THE KING COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9065, 28 May 1888, Page 3

THE KING COUNTRY.

Otorohanga is now revelling in the possession of the Native Land Court it yearned for, but, alas ! the gratification of its desire has not turned out to be an unmixed blessing for, although it has the court with i multitude of anxious pleaders, it is not, financially, in a thriving condition. Business generally in the King Country is not very brisk—that is, judging from the tidy appearance of the stores, which I think may be set down as due to the employment of the tedious time between the rare visits of customers. The hall of justice at Otorohanga is a very commodious building, and my advice to the speculating folk of that place is to draw cash from people's pockets, by opening it, when the daily court business is over, as an aboriginal rink. It would be a novelty to the natives, and I see no reason why it should not be a pecuniary success.

Prohibition exists to an alarming degree in Otorohanga. The peculiar rosy appearance of many of its inhabitants is attributed to their consumption of pure King-Country - filtered Waipa water. The Rev. J. Boler, of Te Awamutu, held divine services here and at Waitcte on Sunday last. The attendance was not so numerous as it would have been had a more extended notice, which the scattered population warranted, been given of his intention to do so. Mr. Boler is very popular here, and all who heard of his arrival were flad to know he had quite recovered from is late indisposition. The lovers of billiards no longer regret the absence of a table to play on, for tho one that was at Waitete is now in full swing here, and the knights of the cue are happy. The opening of the sporting season is a boom to many. Some of the local sportsmen are craok shots, and always secure full bags. Pheasants, wild ducks, pigeons, pukakis, and other small birds are the game of the district. Pigs are plentiful, and the scent of them clings to the country, but they are tho property of the natives, and as such sacred to the sportsman. Rabbits, if they migrated to this country, might live in peace and multiply, for I do not think anyone would deem it worth while to microbe them off the face of it.

A detachment of Te Kooti's followers gave a war dance at the native village the other evening. Thirty of them took part in it, and the entertainment was given in native costume. Some of the performers were splendid specimens of men. As the cold season approaches the footballers of the district are donning their uniforms and practising the game. The advent of an English team into New Zealand has given such a " spurt" to the game of football that it at present ranks superior to cricket as a national pastime of the colonials. The local team here is a strong one, and most of its members are noted for their knowledge of the game. The Government will not grant a school for this district, and the depressed people cannot afford one; consequently the King Country is not included in the civilising embrace of the educational system of New Zealand. At present it is a difficult matter for those out of employment to obtain work here. Those in work, as a rule, when they leave, clear out of the district by train. Reduction of hands takes place every day, for the cuttings and other works on the railway contract are drawing to a finish. Plate laying is now going on, and ballasting by engine will very soon start. The permanent way to W aitete will very soon be done, and the ballasting of it at once proceeded with, so that the viaduct iron may be trained up from the Te Kuiti workshop for erection in its appointed place. The men at work on the viaduct iron are now making a good show, and the columns, with lattice oars, brackets, rings, ear-plates, and straps rivettcd to them assume a definite form of construction. The works at the Porotorau Tunnel are advancing as quickly as possible. Bricking the tunnel has been going on for some days. Messrs. Briton and Adams are persevering men of that type who know not the meaning of failure. The weather lately has been fine in the day time, but very frosty at nights.—[Own Correspondent. ]