TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 83, 6 January 1928, Page 7

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS FROM NEAR AND FAR

Some excellent sea fishing has lately been obtained on the beach at the mouth of the Rangitata River, where great hauls of kawhai have been secured (states the Timaru "Herald”). One fisherman got 30 of these fish one afternoon, many of them weighing from 51b. to Gib. each.

A local resident, when motoring from Takapau recently; ran into a swarm of bees, which gave aim and bis fellow passengers a lively time for a few moments (says the Napier "Telegraph"). The visitors were eventually driven from the vehicle.

Bush fires in the country to the back of Gisborne caused smoke clouds that were much admired by travellers on the Wairoa-Gisborne Road the other afternoon (says an exchange). On the previous afternoon a huge, snow-white smoko cloud overhung the bush-clad hills skirting Waikaremoana to the southward.

How great a factor is the motor-car in modern travel was again illustrated the other day (says the Napier “Telegraph"). At the Onga Qnga sports over 200 cars crowded the enclosure, several buses being included, and ou the journey home a Napier party who attended the sports met 88 cars going south on the homeward journey from the Hastings races.

A Hawke’s Bay gentleman who has just returned from a visit to Taranaki, reports that dairy returns there are showing a falling off (says the Napier "Telegraph”). Opportunity is taken by the farmers to'blame the Sidey time for this, he states. "Evidently," he said, "it is another instance of the old propensity to blame the Government when things go wrong. Those who are complaining never think of accounting the decrease to the dry season.” .

Cricket has its peculiar humours no less than other outdoor gar#cs (remarks the Auckland - "Star"). Curing the progress of the Plunket Shield match at Eden Park a lady who had just arrived on the ground inquired of a Pressman: "Has half-time gone yet?" An Auckland bowler on another occasion missed a return of the red-hot variety, which caused another lady to pleasantly ask: “Isn’t the bowler allowed to catch the ball?"

Very few people would care to see their car disappear over the edge of a clift; but that is what very nearly happened to an Invercargill motorist (says the “Southland New's"). He left his car parked ou a slight slope at the "Rocks" at Riverton, and took the precaution to leave it in gear and with the brake hard on. Later one of his family eagerly questing for cigarette cards knocked the car out of gear, pulled off the brake, and returned to his parents. Within a very few minutes the car started to run backwards down the slope towards a cliff, brushing aside in its descent a post which, however, slackened the pace' slightly. Seizing the opportunity an onlooker jumped in and stopped the car only a few feet from the edge of the cliff.

A peculiar incident happened in the motor garage at the Settlers’ Hotel the other day (says the Northern Advocate”). An Auckland motorist had parked his car there, but the carburettor happened to be in a leaky condition. The ravs of the sun ignited the benzine and set fire to the engine, but as the autbreak was caught in its early stages, little damage was done, though the tourist’s proposed northern trip was delayed for a day to enable repairs to be effected.

When a fire in Nelson Street, Hastings, on a recent Sunday afternoon was thoroughly extinguished, the firemen were surprised to find, that they were unable to stop the high-pressure flow at the plug (eays the “Tribune”). As they were unable to turn the water /off they withdrew the hydrant from he plug and stifled the burst of water with two concrete slabs which while they did not stay the flood, at least distributed its upward force and reduced it from a geyser to a bubbling rush which found escape into the channelling. It was evening before the water was brought under control and the stream stemmed. The cause of the trouble was a stone in the plug.

The recent announcement that the Government intends to subsidise the export of pork is likely to result in a considerable impetus to pig-raising in North Otago (reports an exchange). There is not at present a sufficient supply of pork in the South Island to meet local requirements, and if North Island pork is exported it is probable that prices in the South will firm considerably. • The class of pig that is bred in the South Island is not, in the opinion of experts, suitable for the export trade.

A Hawke’s Bay farmer, who has iust returned from a trip to that locality, expressed himself as amazed, at the condition of the country flanking the Mo-rere-Opoutama road, just to the northward of the Mahia peninsula (reports the "Herald"). This country, portions of wffiich are supposed to harbour oil, was originally light bush land. The bush has been long since cleared and the country sown in grass, but the grass is rapidly disappearing under the spread of the blackberry, gorse, bracken and a member of the manuka family, known as tawiri. It is practically impossible- to eradicate this last-named pest once it gets a strong hold.

