LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17708, 17 February 1921, Page 10

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

PROPOSED NEW "AKARAm'' 2fc:.» county. Sir,—lt is somewhat surprising to me that, none of the petitioners for the formation of above new cooniy have taken exception to the name " Akarana." Even if acceptable to thfr petitioners, there are jiiany Maori linguists and others who know sufficient of the Maori language, who would view with dismay and antipathy the use for a promumt district of a name which is merely pigeon English, i.e., a Maori attempt at pronouncing the word " Auckland." It certainly is not a recognised Maori word, and is usually pronounced in a slangy way with the accent on the third syllable, instead of on the first, which latter mode would be more correct. I hope a more euphonious name may be found before the above be pbced oii record. J. W. Gittos. February 16, 1921.

WAITOMO CAVES. Sir, —Together with a lady " I visited Waitomo and in order to see them thorough] v we got up early and reached Hangatiki at 10.15 a.m.; had to wait till 10.45 for a horse coach, reached Waitomo (six miles) about 11.40, and, together with 12 others, visited the Waitomo Cave, which occupied 43 minutes. Then lunch at 1 n.m., but was informed that there would ba no time to visit either of the other caves as,the return coach would leave at 2.30 p.m. It left at 2.45 and reached Hangatiki at 3.30. We had then to wait till after 5 p.m. for the train. Now I sappose others like us wanted to see the caves. Only 40 minutes were thus occupied, which was very disappointing to those who could only spare a day. With pood management it could have been accomplished. A motor coach could have taken us to Waitomo by 10.45, and two of the caves could have been seen before lunch and the other and the return journey made to Hangatiki in good time to catch the train. The charges made should allow for all being done expeditiously, viz., 7s 6d return journey by coach, 3s each for visiting one cave, and 4s for lunch; total, 14s 6d each and only one cave visited. Viator. CATTLE TICK. Sir.-—Some months ago a letter appeared in your columns giving the impressions <■; a visitor from Poverty Bay re the methods adopted in the Northern Peninsula in combating the cattle tick. As the opinions expressed cast a reflection on this district which is quite unjustifiable and unwarranted, correspondence has passed between the executives of the Farmers' Union here and in Poverty Bay, and now the senior stock inspector for Poverty Bay has visited our district, and I am sending vou his report, which is as follows:—"Mr. D. M. Ross, senior stick inspector for Poverty Bay district, during the earlier part of this week paid an unofficial visit to the North. On Tuesday he visited Parua Bay, where he saw a number of cattle dipped. Yesterday he went to Kamo and saw a mob of 150 put through. Mr. Ross stated that his greatest difficulty had been to find any ticks on the cattle he had seen in the district. When he made this statement he referred to cattle that had not just been previously dipped. He further said that the dipping operations were entirely efficient and successful, and he had been very much taken with the construction of the

dips and the method of working them. The construction was very admirable, and there could be no question at all as to the excellence of either the woodwork or the concreting. The whole business to; him worked like well-oiled machinery. Mr. Ross also said that though there appeared to be very little manifestation of tick in this district it was very wise indeed that precautionary measures should have been taken, and in this connection he would say that to those who had pioneered the movement great credit was due." G. S. B. Mormson, President, Whangarei Sub-Provincial Executive N.Z. Farmers' Union.