Zog I of Albania state. He all but eliminated civil liberties, muzzled the press and murdered political opponents. Under the constitution, Zogu was vested with sweeping executive and legislative powers, including the right to appoint one-third of the upper house. For all intents and purposes, he held all governing power in the nation. On 1 September 1928, Albania was transformed into a kingdom, and President Zogu became Zog I, "King of the Albanians" ("Mbreti i Shqiptarëve" in Albanian). He took as his regnal name his surname rather than his forename, since the Islamic name "Ahmet" might have had the effect of isolating him on
King Country of alcohol throughout the district. Construction of the railway began in 1885, and finished in 1908, with the completion greatly improving transport and communications in the King Country, promoting settlement and farming in the area - as well as assisting in the growth of rural service towns such as Taumarunui which was an important railway depot until the 1950s. The alcohol ban lasted until 1953 - as a young man, John A. Lee was jailed for smuggling alcohol into the area around 1910. The King Country Rugby Football Union has produced several Rugby union players who became All Blacks: Bill