OLD ROTORUA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 21, 25 July 1910, Page 3

OLD ROTORUA.

LEGENDS OF THE LAKES. r TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — 111 an article under the above heading, by Mr. J. Cowan, and published in your issue of the 16th hist., he gives an account of a man-eating ngarara, or taniwha which lived in the depths of "Te Wharo Uri," and proceeds to state that a small army of Arawas, who had already made a name by killing saurian monsters on the Kaiangaroa plains arase and went for that taniwha. He then goes on to say :—: — "That no saurian monster of this kind ever existed in New Zealand is admitted ; no fossil remains of any creature of the pekehana family have been discovered. The ugly, but harmless tuatara, is the nearest approach to a ngarara we can discover. So far as the discovery of an exact counterpart of pekehana not having been made, either existing or in a fossil state, that may be true. In any case it would be difficult to discover the exact animal described in a Maori legend. Mr. Cowan, however, states that Maoris may ■ have had remote ancestors in South America, who would have seen some fearsome reptiles and saurians in that country. Mr. Cowan is evidently unaware of the information contained in vol. V., p. 333 et seg. of the "Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. If he will look up that volume, and read the paper by the late Sir James Hector (then Dr. Hector) he will find a most interesting account of the discovery of saurian remains in thia country, strangely enough bo far only in the Middle Island. Mr. F. H. Cockburn Hood, then a runholder in Canterbury, whose run was situated in the Upper Waipara River, had, in 1861, found fossils of reptilian fauna, which he had presented to the British Museum. These were afterwards described by Professor Owen and called Plesiosaurus Australis. Again, after the great flood of 1868, Mr. Hood found a larger collection, which he sent to England in the ship Mataoka, which was lost on the homeward voyage. The late Sir Julius yon Haast (then Dr. Haast) had fortunately, however, communicated a short account to the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. In 1867 Sir James Hector and my late father, Mr. W. T. L. Travers, visited the locality, and obtained only a few fragments of these fossils. Sir James, after Mr. Hood's second discovery, •sent Mr. R. L. Holmes to make a more complete collection. In the folI lowing year, 1869, Dr. Haa-st made a } detailed survey of the district, and obtained a large series of saurian and other fossils, which were placed in the Canterbury Museum. The late Mr. John Buchanan, the botanist of the Colonial Museum, was sent in 1869 to the Amuri Bluff, where he had before found belemnite beds, and discovered several localities rich in reptilian remains. In 1871 1 was Employed by Sir James to make further collections. The late Professor Hutton also examined the locality. Mr. A. M'Kay, late Government Geologist, also made extensive discoveries in the same district. Lastly, Dr. Haast made, a further ' discovery of a single vertebra in the Mount Potts district. Some of the genera were called Mauisaurus, after Maui, the traditional discoverer of New Zealand, another taniwhasaurus, after the taniwha or fabled sea monster of the Maori. So far as I am aware, the above paper is the last one that has been published on the reptilian remains of this country. One of the genera, leiodon, was not much less than 100 feet long. — I am, etc., HfiNliY H. TRAVERS. Wellington, 19th July. 1910. "THE NEW COALFIELD." TO THE EDITOR. Six, — Of late there have appeared in the public presa official announcements and comments regarding a valuable find of coal on Crown lands in the Wairaarino district west of Erua Station on the North Island Main Trunk railway. These announcements recall to my recollection that some 25 years ago the hilly, broken forest-clad country lying between the Wangauui River and the Ruape'huTongariro Mountains was triangulated and topographically surveyed by the late Mr. J. A. Thorpe, an Sccomplished snrveyoi. Mr. Thorpe, who will still be* remembered in Wanganui and other paals, wa« at the time on the Survey Department staff. His reports and beautifully-executed trigonometrical and topographical maps should still be on record in the Wellington District Survey Office. In those days . there were no roads, and but few Maori tracks. The surveyor and his party had to cut their way thiough the bush and carry their camp and instrumental equipment and stores on their backs ; and" they encountered difficulties and hardships inseparable from early surveys and explorations in New Zealand. In addition to much valuable information and services rendered by my former colleague, I claim for. him the honour of the discovery, a quarter of a century ago, of this so-calkd "new cqalfield. ' He reported thereon and sent specimens of coal to the then Chief Surveyor. Subsequently, Mr. F. A. Thomson, District Surveyor, made further investigations and reports on the outcrops of coal and samples which ho forwarded were officially analysed and reported upon. Doubtless more recent prospecting has revealed additional outcrops". In these days of luxurious travelling through Waimarino, has the pioneer been forgotten? May ho not be granted h little of the public opphiuee so freely bestowed on oth c is? — I am, etc., J. W. MARCH A NT. Wellington, 24th July, 1910. DISSATISFACTION WITH DECISIONS. TO THE EIIITOK. Sir, — I should be much obliged if, in the next i6sue of your Spo.-ta Edition you would answer the following query : — Has n senior team in Wellington pyer left the (ield of play n.t a protest against the dooj/>k/n« of cUo reieroe? T have a ha?.y .-ecoU-ioU**' ,jf t-iie -.>ace invincibta Kai-

