NEW SCENIC BEAUTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 28, 3 January 1931, Page 6

NEW SCENIC BEAUTY.

DISCOVERY OF CAVES IN MARLBOROUGH.

Per Press Association

BLENHEIM, Jan. 2. During the Christmas holidays a series of very beautiful and very extensive marine caves was discovered just south of Tory Channel. The entrance is secured by small openings which are almost concealed but large launches can be taken right into the caves.

The main cave is described as having a very rugged roof presenting all the colours of the rainbow; wonderful stalactites, in beautiful shades of white, green, red and brown, with clear crystal with wonderful blue and heliotrope shades and phosphorescent effects.

In the opinion of Mr P. R. Wilkinson, Commissioner of Crown Lands, the caves outrival the famous Jenolan and Waitomo caves, being of entirely different nature.

A further exploration is being carried out. The discoverers of the caves were Messrs J. and G. Perano, of Whekanui, Miss Betty Best, Mr Ray Wilkinson and Mr John Best, of Blenheim.

DR. JOHN BARTHOLOMEW.

RETURNS TO FEILDING. ABROAD FOR 26 YEARS. New Zealanders have penetrated to many parts of the globe and, althougn some nave passed unnoticed and unheard of in the world’s hurrying millions, there are others who, by sheer grit and determination,. by their personality and dominance over the obstacles which bestrewed their path, have earned for themselves honour and recognition and just rewards in the many countries of the 6arth. Twenty-six years ago Dr. (then Mr) John Bartholomew left the home of hiS parents, Mr and Mrs Geo. Bartholomew, in Feilding, to earn for himseli a place in the world; to-day he is bach bearingthe rank of a lieutenant-colonel in the United States Army, a doctor or medicine and commanding officer or the 1907 reserve station hospital _at San Francisco, and in an interview with a “Standard” representative, recounted some of the incidents m his experience.

It was in 1904 that Dr. Bartholomew left the parental roof in Feilding, imbued with all the fire and energy of a young colonial to “get somewhere and, arriving in San Francisco, he studied medicine at the Stanford University at which he matriculated. He completed his medical course at Tulane University at New Orleans, United States, subsequently receiving certificates from the University of Vienna.

The outbreak of war found Dr. Bartholomew back'in San Francisco practising privately, and with the entry of the United States into the Great AVar he joined the forces of that nation. Promotion came his way for his services and to-day he is a lieutenantcolonel in the United States Army Medical Corps. TRAINING OF FLIGHT SURGEONS. Aviation at this stage entered Dr. Bartholomew’s career for, with the progress of army aeronautics, the United States Army authorities decided upon the training of flight surgeons, and Dr. Bartholomew found himself one of those picked by the authorities at AA T ashington to undergo the course at the Aviation School of Medicine at Brooks Field, Texas. From this school, ivhere the famous Colonel Lindbergh also trained, Dr. Bartholomew is now a graduate. The official requirements for the pilot’s course at tnis school when it was instituted were two years in the University and one year’s training, but now, whilst the training period remains the same, the time in the universitv has been extended to four years. The object of the school, Dr. Bartholomew explained, is to give the army medical officers specialised training in the peculiar complaints or ailments that may affect th 9 army pilots. The pilots of the United States Army receive highly intensive courses and their training costs the American Government 50,0u0 dollars per man. The course is particularly severe and only about 33 per cent, ot the trainees get through at the end of the training period. They are all supermen physically and mentally and splendid fellows in every way.

At the time Dr. Bartholomew went through the Aviation School of Medicine there were 120 pilots training, there being men.present from the whole of the United States, including a fair sprinkling of AA'est Point graduates who acted as 6quad commanders. WILL NEVER HAVE THE DOLE.

Asked concerning the state of affairs economically in America, Dr. Bartholomew said that, although world depression was certainly being felt, he thought the cabled reports from America had been exaggerated. One thing was certain, however, arid that was that America would never have the dole. Money was perhaps a little tighter, this no doubt being due to the action of the French Government in withdrawing money from Wall Street for it was about that tune that stocks commenced to drop and people lost confidence. Everybody was working hard, however, and the country would soon recover. The Americans were a generous people, Dr. Bartholomew went on, and were great spenders, although their tipping habits were to be deplored because they made it embarrassing for others. AMERICANS PRO-BRITISH. Fundamentally the Americans were absolutely pro-British. If there was any cause or if any trouble broke out Dr. Bartholomew was sure that America would be found whole-heartedly on the side of Britain. If one scratched an American deep down one found he was British in bone and sinew and the Americans’ regard for Britain and the British was found in the manner in which they received the British people, the interest taken in their affare and the desire shown to live and work side by side. AUSTRALIAN ‘LABOUR UNIONS. Commenting on Australian affairs, Dr. Bartholomew said that, although he had not had long enough there on his way to New Zealand to form any definite conclusions, he could not help gaining the impression that the Australians were not tackling their economic difficulties seriously. The country was in the grip of the labour unions, and tp the visitor from America, a nation of hard working and hdustrious people, the insistent demand • for shorter working hours and more wages was a thing to wonder at. The energy of the people created the wealth of the country, and with the apparent relaxation of the energies of the people of Australia, the reason for the difficulties their country was in was obvious. To Dr. Bartholomew it was very refreshing to get back to New Zealand after his long absence, anfl to Mrs Bartholomew, who is accompanying her husband on his visit home, the arrival in New Zea - land after the accounts she had heard of the Dominion from many sources in America and abroad, was a doubly interesting episode. Both had been struck with the wonderful freshness and greenness of the countryside, and when asked of her first impressions of New Zealanders Mrs Bartholomew stated that in their industrious and vigorous habits she found them extremely similar to the Americans, but in any event they were vastly different from the Australians.

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF. Mrs Bartholomew also had some interesting remarks to make about the manner in which funds are raised for unemployment relief and necessitous cases of hardship in New York. The authorities at a certain mission would supply an unemployed man with apples which, at some spot in the streets of the Metropolis he would sell from a stand on which would be displayed a sign that the apples were being sold for relief' purposes. Having disposed of his apples, the man would return to the mission with, say, 10s from which would be taken 4s to pay for the apples, etc.* while the man would be

handed back 6s for his services. The result of this method was that the man received employment and pay, the mission got. rid or its apples and supplemented its funds, and in New York it was said that one literally walked on apple cores for everyone walked along eating apples. In San Francisco, from which city Mrs Bartholomew hails, unemployment was not nearly so bad as in the east and it was the arrival of the out-of-works from the east that caused the bulk of the unemployment on the sunny western seaboard of the United States.