In the Dominion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 92, 18 April 1929, Page 6

In the Dominion

Maligned Pukeko. “ I hope pukeko will not bo on thtf shooting list this year,” writes Mr David Binith, of Alastcrton. to the Nevf Zealand Native Bird Protection So< ciety. “I have known the birds all 1 my life (over 60 years) and I do not ' know of any mischief they do. I know. I however, what good they can do, and 'all thinking farmers like them around I in order to lighten our fight against inI sect pests. I have never had grain 1 stacks touched by them, and they are strutting round the stacks every day. | Further, if they did take a small I quantity of grain, I would not mind, i but would merely look upon such as i well-earned wages.” ‘ The Mysterious Bottle. I A bottle containing a piece of paper attracted the notice of Air Greenaway 'on the Napier foreshore the other ( morning, and on investigation the I paper was found to contain the follow- ! ing words: “Thrown from Whale Is» land. February 24, 1929. C. L, Christensen, 462 Durham Street, Christ- | church.” Investigation of the Now i Zealand postal directory, however, fails to confirm the identity of any resident of Christchurch of that name, while a perusal of the streets directory reveals the fact that the number oi houses in Durham street of even num* bers is limited to 160. Brisbane’s Gain. The Transport Commission of a yeaf ago is primarily responsible for the Josi of Auckland’s city engineer, states th< New Zealand Herald. Speaking at a farewell gathering, Air W. E. Bush said it was during the course of that commission that counsel for the city had asked him to prepare himself to give evidence on the Greater Brisbane scheme, and the investigation he had made hud caused him to take an everincreasing interest in the. big experiment Brisbane was undertaking by th'o abolition at a stroke of nineteen local bodies, and placing the control of all services under one authority. He had resolved at the first opportunity to investigate the scheme personally, and had done so on his visit to Australia at the close of last year. AVhen Air A». A. Jolly, Lord Mayor of Brisbane, had visited Auckland subsequently, Air I Bush said he sensed that it was desired I lie should apply for the poition of engineer to the water supply and sewerage department of the Greater Brisbane Council- He did so, but he confessed he was somewhat surprised when he was awakened one night to hear tho news of his appointment. Petrol Tax Wanted. “1 think we should advocate a petrol tax and not harass the poorer members of the community,” said Councillor A'. Jacobson at a recent meeting of lhe Pcton o Borough Council when referring to a letter from the secretary of the Alunicipal Association suggesting that the council take steps to oppose any reduction in motor taxation, (‘specially heavy traflic fees. The letter also advised that the association was pressing for the appointment of a second local body representataiye upon the Transport Advisory Council. Councillor Jacobson said that two carriers had gone bankrupt lately, and iu their cases it had been stated that tT# heavy traffic fees had been partly ta blame. He believed in getting good roads, but at tho same time the goofl roads should come slower and too mucl money should not be dragged out oi a certain section of the public. Other councillors were of opinion that as ths heavy motor vehicles did the most, damage to th 0 roads they should pay for them. Probable Measles Victims. The human skulls recently found a( the Dunedin Harbour Board's quarry a( the Bpit are said to be probably relics of th c outbreak of measles which ravaged the natives about the beginning of last century. The infection was attributed to old blanket s obtained from whaling ships. AVhen thc temperaturd which characterises au attack ol measles developed, the natives plunged into the harbour to cool themselves. The result was a high mortality. Som< died on th 0 foreshore as they left th< water, and others succumbed befor( reaching their whares, which were 1 considerable distance from thc harbourside. That probably accounts for the skeletons found *at the Harbour Board's quarry. In a cave about half a mile from the site of the quarry • number of skeletons were found seven al years ago, and it was then thought that the first great outbreak of mcasle/ accounted for the skeletons being there Excitement Over Airmen. ‘ *1 had to smile when I read in you( paper on Baturday morning about thl voung lady telling everyone she met in Willis Street that the Southern Cross had been found,” writes R.AI.Q. in the Dominion. “If you had been in my house you would have thought i was going mad. I was having afternoon tea with three old ladies over 6( years of age, whoa the news caiu< [through my wireless that the Southern Cross hail been found, and that all foul men were safe. I was just saying at 3 o’clock that they would get Kingsford Smith soon, and my friends wero arguing that he would not be seen again. Just ten minutes after they had said that we got the news ‘AU safe.’ I was so excited that 1 ran out and rang up my son at his business premises and dashed about telling all my neighbours. I really forgot my friends at home, and there, was no more afternoon tea that day-"

Variety of Native Birds. “While ranging the upper reaches of the Rangitikei River, 1 was amazed at the number and variety of native birds to be seen,” stated Ranger T. Andrews, in a report to the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. “AVe camped, by a block of bush comprising about 3(100 acres. This bush wa s composed of black and brown birch, with an occasional totara. The bellbirds were literally iu their thousands. AVhiteheada, Rifleman Uren, and white-eye were also very numerous. Tomtits were in fair numbers, and an occasional pied fantail was to b e seen. Tuis were there, but were not plentiful. The harrier iiiawk, the sparrow hawk, and another hawk that was strange to me was observed. This strange hawk was smaller than the harrier and appeared to have no fear, allowing me to approach within four or five yards of it. Two kaka put iu an appearance about dusk, hut they were the only ones seen. At night woodhens and morepork were to be heard on all sides and appeared to be very numerous. Kiwi were hoard calling, but they did not appear to be plentiful. To hear the bellbirds calling was indeed most beautiful. I cannot understand how such a variety of i birds find sustenance in such unpromising surroundings as birch forest. n