a shilling subscription for (he purchase of a Christinas gift For each inmate of the Hamilton Hospital. As many KingCountry residents have been inmates.**, of the Hospital, this action will doubt be appreciated throughout the district. A list will be open at the CIINONia.K office for the purpose stated, and all those in sympathy with the object arc invited to send or bring their shilling's along.

The proposal to convert Messrs MeNicol and Co., into a Farmers' Cooperative Auctioneering Company is meeting with very strong support, and there is every likelihood of the new company starling operations immediately after the New Year.

In reply to a stirring appeal, made by the Chairman of the Te Kuiti Vigilance Committee on behalf of the settlers interested, Mr Jennings, M.H.R., has asked the authorities in Wellington to use all expedition towards expending the £3OO recently granted for the extension of the Ngapacnga road. The first lady to win such an honour in the Auckland district', was on Thursday last, on the application of Mr J. C. Martin, before His Honour Mr Justice Edwards, admitted to practice as a solictor. The land campaign is still excitinggreat interest throughout the colony. Mr McNab, who departed from Auckland for the South on Tuesday is to tour the North Island in February. Mr Massey has made two speeches on behalf of the freehold and has received motions in favourof theoptional tenure at each.

A telegram has been received by the Chairman of the Waitomo County Council intimating that the Government has no .money available for loans to local bodies. This means that the loan and subsidy applied for by the Mairoa Riding has been shelved. The matter will no doubt be dealt with at the next meeting of the Council, to beheld on January :14th next.

Mr E. Clifton who has been appointed Chief of the Agricultural Department for New Zealand, was last week presented with a gold chro : nograph by the officers of the Stock Department of the Auckland district.

Mr E. Moore of Mahoenui, is a sturdy advocate of the sheep as compared to the cattle beast. At the recent Te Kuiti sale, this gentleman quitted a line of sheep at a profit of £2OO on an investment of less than that amount.

There is a line stock of Chris!nuis cards at the CIIRONICI.K office, and .ill those desirous of sending handsome souvenirs to their friends at tin; festive season have the choice of numerous designs"