NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Brigade Plant. A reply to comment made in regard to the purchase of two American motorchassis for fire brigade work, was made by Mr. D. E. Wilkie, chairman of tho Wellington >Fire Board, Yesterday. Mr. Wilkie said that the policy pf thg board was to' purchase British goods, even sometimes at a disadvantage. The board has expended £5000 in the last eighteen months in the purchase of 100 per cent. British-made articles. In tho present case the board had to take into consideration the work for. which the machines were obtained, and as a result of the purchase, they had really got two machines for the price of one. "We desire always to give British goods preference," he said, "but tho particular requirements .of the work compelled us to buy this particular class of vehicle." Mr. Marcus Marks stated that the speed of tho vehicles under certain conditions had also been a factor in the purchase. Prehistoric Forest. The trunks of the ancient forest revealed by the erosion of the Waikato Eiver in its new channel on Waitete Flat at Arapuni are now bare to root lovol and their almost uniform height is about 40ft (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Some have been undermined by the water and have fallen, but many aro not now touched by the current and may stand for years as a monument to the works of modern man and as a reminder to a generation, very cock-a-hoop about itself, that even the trunk of a rimu tree may be preserved by swamp water for as long as a Pharoah's mummy—and without losing its bark. Numbers of these trees aro still clothed with apparently sound bark. Fishing at Taupo. The fishing season at Taupo is now sufficiently advanced to show that there will be good fish to be taken toward the last three months of the season, although the longer the present dry weather continues the later will bo the run up the streams (writes a" Taupo correspondent). Another fact which is now evident, and which has been commented on by many of the regular visitors to the Taupo waters, is that j the general condition, of tho fish is un- I doubtedly deteriorating. Compared with the condition of the fish in the years 1919-1921 the condition now obtaining is quite fair. Compared with the fish taken in 1924-25 those to be had to-day am poor. There is not the slightest doubt that if nothing is done to improve matters, the deterioration noticeable since the latter period will continue until the fishing is again almost valuless. That the food supply is inadequate", either in quantity or quality,, or perhaps in both these respects, is clear. It is to be hoped that the departmental authorities will take prompt measures to deal with the situation. It should not be difficult to decide on a course of action and to prosecute it diligently. The fishing to-day is undoubtedly better than it has been at times in the past, but it is not satisfactory, and delay in adopting remedial measures will be fraught with disaster to the deservedly famous Taupo fishing waters. Auckland's New Lake. A launch trip on the new Arapuni Lake was made by members of the Auckland Power Board on Thursday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). It is a magnificent stretch of water, and even if one familiar with the beauties of the Hauraki Gulf and Taupo is not disposed to become as sonlfully sentimental about it, as some of the local residents, there is no_ denying its charms, the greatest of which is tho grandeur ,of its bold bluffs, lofty crags and cliffs which are warmly tinted. It is asserted that in the upper reaches, where the lake narrows into bushy gorges,- it' rivals the Wanganui, but this is probably quite innocent _ exaggeration. However, another fine inland lake, navigable by launch for about 18 miles, and containing a straight" stretch of five miles with width of 50 chains, has been created. It is probable that it will be a fat feeding ground for trout. The encroachment of the water into scrub land is expected to multiply ths koura and fresh-water crayfish, a plentiful supply of which produces robust trout. Anglers predict that apart from the possibilities of lake fishing at Arapuni, there should be an improved run-up stream in the season, and thus the finer reachers may provide improved sport. A Ferocious Stoat. A resident of Whakamarama, westward of Tauranga, reports that stoats are increasing, and are to. be met with in any part of tho bush. When cornered they will attack man or dog without hesitation, as the following incident will show (writes a local correspondent). Quite recently two youths pui up a stoat in fairly open country, and promptly set a rough cattle dog at it. The dog would not bite the stoat. Finding it could not get away the stoat attacked the dog, getting a good holl under the throat. The dog howled anil fought, but could not get rid of the stoat, so one of tho lads seized a stick, and, at the second attempt, knocked it off, only to bo attacked in turn. Using his boots and the stick, he quickly finished off the stoat.

"A Shilling Tote." The 10s "tote" is not uncommon, but the idea of a Is totalisator would I amuso most New Zealand racecourse [ patrons; yet such a machine does exist in Norfolk Island, according to Mr. E. J. Forrest, who has returned to Gisborne from a visit to the island. A race meeting is held every Easter, when fortunes uro won and lost on the shilling "tote." About £200 passes through the machine at each meeting. Native Bush. "This might mean an expenditure of £500,000 and we do not sco how the country can afford it at the present time," said Mr. A. G. Lunn, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, at a meeting of the council on Thursday, when correspondence was received advocating the purchase by the Government of native bush alongside main tourist routes, with a view to preservation, reports the "New Zealand Herald." A letter from the Napier Chamber of Commerce stated tho preservation of native bush along the chief tourist routes need not be an expensivo matter. It was not urged that all bush along such routes should be purchased, but only strips of bush sufficient to maintain the scenic value. The chamber felt many land owners would be prepared to give the land free and others would negotiate on liberal forms. In a reply forwarded to the Napier body, Mr. Lunn said the Auckland chamber was in sympathy with the suggestion, the only question being the cost. To Kill the Seas. Damage done by keas on sheep stations adjacent to the main ranges within the Mount Cook Bcsorve and Fiordland National Parks will receive a decided check, for the destruction of the bird in those reserves has been authorised (states the Christchurch "Sun"). A letter was received from the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) at Thursday's meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union, with reference to tho destruction of the kea in sanctuaries and national reserves, stating that the Minister of Internal Affairs had authorised the Commissioner of Crown Lands or his servants,,acting under his written authority, to take or kill kea found within the Mount Cook Reserve and Fiordland National Parks. This would enable licenses to be issued by the Commissioner trustworthy persons to destroy kea within the areas referred to. It was resolved that a letter of thanks be sent to the Prime Minister for the attention which Cabinet had given to this question, which has been the cause of considerable anxiety to sheepowners adjacent to the mSin ranges. The arrangement come to with the Minister of Internal Affairs removes the anomaly of the Government with shospowners paying a subsidy for kea destruction while at the same time the birds were allowed to breed unmolested on the national reserves.