IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 25305, 7 June 1935, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY Inquiry for Farm Properties. Several farm properties have changed hands in the Winton district during the past few weeks, and it was reported to the Winton correspondent of the Southland Times yesterday that there was a keen inquiry for Winton district farms. * * ft ' ft Giant Parsnips. Winton residents passing the window of the Single Profit Store this week have paused to admire a giant parsnip, 51b in weight, grown in the garden of Mr J. Pearce, East Limehills. Mr Pearce states that he has plenty more of this size in his garden, as well as carrots nearly as large. # ♦ ♦ * Grant For Class Room. With regard to the recent urgent representations made by the Southland Education Board and the member for Awarua, Mr P. A. de la Perrelle, word has now been received from the Minister of Education (the Hon. S. G. Smith), that a grant has been approved to enable an additional class room to be added to the Gorge Road School. **» ■ * Feeding of Lagoons.

When referring to the blame laid at the feet of acclimatization societies by the Bird Protection Society, Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford, at the deerstalkers dinner last evening, said he considered the Bird Protection Society would be much better advised to take up the question of the feeding of lagoons. The anolause which greeted his remark showed that the deerstalkers agreed with him. » ♦ * * Native Birds at Otatara.

An interesting reference to bird life at Otatara was made by Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford when replying to a toast at the deerstalkers’ dinner last evening. He mentioned that on his property at Otatara he had seen as many as 17 bell-birds and a dozen tuis waiting to indulge in a bath. There were many riflemen, tomtits and fantails, and pigeons, long-tailed and shining cuckoos, and parrakeets were also seen. Three years ago kakas had visited his place.

Heavy Traffic To Bluff. Owing to the amount of shipping at Bluff from May 24 to 31, the Railway Department experienced a particularly heavy volume of traffic during that period. One hundred and sixty-six loaded trucks were conveyed to the Napier Star, 135 to the Durham and 72 to the Canadian Britisher, while other figures were: 41 (Waitaki), 39 (Waimarino), 36 (Waipiata) and 33 (Wainui). In addition 233 miscellaneous waggons were sent to the port with merchandise and stock for local merchants.

Not His Excuse. Two defendants in the Magistrate’s Court at Winton on Wednesday were asked to explain why they were on licensed premises after hours. The excuse of the first offender was that he lived in the coqptry, and that he had with him a pair of boots he wished to get repaired. On coming into the town he overlooked the hour the shops closed, and as he did not wish to take the boots home with him again he took them into the hotel to leave them there. On coming out he met the constable. “I make the hotel my home when I am in Winton anyway,” he added. The excuse of the second offender was sought. “I suppose you went in taking a pair of laces for the boots?” remarked the Magistrate (Mr W. H. Freeman). Defendant did not answer. When the constable told the Court that one of the defendants had two bottles of ale and the other was in a half-drunken condition, the Magistrate was not further interested in excuses. —Winton correspondent. * ft ft * Destruction by Deer.

Almost inevitably the question of the damage done by deer arose at the dinner of Southland stalkers last evening. There was a divergence of views on the question, some speakers maintaining that the destruction of forests due to deer was negligible, others submitting that it was appreciable. Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford said it was necessary to approach the matter in a dispassionate way. He had taken the opportunity of questioning a great many people in a position to know regarding the damage done by deer and had been forced to the conclusion that destruction was being done. He referred to the reports of Messrs R. Traill and W. Thomson concerning deer at Stewart Island and also citedthe damage done to alpine and sub-alpine vegetation by chamois. Mr Peter .Hamilton (Tuatapere) said he had in his experience extending over seventy years never seen milling timber damaged by deer. Mr N. J. Dolamore said it was not true, as one speaker had stated, that the regeneration of beech forests was never affected by deer. He.could take people to places where young beech trees were eaten down to resemble gooseberry bushes. The question was not pursued. * • * • Wooden Slabs on Fire. Early yesterday morning a pile of wooden slabs was discovered on fire at the Waitane sawmill owned by the Waitane Afforestation Co., Ltd. Only tlfe fact that there was an entire absence of wind saved the main building, which is separated from the fire area by a tram line. The discovery was made about 5 a.m. by Mrs Wilson, who immediately communicated .with the mill manager, Mr A. W. Halliday, who in turn gave the alarm to the employees living in hutments nearby. Immediately all set to work to. quell the outbreak, and with the assistance of the fire pump this was accomplished before any major damage resulted. Just how the fire originated is a matter for conjecture, but it is. surmised that sparks from the fire in the boiler, which is usually drawn when steam is not required for the drying kiln, must have lodged among the stack. This operation was carried out by the nightwatchman at an early hour yesterday morning, and when he left the premises at about 3.30 a.m. everything appeared to be in order.— Mataura * Aboriginal Implements. An interesting collection of stone implements used by the Australian aboriginals is to be seen in the window of Messrs Broad, Small’s shop in Dee street. The collection is owned by Mr F. W. Lokan, of West Plains, who acquired it on a recent trip to Australia. Among the articles displayed are several stone tips for the woomera or throwing-stick used for hurling spears. By means or the woomera, which is used as a lever to extend the length of the throwing arm, the aboriginals can project spears for great distances with remarkable accuracy. Pebble axes and stone axes illustrate how the native craftsmen took advantage of the natural shape of stones in rudely fashioning useful implements. Strange to civilized tastes is the use of the little clay moulds in which the fat woodgrubs are enclosed and roasted in the ashes of a fire. Large' stones slightly hollowed, known as nardoo mills, are used with a pounding stone for grinding the plant which is used as a staple article of diet. A collection of small sharpened stones, presumably for shaping wooden implements, is interesting, since tools of this sort were used by earlier tribes, but are now no longer employed, and their precise use seems to be unknown. One rare possession

not included in the collection is owned by Mr Lokan. It is a death bone, made from the leg of a kangaroo. This little painted bone was used by medicine men for casting a death spell. When the bone had been pointed over the shoulder of the m _»dicine man at the victim, he succumbed, usually in a short time, from sheer superstitious terror, although no actual bodily wound had been inflicted.