BRIEFS

Te Ao Hou, December 1955, Page 64

BRIEFS The owners of the timber on Hautu block, near Turangi, have now received in exchange for this timber an equivalent amount of timber from nearby state forest and crown lands. The cutting of the timber on Hautu was not allowed because of its value in water and soil conservation. * * * A new recreation hall was opened at St Peter's College, Northcote, last October. The carvings in the hall are from the old Tapeka meeting house at Waihi and the presentation was made by the paramount chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa, Mr. Hepi Hoani te Heuheu. * * * The Maori Adult Education tutor for Tokerau, Mr. Matiu Te Hau, B.A., has organised a series of lectures in Whangerei on current Maori questions. Population trends, education, religion, welfare and race relations are among subjects treated. * * * Eye specialists gathering at Hanmer Springs recently, agreed that Maoris are far less liable to “colour blindness than Europeans. The normal rate for European males is eight percent, but cases of colour blindness in Maoris, specialists consider, are extremely rare. The Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr. E. B. Corbett, accompanied by the secretary for Maori Affairs, Mr T. T. Ropiha, recently paid a visit to the newly-established clothing factory at Tokaanu. The factory which is operated by Mr. D. Von Sturmer, Wellington, was brought into being with the assistance of the Tuwharetoa Trust Board and was aimed at benefiting Maori women and girls of the district by providing suitable work for them. At present there are twelve workers employed and the number is to be increased as there is sufficient room in the building for about thirty employees. Electric light and power for the necessary machines are provided. * * * B. Whiti Whiti, of Waiohiki, again won the title of champion Maori golfer for 1955. The women's title was won by Mrs. P. August, of Waimarama. Entries for the tournament were a record at 170. * * * During the year the Maori Trustee made about 150 loans, to a value of £220,000. The greater number were for amounts of £1000 or less. * * * Three new display cases have been added to the Maori Court at the Dominion Museum. Wellington. They feature carvings from Taranaki, Maori weapons, and heads in Maori wood-carving. PRINTED BY THE PEGASUS PRESS, 14 OXFORD TERRACE, CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALDN