NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 17, 20 July 1931, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Swiss Glaciers Disappointing. ° ' '' The glaciers of Switzerland are disappointing to a New Zealander," said Professor A.,H. Toeker in the course of an address at Christchurch (reports "The Press"). They are not nearly so large, but the mountains are higher, being mostly very steep granite tops. There, are good hotels for :tourists at high levels,.with funicular railways running above the glaciers. In one train I went up to a level of over 11,000 feet and looked-down on the largest glacier in Europe without having to walk more than 200 yards altogether. If I had reached that level in New Zealand I should have regarded myself as qualified for a first-class mountaineering certificate." \. ■ • Internationalism at Geneva. The international flavour of life at Geneva was illustrated by Professor Toeker when discussing the work of the League of Nations, in the course of a at Christchurch (reports "The Press'). . "An Indian-- 'delegate was entertaining a large party of guests," he said, "and as he had provided an orchestra,1 he thought that they should dance, although they w.ould sooner have continued smoking . and < talking, .and the music played was by no means suitable for dancing. There was I, a NewZealander, the guest of an Indian potentate, giving up the joys of a West Indian cigar to dance American jazz with a Chinese woman, while a German string band played the. 'Hungarian Rhapsody.'" Maori Burial Cave. i An old Maori burial cave containing two skeletons was recently discovered on the eastei'n shore_ of Lake Pupuke by , two Milford residents, Messrs. E. Adams and A. Higson, who have sent the skulls found by them to {he Auckland Museum (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The mouth of the cave, which was well above the present lake level, had been blocked \yith earth, no doubt intentionally, and an opening only a few inches 'across led to its discovery. The interior proved to be approximately 30ft long, 12ft wide, and 2ft 6in high. On the floor, which was covered with shingle,.-were the scattered remains of two' bleached skeletons. The top of-one of the skulls was missing. ;, After leaving Messrs. Higson and Adams took the precaution of blocking the entrance again. Tho director of the Museum, Mr. Gilbert Archey, stated that the skulls bore every appearance of being those ol; Maoris, but it was not possible-to estimate their age at all closely. .