WASTED FERTILISER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 24, 12 August 1949, Page 4

WASTED FERTILISER

Sir, —The article in the Bea :un re “Wasted Fertiliser” revived memories of my native town, Arundel, Sussex. (The correct pronunciation is Arun-dell). In the year 1830 the Duke of Norfolk offered to install a water supply and drainage to cost £50,000 if the Town Council would allow him to take, a portion of the Borough land into the grounds of Arundel Castle. The offer was accepted and the job carried out, but the City Fathers of Littlehampton, a seaside resort at the mouth of the Arun, raised, cain about the sewage coming down the river. To obviate this a sewage farm was formed a mile out of Arundel and only a harmless fluid was allowed to enter the river. . The farm is still going and has proved a profitable investment. Whether such a scheme is advisable for Whakatane is for the powars that be to decide. During excavations for the pipeline through the main street which runs parallel with the river. The marble floor of a Roman Villa was unearthed. The navvy, driver, although a distinguished linguist had no time for anti quities. But like the Centurian of Holy Writ he said unto his Frenchmen “go” with many lurid variations and they went for their lives. The picks pinged and the shovels ponged, the desecrated Imperial Roman marble floor sacreligiously all over the King’s highway. I managed to secure a fragment 2” x 2” x 1” thick composed of 10 pieces of white marble 4 inch square firmly cemented together as sound as when the floor was laid 2000 years agoi I brought the relic to New Zealand to fulfill the prophesy of Briton’s Warrior Queen when she led the onslaught on the invading Roman soldiers.

“Regions Ceasar never knew ti;y posterity shall sway.” It is said that the Roman General in his dispatch to Rome referred to Quern Boadicea as the Lady from Hell, probably the results of Her Majesty’s achievements justified his statement.

Yours etc., HARRY SERGANT.