Realising that the present time was inopportune for a large building scheme, the Auckland Harbour Board recently dropped the idea of building an administrative block that would cost about J125Q.C00 (states an exchange). It was proposed to utilise the old dock site, but the scheme is in abeyance, as the hoard has approved an expenditure of JUIO.OOO for additions to the present block, and remodelling of the interior, which will meet the needs of the board and staff for the next 15 or 20 years. By that time the board expects to be in a position to put in hand a larger scheme.

For the sixth season in succession, Mr. W. S. Lambe, of Sydney, has come to New Zealand to indulge in fishing, particularly of the deep-sea variety (states the Auckland “Star”). Looking forward to better luck than ever with the rod—his optimism being based on the gratifying reports as to bright prospects for the season that have' reached him—Mr. Lambe arrived in Auckland the other morning by the Marama from Sydney. He will proceed first of all to Taupo to catch trout, and then go on to Whangaroa and Russell to nit his skill against the fighting makes and swordfish.

There is a queer psychology about crowds, and it is a ease of different countries having different ways. On various occasions it has been remarked that a New Zealand crowd cannot cheer in the hearty British way, even when the occasion demands it, and. as for applause at an entertainment, even when the plot i« of the blood-curdling kind, with murders at frequent intervals. applause is usually of the perfunctory kind. Auckland’s cricket crowds at the Blanket Shield game were moved to mild approval on rare occasions, and they have sat through dull. doTvressing sequences of stonewall play with phlegmatic indifference (remarks the "Star”). Even a inn an over and a batsman getting two runs In half an hour has left them unmoved. Play of that kind world mo'm a Sydney crowd to mingled wrath, irony, and blasphemy, but ibe Am-kland snec. tator sit= silently and mildly honeful. Tt mar he a pn Hence that is mvnlmr tn .Aucklanders, and an innate politeness that is not as widely understood as il should be.

Although the large suburbin district stretching for twelve miles south from Auckland has an undulating contour that gives a variety to the landscape, it is considered by Mr. J. Porterfield, after 14 years of well-boring in the locality, that Papatoetoe, Otahuhc, the Tamaki and Mangere were once the old seabed (says the Auckland “Star"). In early times, he says, the sea const was formed by the range of clay hills that runs from Wiri in a horseshoe bend to Howick. prom Mangere through Pa.uatoetoe and Tamaki the seabed was on the average about IGOft. below the present styface. A papa layer was gradually formed, over which a coating of 15ft. to 20ft. of volcanic ashes and silt from the hills gradually formed a fertile plain. Wat er supplies could be freely tapped at the old seabed level, Mr. Porterfield remarked, but they were not artesian, as was generally supposed, and in all cases pumps had to be used to draw upon the springs.

Workmen on the branch railway, while excavating recently in a deep cutting in the Maugaone Valley, unearthed the fossilized remains of a moa thirtyfive feet below the surface (states an exchange). The bones were collected by one of the men, who knew a little about such things, and dispatched to the curator of the Auckland Museum. Recently the finder received a letter of thanks for the gift, in the course of which the curator stated that the bones had been identified as those of a moa between 4ft. tin. and sft. in height. This type of mca was known to have been fairly common in the South Island, but very few traces had been discovered of their habitation in the North Island. In fact, considerable importance was attached to the find for this reason. Men who have been working on the construction of the line have frequently come across the fossilised remains of other -creatures, shark’s teeth jierfectly preserved being most common. Complete fossilized crayfish have also been encountered, and portions of other fish and animals the identity of which can only be guessed.

