DUNEDIN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 197, 14 May 1908, Page 8

DUNEDIN.

n rr i , . Ma ? 13 - Dr. iiocken, speaking at the Otago Institute meeting last night, said lie had recently visited tho oountry north of Auckland. Ilioro were two special reasons for making that journey. One was to tread in tho faotc steps or that great traveller, Samuel Marsden, when he performed his third journey to New Zealand nearly 90 years ago, so as to gain knowledge that would assist, him.in preparing for publication an account of Marsdon's lifo and journals. Tho other reason T™ 3 verify or otherwise the statement in Mr. IregearV'Maori Race,"and moro recently in Professor MacMillan Brown's work, that there oxistcd in the Kerikeri district ancient stones or monoliths of a druidical character, which point to a period in-tho history of autochthons vastly anterior to all previous conjecture. As to tho last-mentioned matter, tho lecturer described what ho found, and said: "Whilst it may bo wrong and prematura to deny tho statements of Messrs. Tregear and Brown, it is competent to say that so far tho weight of ovidenco is against them, and upon the existence of these stones particularly de--pends tho Caucasian theory. Mr. J. M'Dcaiald, tho new Mayor, definitely contradicts tho rumour that lie inintcinds to oppose Mr. Sidey for tho Caversham seat. ■ Mr. David Wall, an amateur, beat all comors for tho champion . competition in chrysanthemums at the Horticultural Society's Show. _ Tho Corporation will probably undcrtako tho coating of all Upper llattray Street with Neuchatcl asphalto, this being recommended by tho Work-s Conimittoo. Tho cost will bo £1950 to tho Corporation, and £450 to tho lioslyn Tram Company.