korai team in Dunedin taking the course of action, referred to alxno. I think ifc was during the 1900 season, ot thereabouts, when, during tho course of a match on tho Bishopcourfc ground, in which the Kaikorai team was engaged, the referee had occasion to order Porleous (ex-captain of the Oiago representatives and a New Zealand ropresentativp) of that team off. As a protest, the whole team, despite the fact that they had a clear load for the championship, and had the match in hand, left the field, the referee thereupon giving the game to the other side. This action on tho part of the team was the talk of Dunedin and elsewhere for months afterwards. The team appeared before the Rugby Union, and were asked if they would do the samn thing again in a similar case, to which they replied in the affirmative. Thpy were disqualified until the end of the season, with tlie exception of one player, who said that J it was against h:6 «wishes that the team left tli3 field, lie, I think, got off. As a result, that year's Otago representative team, which in those days consisted mainly of Alhambra and Kaikorai phtyers, was considerably weakened. If you could give a version of the above, I am sure it would excite v good deal of interest. — I am, etc. INQUISITIVE. ' [As far as can be ascertained, the incident to which "Inquisitive" refers occur red in. 1889. Kaikorai waa the team in question, and tho cause of the trouble was a rough tackle by Keogh of that team. It appears that one of the opposing backs galloped round the scrum, and ran into Keogh's hands. He was lifted clear off the ground, and tossed over the clever player's shoulder. Tho referee ordered Iveogh off the ground, and tho Kaikorai captain retaliated by calling his men off — the whole team. Subsequently the matter did come up before the Rugby Union, but apparently they backed down. "Inquisitive" is in error In stating the team was di6qualified, and that the Otago representative team was consequently weakened that season. Kaikorai went right through with the competition, and the Otago team, when on tour, wort every match with the exception of the Wellington fixture, which >\as only lost by a narrow margin of points."] THE CD. ACT. TO THE EDITOH. Sir, — "A. Lover of Justice" is quite right, but the only way to stop amateur prostitution is the "professional ticket," so justly asked for by Dr. Kendal. Immorality and disease are both spreading through New Zealand for want of the "professional ticket." The sentimentalists take a grim delight in this, and say "Let the punishment follow those who do wrong." Yes, sir. But what about the children? What possible harm can there be in the Act, now that we have women doctors, and can have women inspectors? Also, any case to be reported and isolated (in male or female) by doctors and chemists. Why do nob the doctors speak either to Parliament or the Press, when they see the threatened repeal of the Act"? I think they should give their individual testimony in the Press, as it is the women's vote that has to be influenced in this awful business, and that can only be done through the Press. This crying evil is far _ and away worse than the gambling or drink questions. Many hard working mothers complain they have no control over their daughters now, who will go wrong in spite of all they can do. The "professional ticket" is the only label that will pull up these wilful girls. In every township in New Zealand ,the municipality or town board should appoint some woman inspector, under the Act, who 1 would speak to any girl or married woman doing wrong, and warn her of her danger. But the Act must be retained in force in order to do this. With immorality and disease both widely spreading through the community, Parliament would be out of its senses to repeal the Act. On the contrary it should be put in force. The sentimentalists have not an ounce of human pity in their hearts for individual suffering. Both you, Air. Editor, and Dr. Kendal, have been manly and outspoken in this tervible business. It is for the medical profession and the chemists to support you with their practical experience of the evil, so as to influence the woman's vote, as that is the power to-day in New Zealand. My opinion is the woman's vote is to be swayed upon good cause shown ; as the majority of New Zealand women are not unreasonable. There should be female inspectors of immorality (iust like the sanitary inspectors), and the police should havo nothing to do with the matter, unless required by the Health Department. — I am, etc., A.B. Wellington, 20th July, 1910. . TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — The thanks of the community are due to Dr. Martindale Kendall for his sane and manly letter oil the above ftubject. Xow that lady doctors are fairly plentiful there cannot be the objection to the enforcement of the CD. Act which there was when patients had to undergo examination by medical men. Let the Act be amended so as to make it apply to both sexes — to be thorough and effective — with the proviso that women are to be examined and treated by lady doctors If this be done I venture to predict every right thinking woman and man in the Dominion who desires tho well-being of the nation will support the rigid enforcement of the Act, and I hhall be very much surprised if it doc-s not, with such amendments and safeguards, receive the whole hearted approval and support of every pulpit in New Zealand. — I am, etc., HUMANITY. Wellington, 22nd July, 1910. DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOLS. TO THE EDITORSir, — I noticed two letters in an issue of yours this week, botli of which condemn a magistrate's decision in a (jase of "A Schoolboy's Thrashing." One of these, signed "Father of One of the Boys" is not worthy of any reply; the other, "I think, calls for one. The point made by "Fair Play, etc.," is that no case has been biought into court against any teacher in the schools from which these boys come to woodwork. This is true, and it certainly shows the difficult position the teacher of woodwork is in. He is a specialist, not attached to any school, and cannot have the authority of one of the regular staff. These boys, twenty to twenty-five, are away I'iom their usual scholastic surroundings, no master of their own school is with them, and consequently they are very difficult to control ; there is a feeling to a certain extent of being "out of bounds." This particular class had to be found fault with for its behaviour on the way to South Wellington ; consequently some of them may be rightly called umuly. These boys are handling sharp tools, with which any play -might be attended with danger. "A spirit of insubordination appears, accompanied with impertinence. Action has to be taken, or all discipline is lost. The teacher has had trouble, especially from one or two. He is satisfied that the special offence he is inquiring into has been committed by one boy ; he punishes him — severely — but the offence calls for severity. An imputation is cast on Mr. Howe that he lost his temper. No evidence of this was adduced, nor was even allusion to it made before the court. As to further investigation by the Education Board, that is scarcely likely, seeing that the parent's proper procedure was in the first* place to lay a" formal complaint lo the board, either directly or through the school committea. Seeing that the case was brought before the magistrate, the board can scarcely act <is a court of appeal, without an appeal even being brought befoic it. — I am, etc., A TEACHER (not of woodwork).