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Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1931, Page 6

There is no foundation, says the New Zealand Herald, for rumours that Parliamentary returning officers have been directed to prepare for a possible early general election. It is usual to arrange for the hiring of halls and other buildings as polling places well ahead of the normal election date. This is being done now, as in past election years, on the assumption that the polls will be held in November. With so much talk in the air regarding a dissolution of Parliament it has been natural for some people to assume that the returning officers are making earlier preparations than they otherwise would, but this is not the cage. The origin of the peaches once grown extensively by the Maoris was explained by Mr. G. A. Green, citijiculturist to the Auckla'nd council of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. Mr. Green said it seemed apparent that -tlie Maoris developed peach groves from two dozen stones brought to New Zealand bv an early missionary named Matthews. They were planted at Kaitaia., While Mr. Matthews was on the ship Gravesend Dock he was presented with the peaches at the last minute. The stones were preserved, and the success of the Maoris in cultivating the peaches was largely due to the instruction in agriculture they received from the. first missionaries. Three distinct vaiieties of the peaches were developed, but the success of the natives in this branch of production had waned since the Maori > Wars.