GOATS ON THE MOUNTAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 8

GOATS ON THE MOUNTAIN

DESTROYING THE UNDERGROWTH. URGENT MEASURES NECESSARY. “The goats on the mountain are proving themselves very troublesome,” stated Mr. J. C. Robins, chairman of the East Committee of the Egmont National Park Board, to a Daily News reporter yesterday. Mr. Robins pointed out that the area most affected was that to the west of the Te Popo and towards the Manganui streams. These animals were playing havoc with the -undergrowth, and forming a live menace to the smaller growth of the parts they inhabited. _ Mr. Robins said all the committees realign that the bush must be preserved, and he was of the opinion that aggressive action would soon have to be taken against the destructive habits of the goats. On some parts of the mountain the dead undergrowth had been cleared away and new trees planted, but these young saplings were being torn out, and an otherwise good work being rendered futile by the destructive habits of these animals. SCOUT HALL RE-OPENING. ADDRESS GIVEN PARENTS. There was a large gathering of parents and friends of the Stratford Boy Scouts in the Scout Hall last night, when the re-opening ceremony was performed by the deputy-Mayor, Mr. N. B. Fletcher. During the evening an address to the parents on the value of Scout training was given by District Commissioner W. F« ; Horner. A cup for the most efficient troop was presented to Scouter N. Davey’s troop, and an ambulance cup, open to competition by all Scouts in Taranaki, was presented to Scouter Irving’s troop. GENERAL ITEMS. Heavy Traffic to Stratford House. A record number of visitors have passed through the gates to the Stratford Mountain House during the months of December and January, 1932-3, the actual figure being 1097 persons, which is well above the figure for the previous year. There have been a greater number of visitors from outside Taranaki. Mr. J. C. Robins, chairman of the East Committee of the Egmont National Park Board, stated yesterday that all indications pointed to a continual increase. Through a new concession, the driver of a car is now allowed entry to the park free of charge, but despite this reduction the revenue still shows an increase on last year’s figures for the corresponding month. A total of 279 cars was recorded for the period. Truck Slips Points. A truck slipped the points during shunting operations in the Stratford station yard yesterday, but it was soon returned to the rails. Tn connection with a paragraph in the News this week relating to an incident in which the occupier of a farm near Stratford refused a .visiting pilot permission to use a large paddock to accommodate his plane for one night, the owner of the farm desires it to be known that he personally has no objection to planes alighting or taking off from the property. Tckirima Football Dance. A successful dance in aid of the Tokirima Football Club was held on Saturday evening, when a very enjoyable time was spent. Visitors came from Te Whakarae, Aukopae, Ohura and Opatu. Music was supplied by Mr. F. Newman and ■ Mr. R. Coogan. Mr. R. Cameron was master of ceremonies. White Butterflies Seen. Several of the much-dreaded white cabbage butterflies are believed to have been seen in the Eltham district. A settler at Rawhitiroa captured two during the week, and a Mangatoki fanner discovered several. Whether these are identical with the pest which has caused great havoc among the cabbage plants the settlers were unable to say, but the insects appeared similar. Eltham Plunket Work. The Plunket nurse, reporting to the Eltham Plunket Society, said that the following was the record for the month: Children under 5 under supervision, 135; under 2, 122; visits to homes, 28; to rooms, adults 78, babies 60, children 32, total 170; new cases for month, 8. It Was decided to hold a mothers’ afternoon, the date to be arranged later. It was stated that the response from the public for a competition on a framed work of art and stockings had not been good, and it was being held over until the next effort for funds. BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS. / The annual dog trials at Mangamingi will be held on March 8, 9 and 10, when trophies and cash prizes of a value of £2OO will be offered for competition. Entries close with the secretary, Mr. P. R.' Brown, on Friday, March 3. ELTHAM TALKIES. A REAL COMEDY. When two staunch favourites like Slim Summerville and Zasu Pitts get together in one picture, that picture is bound to be a ' sensation of good old-fashioned laughs—no matter what else it .might be. The sparkling comedy “The Unexpected Father” is all that and infinitely more however. The story, concerning a young waif of the streets and a bachelor of new-found wealth, who is frightened into adopting her on the eve of his own wedding, is unique. When wry-faced Slim, the bachelor in question, is tom between the arms of the baby, her wistful nurse, and his gold-digging bride of the morrow, you feel that it truly is a shame and you wish you could do something yourself to help the pathetic situation. Slim, the memorial Tjaden of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” is the sort who always seems to arouse a rustle of pleased anticipation in his audiences as soon as he shows his face to them. His co-starring partner in fun, Miss Pitts, is every bit as pleasing.