FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 17

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FROM "THE

POST"

NEW WHITE TERRACES

The great Tarawera eruption of June, 1886, supplied news items for "The Post" for months after the event. At the beginning of March, 1887, considerable interest was aroused by the report that some new terraces had been discovered in the process of formation, and the hope was expressed that in the course of time these would rival the famous Pink and.White Terraces 'which had been destroyed by the eruption. "The Post" of this date fifty years ago has the following reference to this: "A new white terrace has been discovered in the Hot Lake district in a valley about 16 miles from Rotorua. The discoverer gives a glowing description of this Waiotapu Valley and the beauties of this district, which contains a number of picturesque lakes in addition to extraordinary volcanic phenomena. The new terrace is in process of formation and is most interesting. It is highly gratifying to note a decided improvement in the tourist traffic to the Hot Lake district. There was a certain amount of alarm felt after the Tarawera eruption, coupled with the idea that the chief 'lions' of the district had been destroyed, but these impressions have been removed by the experience of visitors, and now that the safety and attractiveness of the district have been re-establishd, there will probably be a larger influx of tourists than ever before. No fewer than 51 visitors left Auckland last week to go through the Hot Lake district, and a number of English and Australian tourists are already there. The Waiotapu discoveries are expected to prove a great attraction and to induce more people than ever before to tour this unique wonderland." "THE POST" APPRECIATED. "The very full and correct report of the recent great and calamitous fire which was published last night caused a great demand for the 'Evening Post,' and our publishing office was for a long time a scene of considerable excitement, a large crowd being eager to obtain copies. Our issue last night was nearly 9000 copies, but even this number failed to supply the demand, and in response to numerous requests on the part of those who wish to secure extra copies for transmission to friends and business connections abroad, we have decided to republish the full account of the fire, with such additional facts as may transpire in the interim, in our supplement next Saturday." "On the.arrival of H.M.S. Nelson in this port we addressed a letter, to Commander Hamilton offering to supply, gratuitously 100 copies of the. 'Eyening Post' each night for the use of the ship's company. Commander Hamilton replied, -thanking us for the offer, and saying the crew would greatly appreciate it. Each evening, therefore, a boat has come ashore, and an orderly has procured from our office the copies for distribution, and we have reason to know that the men have most thoroughly appreciated the opportunity we have had the pleasure of affording them during their stay in Wellington of becoming acquainted each evening with the news of the world. In "the. present threatening- aspect of European affairs they were specially interested in learning what was going on at Home. Prior to the ship's departure today, several of the crew wirote to us, expressing their own and their shipmates' thanks.'" : PROTECTION FOR BOOTS. "The reply given by Sir Julius Vogel to.the bootmakers' deputation the other day showed very clearly the direction in which he would like the policy of the Government to tend. He is at heart, it seems, a Protectionist, and there are one or two of his colleagues who hold similar views, but we do not believe that the Ministry as a whole is committed to any such policy, and even the Protectionist members of the Cabinet will probably pause ■ before they risk their political existence on the question. New Zealand, we are quite certain, will not stand Protection. The public will not submit to an increase in the cost of the necessaries of life in order that a small section of the community may make a profit out of manufacturing what can be imported much more cheaply. *If boots and shoes can be imported 25 or 30 per cent, cheaper than they can be made in the colony, then by all means they should continue to be imported. It is a misapplication of the power of labour to carry on their manufacture here, and a wrong to the consumers to tax them, in order to pay the manufacturer. It would be poor consolation, to a man wanting to buy three pairs of boots for his children, finding that his money would only allow him to pay for two, to tell him that the money would be retained in the colony and aid in providing employment for someone or other. He would much prefer getting his three pairs of boots, even if the money went into the pockets of foreign workmen. He would fail to see why one of his children should go barefooted because of an extra charge imposed to compel him to contribute to the support of someone else's children. The boot question is one which very clearly illustrates the protection question, and puts it in such a shape that the most obtuse even can readily understand what protection rially means, and how it would affect the community at large. For this reason we are exceedingly glad that the bootmakers have raised the issue." PUMPING THE SEA DRY. "The water supply for the suburban borough of Devonport, Auckland, hasbeen causing considerable discussion of late, and some amusement too. Over £200 was spent by the council in sinking a well, in spite of expert adyjce against such a procedure, and a'few days ago it was announced with great jubilation by the pump party that ah ample supply of excellent water had been obtained. The pump was kept merrily going, and then it was found that all the private wells in the neighbourhood had become dry. But the pump continued pumping -until an even more startling discovei'y was made. The Devonport ratepayers now know that their money is being used In ■ a brave endeavour to pump the Waitemata dry, for the well having been sunk to below low-water mark, the pump is discharging sea water." MOUNT ETNA IN ERUPTION. "The excitement and alarm created by the European earthquakes have had no equal in late years, but now that Mount Etna has burst into activity anxiety and terror are on the increase rather than on the wane. The general feeling, of insecurity has reached fever heat, and in Nice a perfect panic is still raging. At least 15,000 people have /eft the city. Throughout the Riviera the railway ■ lines are completely blocked, and in places are covered by tons of rock. Anything like an accurate estimate of the loss of life in this terrible calamity is impossible at present. In Genoa wreck and ruin reign supreme, and at Savona also a considerable number of lives have been lost."

The three Muskoka lakes in Ontario, Canada, are so cut up by islands that they give a person the impression that they are a connected series of rivers, inlets, and passages instead of three distinct bodies of water-