General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22579, 8 December 1938, Page 10

General News

Afforestation in North Canterbury Gratification at the decision of the Government to acquire 5000 acres in the foothills near Rangiora for afforestation was expressed at a meeting last night of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League by Mr A. Buckingham, chairman of the league’s afforestation committee. The decision was welcome, said Mr Buckingham, although it had been hoped that at least 10,000 acres would be acquired. However, he had no doubt that another 5000 acres would be acquired in the next few years. The location of the plantation was very suitable, and it had an advantage over the State Forest Department’s plantation at Hanmer Springs of being close to labour and markets. The executive agreed to write to the Minister for Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) expressing its appreciation of the Government’s decision and the hope that the plantation would soon be .extended to cover 10,000 acres. Beautification of the Avon “No greater benefit can be conferred' upon posterity here than the beautification of the Avon river,” said the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) yesterday, after he had returned from a tour of inspection of the Avon River Development Scheme, accompanied by Mr R. B. Owen. “It is a beautiful river, which creates a peacefulness in the city, and provides a resort where people can go to enjoy the tranquillity of the river and its surroundings,” the Minister said. Elderly Air Traveller Delighted with a form of travel that was novel- to her, Mrs M. Pateman, a 79-years-old resident of Dannevirke, arrived in Christchurch by air from her home town yesterday. Mrs Pateman will stay with friends in • Rangiora, and when deciding to make the journey to Canterbury determined to take the most expeditious means of travelling. She said that she had looked forward to the flight and had been delighted with the experience. Weka Pass Deviation The new road leading into Weka Pass from the south end will probably be open before the end of the month. This advice from the district engineer of the Public Works Department (Mr F. Langbein) was reported to the executive of the Canterbury Progress League last night by the highways committee. The report said that all the excavation work had virtually been completed, and the only work left of any importance was the erection of a bridge across one of the gullies. A contract for this would be let soon. It was expected, the report added, that work would soon be commenced of eliminatipg the level crossing at Waikari.* Maori Adzes Recent additions to the exhibits of the Canterbury Museum include one metal and two stone adzes, found at Hokitilca and presented by Mr W. H. Johnston, of Fendalton. Discussing the adzes, Mr R. S. Duff, ethnologist at the museum, said that the metal one had been hammered out of copper. The other two, which are designed so that they can be fastened on their hafts like grubber heads, show off to advantage the very noticeable curve that is to be found in most adzes shaped by Pacific peoples. This characteristic, Mr Duff said, had suggested to some ethnologists that the Polynesians had been brought into contact in some way or other with a metal culture before they left the mainland of Asia. Possibly they remembered a style of m'etal implement, and had incorporated it in their design of stone weapons. Books Issued from Library The issue of all classes of books was satisfactory last month, said Mr E. J. Bell, librarian at the Christchurch Public Library, yesterday. Volumes taken out for home reading numbered 15,228, an increase of 648 over November, 1937. New books placed on the shelves of the lending department numbered 235. In the reference library 8566 books were consulted and 31 added to the stock. The intermediate service, introduced some 12 months ago for young persons between the ages of 16 and 18 years,-, was making excellent progress, Mr Bell said. Membership now totalled 300. From the children’s section 3826 volumes were taken out during November, while 56 attractive new books were placed on the shelves. Canterbury Stone at Exhibition One possible feature of the Canterbury section of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition in Wellington in 1940 will be the use of stone quarried in the province for certain decorative purposes. It was suggested at the meeting of the Canterbury Court executive in Christchurch. yesterday afternoon that a fireplace or some other ornamental piece of masonry cut from sandstone, similar to work displayed at the Sign of the Takahe, could be introduced into the Canterbury section and that an arch of some other stone would also add to the attractiveness of the architecture of the section. Hanmer Springs marble and limestone were mentioned as materials which could be introduced into the decorative scheme. School Library Service Arrangements for the opening in February of the new school library service, by which parcels of books will be regularly distributed among the primary schools of Christchurch, are now well in hand. This advice was given to “The Press” yesterday by the librarian of the Christchurch Public Library (Mr E. J. Bell). Already 900 volumes have been received and about 1000' more are expected shortly. Besides fiction, there are a great number of biographies, travel stories, and works dealing with engineering wonders and hobbies. All are attractively bound in the latest colour styles. The purchase of these books, Mr Bellexplained, is financed from grants by the schools, while the organisation of the scheme is under the control of the public library. Jetty to be Dismantled The dismantling of the smaller of the two jetties at Governor's Bay was decided, upon by the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday. The jetty, which is little used, has fallen into disrepair. Use of Motor Spirits Tax “The highways committee feels that nothing more can be done at the moment with the league’s proposal that the special tax of 4id on motor spirits be diverted to the highways count, and it is recommended that further action be withheld until a more favourable opportunity,” said a report presented to the executive of the Canterbury Progress League last night. “It is not suggested by this that the matter should be dropped. Far from it, as there can be no doubt that the proposal is on sound lines; and with the large support that has been given to it from one end of New Zealand to the other it must be taken up again.” The report was approved. Maori Cloaks An attractive and novel display of Maori garments has been arranged in the Maori house at the Canterbury Museum by the ethnologist, Mr R. S. Duff. The garments are hung in such a way that the fabric, which forms the base into which the feathers or flax are woven, can be seen as well as the more decorative side. Among the splendid samples on display are a woman’s cloak ornamented with thrums of black, dried flax thread, a. man’s cloak with a very fine taniko border, and cloaks of dogskin, kiwi, and pigeon feathers. One of the most interesting exhibits is a rain cape, such as the Maori would wear when crossing the Alps, made of. undressed cabbage tree leaves thatched into native cloth. Above the cloaks are suspended the kilts worn by .men and women. Names for New Tug The Lyttelton Harbour Board has already received several suggestions for the name of its new tug, now under construction in England, At the meeting of the board yesterday it was stated that Captain Hugh Monro, a former member of the board, had suggested O-toki-toki, a Maori name for Godley Head. A further choice of names was given by the secretary (Mr C. H. Clibborn), who pointed out that Andersen’s “Place Names of Banks Peninsula” also gave Awa-roa as the Maori name for Godley Head, and Toloa and Te Piaka as alternative names for Adderley Head. Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., favoured the continuation of the name Lyttelton, but the board decided to defer the matter until the next meeting. •