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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1249, 26 March 1914, Page 42

Professor Prince, the Canadian fisheries expert, who is to report on the ixshenes of the Dominion, has saikd for New Zealand.

A gem ring lost last summer by Frank Schroder while travelling in a steamer on the Danube near Prague, was found inside a carp caught at Mayence by his nephew.

We have to acknowledge receipt of the current issue of “C-Ok s 1914 Sailing and Fare List” (posted free), a me st useful little publication for intending passengers going to London or elsewhere, as information is supplied by all lines, all routes and classes to all parts of the worldMessis. Thos. Cook and Son offer special advantages, and no booking fees of any nature are charged to the passenger.

Mount Holdsworth is net being well patronised this year, or else those making the ascent fail to pay toll. It is stated that only £3 12 s has been obtained this season, and this has been expended. The new route is far before the old track, and from it a view can be obtained of some of the finest scenery in New Zealand. It also saves a climb of some 500 feet, and is almost all fiat walkingAs evidence of how some parties, escape paying toll, the caretaker says one party of twelve visited the house and only left one shilling, instead of a shilling per member. At least £25 is required for necessary work.

The red deer-stalking season in the Wellington Acclimatisation Society’s district will begin on April 1, and end on May 31, 1914. The license fee is the same in all the reserves, viz., two pounds (£2), but in the Paraparaumu, Wainui, and Tararua forest reserves,, only two heads may be taken under a license. In the Wairarapa South (Haurangi forest reserve) only four heads and six hinds may be taken. All the sanctuaries will be isolated and the Council of the Society is determined to deal with; all cases of trespass to the full extent permitted by law. It is reported that some good heads have been seen, especially in the heavy forest lying on the Tararuas.

Ireland is fast becoming a tourist resort, and thousands of people flock there every year bent on seeing the country. They scamper over the nills of Wicklow and take pictures of life on the River Shannon. One will meet the Londoner, too, buying bagook in the shops of Dublin, and also the American poking his gingham at the barrels of bog butter and wondering who made it and how long ago. Ireland is being talked about, and thousands enjoy their holidays wandering over the lovely lands of the west. There is a quaintness about the people and a charm about the green fields that attract the stranger. The Cromlecks and Tumulii, the roths (forts) and round towers are a source of never-ending interest to the residents of the neighbouring islands, and draw many people to Ireland. Those, too, who are inclined towards religious thought or speculation find in the ruined churches, holy wells and sacred places a supply of mental food that will satisfy them doubtless for the rest of their lives. From an industrial viewpoint, to the visitor who takes thought the difference between the north and south is as the difference between Spain and America, for the factories and mills and shipbuilding yards of Belfast are an object-lesson that may not be brushed aside.

The Weddell Sea, from which Sir Ernest Shackleton is to start his crossing of the Antarctic Continent, derives its name from a Scottish merchant captain, James Weddell, who achieved the farthest south of his day. He went sealing, in the South Seas in command of two small brigs in 1822, and, his employers having instructed him to penetrate as far into the ice as possible, he actually, on February 28th, 1823, carried the flag to 74deg- lmin. south. Weddell’s name has been given also to the great Antarctic seal.

The Palmerston North Farmers’ Union held a picnic recently at Ko mako, and wnen the most interesting part of the proceedings was about to commence it was found that the staff of life was in short supply- Nothing daunted, the enterprising secretary commandeered a committeeman’s motor and prevailed upon him to drive some fourteen miles over hilly country. Within an hour the omission of bread from the bill of fare was remedied and once again the motor car demonstrated its usefulness to the farming community.

The Department of Internal Affairs has had some persons enployed on the Waikato River netting shrimps as food for the Rotorua trout. The shrimps are liberated at the Rotorua lakes and in consequence of the food becoming scarce in the Taupo Lake, the Department has also decided to supply that lake with small fish, which will be secured from the Waikato River at Mercer.

The sum of £5O has been set aside by the Tourist Department for a hut on the Mount Hector track, and a committee of the Mount Hector Tourist Track Association has decided that the track should be made and improved from the Tauherenikau River up Bull Mound to Omega, so as to give an easier grade; to cut the track on the left-hand side of Omega, so as to avoid the swamp, and then follow on to Alpha. This track is through more or less bush country. From Alpha the track will take a circuitous course to Mount Hector, with probably a wire guide laid on the ground and pegged where necessary.

The Government has decided to offer £4OOO towards the acquisition of Day’s Bay bush, Wellington, as a scenic repefrvte. The total cost is £14,000. The City Council decided to acquire Day’s Bay bush, subject to Government and others interested finding £lO,OOO. The citizens supporting the purchase have . undertaken to raise £6OOO. As a result or a day’s canvass the money received totalled approximately £l5OO. This, with the G-overnment grant of £4OOO and the City Council’s grant of £4OOO, brings the ‘total in hand up to £9500, leaving a balance still required of £4500. Of this amount it was expected that the residents of Day’s Bay and the Eastbourne Borough Council will subscribe £lOOO.

