General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22432, 20 June 1938, Page 8

General News

Big “Mystery Hike” A total of 1150 passengers, the biggest number ever to leave Christchurch on an excursion, travelled from Christchurch to Springfield yesterday for the “mystery hike” arranged by the Railway Department. Two trains, one with 16 and the other with 13 carriages, were required to cope 'with the crowd of holiday-makers. On ’ reaching Springfield hundreds tramped to Patterson's creek and elsewhere. The day was warm and sunny, and the outing was marred by not a single mishap. Another excursion to the Omihi district will probably be run by the Railway Department about the middle of July. Old Conveyances and Implements The probability of negotiations being made by the historical committee of the New Zealand centennial to secure for the celebrations in 1940 some of the examples of old-time conveyances and implements used by the pioneer farmers of the Manawatu, which the Young Farmers’ Club produced with telling effect in the “cavalcade of agriculture” at the Palmerston North Show, was mentioned by the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) in replying to a deputation on Saturday. “When i was watching those aged vehicles a vivid picture of the olden days and the struggles in transport and tilling the land came quickly into my mind,” said Mr Parry. “It was a remarkable display in all ways: It seemed to me to be just the kind of realistic show We need in our centennial parades—something that will kindle the imagination and cause the people to live, if only momentarily, with their forefathers in the making days of their fine country. I am suggesting to the centennial historical committee that it makes an effort to secure those particular exhibits.”— Press Association. Deer on Stewart Island A scheme submitted by Mr George Jaquiery, who died last year, and Mr J. B. Thomson for ridding Stewart Island of deer has not found favour with the Department of Internal Affairs. A letter from the department, received by the executive of the Southland Progress League at its last meeting, described the scheme as impracticable and one which “could quite easily result in disaster.” An assurance •was given that every effort would be made to exterminate the deer on “this national reserve of great scenic and scientific value.” The letter was received. Another Sea Snake

While walking along the Ninety-Mile Beach one day last week Mr, M. Richards found a snake, which apparently had not been long dead. The upper half of the snake was dark blue and the lower part a bright yellow. The tail was dotted with black spots, ft was about 21in long. This is the third snake to be discovered in the last four weeks on North Island coasts. The first, captured on Mahia Peninsula last month, was identified as a yellow-bellied sea snake. At the beginning of last week a snake answering the same description was killed on the west coast near Dargaville.

New Zealand Munition Supply

The possibility of New Zealand being involved in hostilities was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce. On the motion of Mr K. McLeay, it was decided to recommend to the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce: “That this chamber- is concerned that in the event of hostilities this country would not be adequately supplied with munitions and that steps should be taken to assure an adequate supply being available.” Mr McLeay said that he wished to protest against the Prime Minister’s reply to a recent statement made by Lord Rothermere. Steps should be taken whereby munitions could be supplied to this country for purely defensive purposes. “It wouldn’t take much training to enable us to defend ourselves if we had the wherewithal,” said Mr McLeay.

Relieving Obligations

“The whole trend of legislation in this country has been to relieve people of their personal obligations, even to rearing their babies,” said Mi- A. J. B. Sicely (Marton) at a meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board, when non-pay-ment of fees was being discussed. Mrs E. M. Scott said the Government could not be blamed in the matter of the public’s integrity. “I am not blaming this Government more than the last,” said Mr Sicely, “but that is the trend these days.”

Rare New Zealand Bird A mounted specimen of the rare New Zealand bird, the takahe or takahea, has been placed on exhibition at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. This is one of only four of this rare species known to have been captured and preserved, and its exhibition in Auckland has been made possible by the courtesy of the director of the Otago Museum, Mr H. D. Skinner. The first specimen was captured in 1849 by sealers in Duck Cove, Resolution Island. It was caught by the sealers’ dogs and was kept alive for a few days on a schooner. It was then killed and the body roasted and eaten by the crew. The- second specimen was taken by a Maori on Secretary Island, Thompson Sound, in 1851. The skins of both of these were secured by Mr W. B. D. Mantell and forwarded Xo the British Museum. The third was caught by a rabbitec’s dog near the Manaroa river, south-east of Lake Te Anau, in 1879. Its skin was purchased by the Dresden Museum. The fourth is the* one now being exhibited in Auckland. The specimen was taken on August 7, 1898, near the shore of the Middle Fjord, Lake Te Anau. It was brought out of the bush by a dog and died shortly after. A County Wages Bill The Hawke’s Bay County Council’s wages bill for May was £5488, compared with the normal bill of about £ISOO. The large extra expenditure in wages was due to damage caused by the flood of April. The County Clerk, Mr W. J. O’Connell, said last Wednesday that the county was employing about 360 men, compared with about 90 under normal conditions.

Diviner in Hot Water While boring for fresh water to provide a supply for the Rotokawa native school on Te Ngae road, about five miles from Rotorua, a well borer and water diviner, Mr A. G. Thompson, struck hot thermal water at a depth of approximately 58ft. The water had a temperature of 128 degrees and is believed to have valuable curative properties, as it is near a thermal spring, of which the curative value has been known for a number of years. At the time the boring operations were being carried out the Minister for Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, was visiting Rotorua, and he visited'the scene of operations. On his instructions Mr Thompson put down two other bores in an effort to locate fresh water, but in each case furtherthermal water was tapped. Finally Mr Thompson divined an underground cold water stream flowing away from the nearby lake, and this will be used to provide the school water. Mr Fraser was most interested in the discovery of the underground spring of hot thermal water, and he has given directions for an analysis to be taken of it. In discussing the matter the Minister mentioned the possibility of tapping a supply to provide a hot thermal bath, which could be used by the school children, while the possibility of heating the school by means of a hot natural spring was also mooted. Further investigations are to be made with the object of exploring the practicability of these two suggestions.

The American Way Novel but effective methods were employed by Dr. J. H, Kolb in speaking to an Auckland gathering on some recent administrative developments in the United States. Instead. of delivering an address on formal lines, Dr. Kolb distributed a mimeographed sheet showing the plan or framework of his speech, and thus enabled his listeners to follow visually as well as orally. In a conversational way that placed him on an intimate footing with his audience, Dr. Kolb dealt with each point and invited questions as he proceeded. Often, owing to* Dr. Kolb’s keenness to make every point clear, the questioners found themselves interrogated by him aiyi involved in a discussion.