TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 146, 17 March 1934, Page 16

TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS

Items of Interest From All Quarters

In contrast to the customary British farewells at the departure of the limited express, there was a distinctly German atmosphere in the neighbourhood of one of the sleeping coaches at the Auckland Railway Staticin. A large gathering of the German colony in Auckland had assembled to see off one of their number, and as the train drew slowly away from the group, the members solemnly raised their right arms with cries of “Hail, Hitler,” the salute being returned from the platform of the departing train.

Some Christchurch booksellers are doubtful about the effect of libraries on their business. “People buy clothes and other things, and pay to be entertained at the pictures, but they are unwilling to spend more than a very small sum—usually in the form of a library subscription—for the pleasure to be derived from books,” remarked one bookseller to a “Press” reporter. He has a circulating library of fiction as pant of his own business, but he feels that it brings into his shop customers who, but for libraries, might not think about books at all. One sort of books — good religious works —he considers it unwise to put in the library, as people are more likely to want to own them than to borrow them.

The Maori people still have great faith in the curative .properties of certain roots and leaves to be found in the native bush, and as many inhabitants of the pa are not in a position to seek expert medical advice or can afford to buy medicines, they are ever ready to try the old cures of their forefathers. Recently a Maori “doctor” arrived at one of the Wanganui River pas to examine patients suffering from asthma and other complaints common among the native race. He is said to have an expert knowledge of the old Maori medicines, and gives his advice gratuitously to those who need it. His travelling expenses are paid for by the community, but apart from that he receives nothing in return. The “doctor” will remain at the pa in question until he has examined everyone with an ailment, and has given bis “’•prescription,” and will then pass on to the next settlement, going as far as Tokaanu before he returns.

The price paid for Auckland was detailed by the Mayor. Mr. G. W. Hutchison, in welcoming the delegates to the annual conference of the Federation of New Zealand Justices of the Peace. “The laud on which to build the city was purchased from the Ngati-Whatua tribe on October 20, 1849,” said the Mayor. “The original area was 3000 acres, more or less. The price was as follows:—50 blankets, 50 pounds in money, 20 trousers, 20 shirts, 10 waistcoats, 10 caps, 4 casks of tobacco, one box of pipes, 100 yards of gown pieces, 10 iron pots, one bag of sugar, one bag of flour, and 20 hatchets. This transaction is worthy of note at the moment,” said Mr. Hutchison, “because I am at present trying to secure for the remnant of the Ngati-Whatuas, still living at Orakei, permanent tenure of sufficient land for their domestic life, the area to which they have been reduced being a mere 24 acres. By a queer trick of fate,” added the Mayor, “some of our own people could do with the blankets, trousers, and shirts back again.”

Gisborne dairy farmers are making the most of their pigs this season. With butterfat at 7d. per lb., the pig is truly "the gintleiuan that pays the rlnt,” states the “Poverty Bay Herald.” Already last season's total killings at the Kaiti freezing works have been exceeded, with still about three months of the seasonjo go. The killings to date exceed 6500 pigs, whereas for the whole of last season the tally was only approximately 5000. which at that time was a record for Kaiti. There is little doubt that the exploiting of Hie export outlet lias given the farmers greater incentive to breed more pigs. Last season the prices were not. attractive, although farmers realised that the foundation was being laid for a future when the market would improve. Advantage is now being reaped from last season’s breeding activities. In fact, the pig is the only payable animal on the dairy farm at present, and if poor dairy prices continue to rule there is little doubt that the ratio of pigs to cows will rapidly increase in tills district, unless the pork and bacon markets become glutted in the meantime. There is certain to lie a big demand for breeding stock during the coming winter, witli a further increase in exports next season.

By a process of grafting, Mr. D. T. Smith, of Stanmore Road, Christchurch, has succeeded in producing from the one tree a prolific crop of Cox’s Orange and Delicious apples. On one side of the tree are the Cox’s Orange variety, which are now ripe, and on the other are the Delicious, which are not yet so far advanced. The original trunk is an apple tree, the variety of which is not known, and this is the first year that a crop of any size of the two varieties has grown.

“When a ratepayer in my district was. requesting that some metal be spread on her road, she told me that she had to walk through mud up to her boottops to get out to the grocer’s van,” related Mr. Nees at the last meeting of the Marlborough County Council. “I told her she was lucky, and that a lot of us would enjoy walking through mud for a change. But I suppose she meant when it rained a couple of years ago,” he added, referring to the fact that for many mouths past Marlborough has been in the grip of a drought.

A familiar sight to pedestrians passing the Bank of New Zealand in Victoria Street, Hamilton,, is a black cat, which on fine days indulges in a sunbath on a ledge some distance from the footpath. The other morning “pussy” was apparently too impatient to bother with her customary means of descent, and made a neat jump on to the shoulders of a male pedestrian, who leapt into the air with surprise and shock. It was all done in the twinkling of an eye, and the flabbergasted passer-by turned round in time to see a black tail disappearing round the corner of a shop window.

Enrolments are 'being made very freely at Auckland University College, but it is too early in the session yet. to note any special trends in the direction of particular studies. An innovation which has proved popular has been made by Mr. H. Hollinrake, lecturer on music, who, in addition to his lectures for the Mus.Bac. degree, and on music for the B.A. degree, has commenced a weekly lecture on musical appreciation. This is free to all students, and has met with a ready response from ipany who are anxious to improve their general culture. There is a probability that other similar general courses will be started in classics, philosophy, and architecture.

The wholesale shooting of grey duck in recent years has so greatly depleted the number of birds in the Dominion that it is probable that the Department of Internal Affairs will insist on additional restrictions being placed on sportsmen during the coming season. This was indicated by Mr. F. Steans, the president of the Canterbury Accli-' matisation Society, recently. “It is expected that in some districts the department will declare a close season,” Mr. Steans said, “but if a' permit is issued this season to shoot grey duck in Canterbury, it is quite possible that the department will stipulate that the number of birds to be taken be limited to 15 a gun for the day.” Mr. Steans added that at the request of the department the society had recommended such a limitation. x Much time and money have l>een ispent by the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club to ensure that the forthcoming air pageant will be the greatest yet staged in New Zealand. All the Dominion’s foremost professional pilots have lieen engaged to give flying displays in those departments in which they specialise. In addition, well-known figures such as “Scotty” Fraser, parachutist, and Clarrie Waite, wing walker, will be seen'in their particular specialities. Air Force bombers and fast, singleseater fighters will also give-displays. The club has seen lit to go to so much trouble, as this is the first occasion on which the official North Island Air Pageant has been allotted to Hawke’s Bay, and it will be many years before it is again staged there. The club has also arranged a night air pageant on the same day, Saturday, March 24, in order to provide an opportunity for Saturday shoppers . and members ot shop stuffs to witness the .pilots in action. The night pageant will be the first of its kind in the Dominion. As-a further item of public interest. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith will attend in his world-famous Southern Cross, and will give passenger flights all day from 11. a.m., and also at night from 8 o’clock to 11 o'clock.