Until Peter Scott, the only son of the explorer, is twenty-one years of age, the original journals of Captain A. Scott will remain in the British Museum. Amongst the sheets at present on view is that on which the dead explorer interrupted the even course of his narrative to print in capitals, “The Pole,” and that, even more interesting, upon which he has written in large letters, “Last Entry” and “For God’s sake look after our people.” The “t’s” are still crossed, but there is no apostrophe, and the last word, “people,” is written with the

greatest effort of all —the last word, in fact, of a man in extremis, whose pen has just held out to the end. Another portion of the diaries which is of special public interest is the message to the public, “Surely, surely a great, rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent upon us are properly provided .for —R Scott, 25th March, 1912.” The message to the public is written at the end of one of the volumes, and on one of the boards, and is without erasure, in the firm, small writing characteristic of the d.aries throughout.

We find ourselves, says a recent New Zealander abroad regarded everywhere in France as Americans. It was quite amusing the other even -ing in Paris. During dinner the head waiter bore down on us carrying in his own sacred hands a magnificent bowl of roses. A number of electric lights weie bidden amongst the greenery and half-a-dozen little American flags waved triumphantly. Then it struck us there were other festive signs about the menu, and one of our party enquired what it was all about, m very broken English the waiter explained reproachfully that it was our fete day, the day of rejoicing, our national festival, our thanks-giving. We accepted the graceful, though mis placed compliment, and allowed the American flags to wave. The next day we did some explaining, and taught them that New Zealand was not exactly a suburb of America.

An interesting table has just been publ.shed by the London “ Times ” showing he reduction of sea route distances that will tie possible wnen the Panama Canal is open. It gives the p.eoent distance irom Liverpool to VveLington as 11,981 miles. Coming via Panama the distance will be 11,058 mixes.—reduction of 923 miles. The figures given-—in the same order —from other regular trading ports to Wellington are as follow: —From London 12,027 and 11,270—757; from New York, 11,571 and 8500 —3071. One of the greatest reductions in distances will be that New York and San Francisco. A total of 13,358 miles of sea travelling now separates these ports, but with the opening of the canal this will be reduced by 5755 miles. Other big reductions will be: —Liverpool to Honolulu, 4660 miles; to Valparaiso, 1813 miles; London to Honolulu, 4488 miles; New York to Honolulu, 6808 miles, to Melbourne 2858 miles to Sydney 3347 miles; New Orleans to San Francisco 8578 miles, to Vancouver 8078 miles, to Valparaiso 4970 miles.

The first annual conference of the Commercial Travellers’ Associations of New Zealand was held recently in Wellington. The delegates who attended were:—Auckland, Messi s. D. McLean, A. G- Cooke, and W. E. Young; Wellington, Messrs. E. A. Phelps, R. F. Steele, and A. Samuel; Christchurch, Messrs. A, J- Carlton, A. Christie, and H. Gould; Dunedin, Messrs. D. McPherson and F. W. Mitchell. The conference was presided over by M- F. W. Manton, of Wellington, president of the New Zealand Association. The deliberations of the conference extended over two days, and a strong definite policy was adopted in the interest of all affiliated associations. A draft of a reciprocal treaty with the Australian Association was presented and approved, and is to be presented to the general conference at Easter of the United Commercial Travellers’ Association of Australasia, to be held in Melbourne.

It was decided to hold the next annual conference of the New Zealand Association at Dunedin in February next. Wellington was fixed upon as the headquarters of the United New Zealand Association. Mr. Dugald McPherson was elected president for the ensuing year. ,

Fishing is the chief recreation of the residents of the Tokelau or Unnion Islands, to the north-east of Samoa. “Shark fishing is a bit thrilling at times,” said Dr. Hoare, Resident Commissioner fori the group, to a pressman in Sydney recently. “After we hook a shark we play him up to the side of the boat, then slip a line round his gills, pull him up tight, and stiffen him with a blow on the end of the nose. This may not sound very exciting, but I assure you it sometimes is. A Itvlier sport than that is the catching of flying fish. This is done at night in boats, the crews carrying torches. The fish, attracted by the glare, shoot out of the water, and the game is to catch them in nets, which are provided with handles about 10ft long, and which take some manipulating in order to keep one’s balance. The fish whizz along with the force of bullets almost, and they don’t look where the? are going, and many a man is knocked over by them, so the fun is fast and furio’us, and the excitement reaches a high pitch. There is very little bird life, other than sea birds. Frigate birds are fairly numerous. They never fish for themselves, but circle in the air, watch till some other bird has picked up a fish, and then pounce upon the captor and rob him of his spoil.”