The Maoris are too great a race to die, but die they undoubtedly will unless the pakehaa lead and help them. Civilisation’s duty to the trust which the coming of the white man to New Zealand has imposed was emphasised by the Rev. E. T. Olds, assistant suuerintendent of Methodist Maori mission work in New Zealand, in an address to the Now Plymouth Rotary Club on his work among the Maori people (says an exchange). He referred to the dwindling of the Maori race from 400,000—the estimate of Captain Cook—to 40,000. Aiding in the destruction of the Maoris by bitter intertribal strife was the musket. Mr. Olds warmly defended his friends against the allegation that they were "not much class,” and would not work, and asked whether tie pakeha deprived of his best land by the invader, would be enthusiastic in working the rest. The Maoris had been coraoelled to leap in 100 years to that civilisation it had taken the pakeha 1000 years to reach. But the .Maoris were tow progressing, and it was not the idea of the Church workers to make them “good, superficial pakeha churchmen”—they wis'hed to help them fill their own destiny, for they had a part to play in the life ot New Zealand. The growth of education among the Maoris and tilth; better acceptance of pakeha medical treatment were stressed as points of progress with a people who will prosper providing they have pakeha sympathy.

After a toilsome climb to the 'op of Mount Victoria (Auckland), a visitor from Melbourne, who formerly lived in Devonport, has come to the conclusion that the cone is one of the Host neglected around Auckland (states the "Star”). He said that without Mount Victoria, Devonport would have little charm as a seaside town. In fae old days the town grew around tile mount, and many picnics were held oa its slopes and at the summit. When pines began to grow there about 50 years ago they were much appreciated, and gave splendid shade, but the visitor considered the present appearance of the mount a disgrace, owing to the neglect of many years. The old track seemed to be little used and difficult to find and the only available route to the top was through rank weeds and undergrowth.

“Yes. my boy, it was often 2d. a quart for strawberries in the old days, as I read the other night, and many a time I loaded the old spring cart full twice a day.” This is what, a veteran Birkenhead strawberry grower said the other morning (says the Auckland "Star”). He added that the strawberry plants used to last three or four years before they had to be ploughed in, the beds were 3ft. to 4ft. across, and iu.the height of the season a mass of luscious, red fruit. “Yes,” said the veteran, when asked if the birds were just as plentiful those times, and there was a reminiscent gleam in his eye when he told of the havoc he wrought among the blackbirds and the thrashes with an old muzzle-loader gun. Ho did not think that the modern strawberry crop was either as heavy or prolific as the crops that were grown in the early days of the industry at Birkenhead. He attributed this to increased foliage pests and the removal of constituents from the soil by constant cropping.

A Bluff correspondent relates a good story regarding a “wild” pig hunt (says an exchange). Officers of shipping in port are always keen on getting as much shore leave as possible, for the purpose of seeing the country and also partaking of any form of sport that is available. The chief steward of one of the regular traders was keen on having a day’s wild pig shooting. A friend of this officer, a farmer near Greenhills, accordingly arranged a wild nig hunt on his farm, the said farm having about 40 acres of bush in its native state. On the morning of the day chosen for the hunt the farmer selected one of his tame porkers and placed it in a small clearing in the bush. Nimrod arrived with all manner of offensive and defensive weapons, and the hunt was on. Mile after mile by circuitous routes the 40-acre paddock was traversed, until at last the clearing was reached and the “wild” pig at once espied by the keen-eyed steward Bang went his rifle; Dennis lifted his snout, grunted derisively and calmlv went on rooting. "Try again," said Mr. Farmer, and it was not until five cartridges had been expended that a fatal hit was recorded. Next day "roast wild pork" figured on the menu of the ship.

It has been frequently urged that in. top-dressing, farmers should treat their best land first, leaving the poorer pastures till the last. -The idea is that the extra returns as a result of manuring the good land will help to pay for the treatment of the remainder, whereas if the operation is reversed there will be a slower response from the poor land, with the result that the farmer, who is depending on increased returns from the portions of the farm already manured to continue his operations, will have to wait longer. As regards the treatment of sheep pastures, some of the Poverty Bay farmers disagree with this suggestion, and state that it pays them better to do heir poor land before attending to the best of the pastures (states the "Herald”). In many casos the poorer land is deteriorating rapidly, and by ton-dressing them immediately anv further deterioration is checked, while, although there might also be deterioration in the better pastures, it is usually not. noticed to such an extent, so that a little delay in this respect would not be serious. Those who liaxa expressed this opinion do not. doubt that from a dairy farmers’ point of view the treatment of the bettor lands first is a more payable proposition. Put. as far ns sheep country is concerned, limy maintain that this system is wrong.