RATANA IMPASSE ENDS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1933, Page 6

RATANA IMPASSE ENDS

reconciliation with patea SUPPLIES TO BE BOUGHT IN TOWN. WAKARUA ACTS AS INTERMEDIARY A reconciliation between Ratana and the citizens of Patea, between whom an impasse occurred as a result of Ratana’s recent conviction for drunkenness while in charge of a car, has been effected and supplies for the model village are now being purchased from Patea shopkeepers. Following his recent conviction for being intoxicated in charge of a motorcar, Ratana declared that as a protest all supplies for the pa would be bought outside Patea. Later, however, he realised that a reconciliation was desirable, and after Mr. Rfrni Wakarua, of Nukumaru, had acted as intermediary, Ratana had a satisfactory interview -with the Mayor, Mr. F. Ramsbottom, and all disagreements were settled. Since the interview large quantities of meat, bread and other supplies for the pa have been bought in Patea.

At a farewell gathering to Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Rendle at Christchurch, Mr. Rendle stated that radio listeners in England did not use their sets as an aid to conversation as many New Zealand owners did, but for what they wanted to hear. Radio, however, was not ousting real music, for when he was last in England some piano factories were working overtime, the main product being a baby grand. A valuable and interesting deposit was made at the Alexander Museum, Wanganui, recently by Mr. Ngapuhi Metekingi. It is a totara or kumara kit made entirely from the bark of totara. Some two feet long, it is also about a foot deep and a foot wide. Showing the interest that is taken in the museum over a wide area, Mr. G. Levien has also sent a wire worm (“Georgius”) from as far as Taumarunui. The worm was described by Mr. J. H. Burnet, the director, as being the thickness of thread and some four feet in length.

The part the theorist has played in the depression has been criticised by Mr. T. Auton, chairman of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Society of Accountants. Mr. Auton remarked that he was sincerely of the opinion that the financial theorist and the economist had played far too important a part in the great catastrophe of the depression and had, perhaps, by their activities actually increased the steepness of the fall in prices. “I feel that the accountant, with his practical outlook, could play a very valuable part in meeting the problems of to-day,” added Mr. Auton. A suggestion that “the doctor should try a dose of his own medicine” was made by Sir Stephen Allen at a sitting of the Transport Licensing Authority over which he presided at Christchurch. It was being argued whether rearranging the Hamner service-car time-table so that cars left there at 7 a.m. would cause much inconvenience to tourists, and Mr. E. S. Brittenden, for the Railway Department, contended that the hour was not unduly early. It would not hurt tourists or anybody else to have to get up early once in every six months or so, he said. “All right,” said Sir Stephen, “suppose I arrange for to-morrow’s sitting of the Licensing Authority to begin at 7 a.m., and for a Railway Department matter to be the first case heard?” His retort was greeted with laughter from all present. When the Waitomo Caves were cleaned out recently, under the direction of Mr. R. W. Marshall, who has now taken charge of the Wellington branch of the Government Tourist Department, there was found buried in the silt an old medal, apparently an award for some swimming achievement. It is composed of a greenstone disc, faced on each side with gold. On one side there is depicted, in relief, a man about to dive into water; on the other appear the name E. C. Percival, the date 1906, and the initials L.P.A.A.C., presumably standing for the club or organisation which presented the medal. It is impossible to say how long the little medal has been lost, or whether its owner was a New Zealander or a tourist visitor from overseas.

In order to augment its funds the New Plymouth Red Cross Society is to hold a bridge and five hundred evening at The Chequers on Thursday next. Complete arrangements have been made to make the evening a success, and intending players are advised to book their tables early to avoid disappointment. This may be done by communicating with Mrs. Southam, ’phone 884.