What can be done by a wide-awak" municipal policy has no better example than the town of Timaru, situated in South Canterbury. Not content with forming, literally building, up one of the finest pleasure beaches in New Zealand from an ugly stretch of shingly,, surf-ridden beach, these energetic body of Canterbury people have now determined that their population needs a pleasure resort in the foot hills within easy reach of the town. Hae Hae Te Moana, they have christened it, and it is situated among the bills south-west of Geraldine, and about twenty-six miles from Timaru. The place lies in a hollow of the hills, where one of the few stretches of native bush in South Canterbury has been carefully preserved, and is still almost in its primitive state. A clear stream winds down through the valley forming an unsurpassed swimming pool, with ample depth fior diving, just below the houses. There is an orchard well stocked with various fruit trees, and good fishing and shooting can be enjoyed without much trouble. An ideal place for children to run Wild in, without any risk that harm will come to them, and near enough to Timaru, much more Temuka, to allow breadwinners who have no time for a longer stay to join their families there at week-ends. Te Moana promises to become more popular as a holiday resort each year. The houses are of a simple sty re, and have separate sleeping shelters, -open on one side to the air, and tents attached to them. A great deal has been done to improve the resort during recent years. Flower beds have been laid down, which are now one blaze of bloom, and it is very attractive to find such an oasis far from the town’s dust and noise, but not too far removed to be easily accessible.n And also to find such wise enthusiastic foresight in the city fathers of one of the most go-ahead towns in the Dominion.

Advice has been received from Australia that the passenger steamers oc the Orient and P. and O. Lines, in the second-class particularly, are filling rapidly, and Auckland passengers contemplating a trip are strongly advised to communicate at once with Messrs. Thos. Cook and Son, general passenger agenits. This firm obtains by cable offers of the very best available berths, and these are submitted to t’.:e passenger for acceptance or refusal.

Mr. R. Horton, representative of the Kinema Colour Company, is at present on a visit to Queenstown for the purpose of taking a number of moving pictures of the principal features of the district. He has already taken pictures of the park, the wharves, launches and the Kawarua Falls. The Mount Cook Motor Company, with characteristic enterprise, purposes taking Mr. Horten over their motor route and Mount Cook free of •charge. These pictures will, we understand, be shown at the Panama Exhibition, and will therefore constitute a fine advertisement of the district.

A recent tourist, who has been engaged in a tour of the South Island Dr. Mill, who has been visiting Lake Wakatipu and Paradise, as well as the Head of the Lake, says these are both very wonderful places. The latter is even more lonely than Stewart Island, because there are only two boardinghouses there and scarcely any other inhabitants. The mountains are very fine, and the forest of native birch also is beautiful. They are enormous in extent. Here they met Dr. Jack, formerly geologist to the New South Wales Government. He had been there three months, and had blazed tracks through the bush in several directions, so that it was possible to go for extensive walks without the risk of being lost. There are walks which would take several ■days’ climbing to get from the lowest peak to the highest point. The geological features of that region are also very interesting. I was very much charmed with Queenstown, the situation of which I think the most beautiful I have seen in New Zealand. It has been planted and cared for in such a way that it has quite the air of a Continental watering place, and reminds one of some of the villages on the shores of Lake Lucerne, in Switzerland. It was very interesting to notice the spirit of a Cadet Corps in regard to the raising of a memorial to Captain Scotts’ party in the public park. This was possibly the (first erected to the memory of the Antarc-

tic heroes. It reminded him very much of a stone over the grave of the late Cecil Rhodes at Matoppo, in Rhodesia.

The recent sad disaster upon the slopes of Mount Cook, the first fatality to be recorded in our Alpine annals, has cast a gloom over the tourists resorts where the names of the lost guides are held in high regard. All the men were experienced mountaineers, and 'Mr. King was a well-known member of the English Alpine Club. Thompson was a West Coaster, and for some years has been Guide Graham’s first lieutenant, while Richmond belonged to Willowbridge, South Canterbury, and was also an experienced guide. The saddest part is that only last month Mr. Sydney King, in company with Mr. J. D. Dennistoun, of Peel Forest, and Lieut. G. Dennistoun, R.N, First Lieutenant of H.M.S. Pyramus, made an interesting and successful journey over the little known and dangerous icefields on the eastern slopes of the Southern Alps. The party made its way from the head waters of the Rangitata across several glaciers down to Malte Brunn hut, thence to the Hermitage, having crossed St. Winifred, Godley, Classen, and Tasman Glaciers. They claimed that theirs was the longest high-level journey yet made in New Zealand. During the earlier portion of the trip, while traversing from the Winifred to the Godley Glaciers, a new pass about 7000 feet was discovered. The party named it Terra Nova. Mr. King, who bad had considerable experience in the Swiss mountains, came specially to New Zealand to try and ascend the bigger peaks in the Mount Cook Group. He attempted several of the peaks recently, the last occasion being on Mount Sefton, when he was accompanied by Guides Graham and Thompson. Mr. King had a few days’ spell, and then decided to attempt the ascent of Mount Cook. He started from the old Mount Cook Hermitage with the guides “Darby” Thompson and “Jock” Richmond, and upon the ice-clad slopes of the Linda Pass the party were swept, to their death. Guide Thompson, strangely enough, seems to have had some premonition of disaster. He was discussing the perils of- mountaineering with a Christchurch resident during a recent visit to that city, and he referred to the fact that there had been no fatal accidents among the guides in the Mount Cook district. “All the same,” he said, “we carry our lives in our hands. Don’t be surprised if you hear soon that one of us has met his Waterloo.”