Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 243, 4 January 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

STALE BREAD Sir,— On Monday the bread I ate with my dinner was so stale that I had almost to commit the solecism of poking it down my throat with the end of the bread-knife. On Tuesday I was forced to soak bread in my tea—that is, for breakfast; by tea-time there was no bread left (owing to faulty computation) and we had (thank heaven!) scones. This long holiday from baking has meant great inconvenience for the whole city. Would it not be possible on another occasion to declare a special bakers’ holiday, say, the Saturday following the New Year holidays, and allow baking to take place earlier in the week? DAMPER. THE TRANS-TASMAN FLIGHT Sir, At last it would seem that airmen are about to hop across the Tasman. What an extraordinary business it has been; what a chapter of delay and procrastination. It has reminded me of an old song: “First she said she wouldn’t, then she said she couldn’t, then she said perhaps she might.” When one thinks of the simple attitude of Lindbergh prior to his flight, one wonders at all this palaver about a comparatively simple “hop across” from Sidney to Wellington. I do not wish to belittle the effort of the plucky aviators who are making the trip and I sincerely hope that the honour of making the first crossing goes to New Zealanders, but I do sincerely wish the flight was over and an end made to all these rumoured starts and postponements. They are most trying. JOYSTICK. A BUSH PARADISE Sir, At the foot of the Waitakere Ranges on what is now called Mountain Road, and less than four miles from Henderson Station there is to be found one of the few remaining pieces of virgin bush for which in past years the Waitakeres were famous. It is still private property (being locally known at Sharp's Bush), but under certain restrictions necessary for its preservation, it is open, free of charge, to the public, and a pleasant day may be spent there in the very heart of nature by anyone who prefers the lure of the bush to the call of the beach or the fascination of the racecourse. About 20 acres in extent, it is traversed by winding tracks which lead the visitor through deep gullies across rippling streams and up grassy heights trom which most excellent views of the city and its surroundings may be obtained. Here are some of the finest kauri trees yet to be found in the North Island, their massive trunks towering from 70 to 90 or 100 ft in the air, rimus, 20ft in circumference, totara, matapau and rata, and tea-tree of extraordinary dimensions. At the foot of one of the kauris may be discerned the lair of the wild pigs which were at one time so numerous in this region, but the crowning glory af this bush is in its beautiful tree ferns,

its nikau groves, and its tall cabbage palms. The tree ferns stand from 12 to 15ft in height, and their huge leaves, interlacing at the top, form a canopy which, almost excluding the noonday sun, provides a shady retreat for the visitors who have already discovered this delightful spot. The Henderson Creek winds its long course Ml through this area, its banks on one side forming a gentle declivity down, to the creek bed, and on the other rising so high and steep as to be almost unclimbable, while its deep, pellucid bathing pools are a constant temptation to the passer-by. Unlike many similar areas within easy reach of the city, there is here no lack of bird life. The wild bees have made their hives in the hollow trunks of some of the tall trees, it is a sanctuary for the tui, the kingfisher, the bell bird, the native pigeon, the mopoke and many others of the feathered tribes, so that all through the long summer " -- there is to be heard the song of bird and hum of bee. It is within easy distance of Auckland, and being as it p: tically is. the nearest of its kind, it should, when it is better known, become a favourite resort for visitors from far and near. Henderson. JAS. COLLING S. REPRISALS Sir,— I agree with “Poor Fluffy” that there are some callous people in the world. To go away for the Christmas and New Year holidays and leave dumb animals, without any provision being made for their feeding, seems to me to be criminal. I, too, have been feeding a half-starved cat left by my neighbours who have gone joy-riding into the Winterless North without giving a thought to their household “pet.” If I had my way there would be a reprisal: I would lock the householder in his garage for a week and his good lady in the kitchenette and conduct at regular intervals noisy preparations r serving of a tempting meal—within olfactory range. GRIMALKIN. WAS KIPLING RIGHT? Sir,— For lack of something better to do, l went out to Eden Park yesterday afternoon and wasted two shillings on a tiresome display of feeble cricket. The Auckland batsmen appeared to be in a blue funk of caution; the Otago bowlers could not have hit a barn door; and the spectators were bored to the stage of characteristic gloomy silence. With others, 1 had hoped to have seen the interprovincial teams make an attempt to follow the reported example of the New Zealand team at Home last year, and thus valiantly trv to counterbalance their crudities with a lively effort. The game, or what I of was a miserable disappointment. There was no zest for advenwS." A V 5, a U ot flrst grade schoolboys would have donkey-licked the tatives°t ° f inter Provincial represenThe spectators, unfortunately, were almost dumb in their disappointment

and depression. A Sydney erfl* ** would hav© made the game or, djj alternative, would have driven the ing palavering players off the ?ro& * under a shower of banana skins, ***' C. loy remnants and Parramatta L Unless New Zealand cricketers up and really try to play the gain®* it should be played, the public will\ compelled, in desperation, to its attention to basketball and crotf|K LONG **