LOCAL AND GENERAL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2516, 20 December 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe do not- appear likely to cause the National Park Board any anxiety by depreciation as assets, and it might puzzle the average person to imagine what amounts such a body could find to write off its hooks (says a Wellington paper). But there-are such things as Government auditors, as the last meeting of the beard emphasised. “One maul, ss, worn out,” was an asset seriously written off, and it was followed by such possibly less lengthily used things as mops, ski-ing props, and plates (worn out or broken). The chairman (Mr J.*®B. Thompson) remarked that these articles had to be replaced and any attempt at generalised expenditure would be “tagged.”

A rat which escaped from some Wellington premises where rebuilding was going on and ran 30 or 40 yards down the street and into a tea room which was being well patronised at the morning tea hour, created a commotion among ■ the fair sex (says the Dominion). The cashier promptly jumped on the top of the cash desk, and in a minute or two there was a scene of confusion as ladies scurried away with screams from the vicinity of the rodent. ' Some of them scrambled on to tables and chairs. There were several men present, also one in possession of a croquet mallet making a tremendous blow at the rat, only to catch an unfortunate individual on the shins. A second attempt, however, was more successful, and the rat was soon only fit- for the destructor.

According to a witness in the Nelson Supreme Court, a lot depended upon the personality of a hotelkeeper whether the business was a success or not (says the Mail). Ills Honour Mr Justico Sim asked why, and asked if beer drinkers required affability on the part of the owner of the premises. Ho smilingly added that he could understand a pretty barmaid attracting business, but not affability. Witness in explaining what lie meant, said when people went into a bar they did not want to hear all about the barman’s troubles.

The mention of the name Roscoe at the Wanganui Court, on Tuesday morning recalls an incident at the Masterton Supreme Court during the influenza epidemic when Judge Chapman was presiding, says the Wanganui Herald. Roscoe is a. book as wellknown to the law student as the Bible is to a divinity student. During the case the Judge wanted to make some reference to this book. The registrar andl clerks were down with influenza, so a policeman had been commissioned to act as registrar, and he- knew not Roscoe, thte text book. The Judge remarked: “Get me Roscoe.” “I beg your pardon,” replied the man in blue.” “Get me Roscoe,” repeated the Judge. Off the policeman ivent, and some minutes later he returned with a local boardinghouse-keeper in his shirt sleeves. “I brought Roscoe,” cheerfully announced the policeman. The laughter which followed relieved any anxiety on the part of Roscoe as to the reason why lie had been so hastily summoned before His Honour.

The Maoris are too great a race to die, but die they undoubtedly will unless the pakehas lead! and help them. Civilisation’s duty to the trust which the coming of the white man to New Zealand has imposed was emphasised by the Rev. E. T. Olds, assistant superintendent of Methodist Maori mission work in New Zealand, in an address to the New Plymouth Rotary Club on his work among the Maori people. He referred to the dwindling of the Maori race from 400,000 —the estimate of Captain Cook—to 40,000. Aiding in the destruction of the Maoris by bitter intertribal strife was tlio musket. Mr Olds warmly defended his friends against the allegation that they were “not much class,” and would not work, and asked whether the pakeha, deprived of his best land by the invader, would be enthusiastic in working the rest. The Maoris had been compelled to leap in 100 years to that civilisation it had taken the pakeha 1000 years to reach. But tlio Maoris are now progressing, and it was not the idea of the Church workers to make them “good, superficial pakeha church,men”—they wished to help them fill their own destiny, for they had a part to play in the life of New Zealand. The growth of education among the Maoris and their better acceptance of pakeha medical treatment were stressed as points of progress until a people who will prosper providing they have pakeha sympathy.

It has been reported that the two conveniences erected by the Borough Council at the Mangaokewa (viaduct) Reserve have been unlawfully removed, presumably for the value of the iron with which they were built. To say nothing' of the audacious nature of this vandalism, it serves as a further illustration of the manner in which public privileges are abused; This reserve, one of the few places of beauty and recreation available in this district, was thrown open to the public by the Council, whilst the improvements were provided mostly by public subscriptions. From time to time it has been necessary to protest about the removal of ferns and the destruction of native shrubs, and if it is found impossible to leave buildings on the ground with safety, then it must be a question as to whether the reserve can be kept open for the purpose for which it is intended. The Borough Council has arranged to replace the conveniences before the holidays, and the matter of the missing property, it is understood, is being placed in the hands of the police.

At a meeting held last evening to consider tenders for the erection of a bathing weir, decided that no tenders be accepted. Pending further arrangements re labour, the necessary hardwood timber is to be ordered and placed on the job ready for use. As this will entail immediate expense, the Committee will require

all available funds. It would therefore expedite matters and assist the project if promised subscriptions are handed to any member of the Committee immediately, as, so soon as the material is on the ground, it is

intended to engage labour to proceed forthwith with the erection of the weir.