KING COUNTRY NEWS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 497, 29 October 1928, Page 12

KING COUNTRY NEWS

The registrar of electors, Mr. X. R. Mclsaacs, makes 1 available the following interesting figures in connection with the Waimarino electorate: Between the closing date of the general roll. July o, and the closing of the supplemenary roll, October 10, 1,715 claims for enrolment were received; 1,115 names were removed from the general roll, and 395 addresses within the electorate were amended. This leaves the voting power in the area at 9.159 eligible voters. Members of lie registrars staff are busily engaged with the supplementary roll and in checking over other rolls for use on election day.

Mr. W. Hughes, president, was in the chair at the annual meeting of the Taumarunui Golf Club, when the- following officers were elected for the next term: President, Mr. L. G. Godfrey; vicepresidents, Messrs. L. A. Holford and R. W. Thomas; club captain, Mr. W. Hughes; secretary, Mr. S. Manson: treasurer, Mr. C. A. A. Stevenson; auditor, Mr. C. Moore; committee, Messrs. A. W. Richter, X. R. Mclsaac, and A. Sandel. It was resolved to increase the membership fee for ladies by five shillings. A special vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Sandel for his Work as acting-secretary and as a member.

Two very important Iving Country roads will shortly have improvement work undertaken by relief workers under the Public Works Department. These are the Wade's Banding Road, leading to the Wanganui River, and the To MaireMangaohutu Road, more generally known as the Wanganui River Road. One hundred men are expected to arrive from Auckland next week, and these will be placed on the two jobs referred to.

With Mr. C. J. Rynp in the chair, a large meeting of ratepayers at Matiorc considered a proposal to metal the main road from Toi Toi to Matiere. Mr. Ronayne, chairman of the Ohura County Council, addressed the meeting, and explained that the piece of road had been declared a main highway by the Highways Board, and that body was prepared to find two-thirds of the cost of the metalling provided the ratepayers would find one-third. In view of the already heavy burdens the settlers have to bear as ratepayers, it was resolved, after long' discussion, that the settlers would be prepared to rate themselves for one-quarter of the cost of the work. The road, an important route, is practically impassable in the winter.

A progressive move has been made by the large timber-milling firm of Ellis and Burnand at Ongarue, in the direction of afforestation, which might very usefully be copied by other firms of the same class. Considerable areas of waste land under the company’s jurisdiction have been laid out with plantations, and the young tres, comprising pinus radiata, Lawsonia, eucalypti, and Oregon pine, are apparently taking well. In addition to this work, very large quantities of willows have been planted for protec-

tive purposes. At a successful meeting of the Ohura Cun Club, the President’s Cup, 3 2 birds, was won by Air. W. Christensen, with Messrs. M. Peters, F. Ebbett, and H. Curtis as runners-up for the second place. Messrs. M. Peters and C. Curtis each won five-bird sweepstakes, and Air. H. Turner secured the seven-bird sweepstake.

King Country anglers, as well as officials of the Marine Department, are at present anxiously watching the waters of the Wanganui River, as the time has now arrived when.the first run of Atlantic salmon may be looked for. Mr. J. Saddler, an honorary ranger, recentlv caught a strange fish, which has been forwarded to Mr. A. E. Hefford, director of fisheries, for identification. Of all North Island rivers, the Wanganui is believed to be the most suitable for the Atlantic fish.

Air. Shutt, who has for some time been on the staff of the Alangakara school, Ohura, was the guest at a gathering of teachers presided over by Air. D. McKay headmaster at Ohura High School, when a pi esentation was made him prior to his departure to take up duties at the Rallance School.