NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1931, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Discovery at Old Maori Pa.

Unemployed relief workers engaged at Turuturu-Mokai reserve on the reconstruction of the ancient Maori fortifications stumbled across a subterranean passage which, it is believed, says the "Stratford Post," has an important bearing on the original construction of the pa. The passage gives access to the plateau from the top trench or last line of defence, and proves beyond doubt the location of the main entrance. On the plateau is a series of pits. At one time whares were erected over "these pits, and it is believed that each pit was connected by underground passages, which merged into one main arterial right-of-way to the top trench. The passage has been sealed until if can be properly explored. Traffic Helped Along. "The tendency in England, and in London particularly, is to help traffic along rather than 'boggle' it with regulations which generally may bo all right but in. particular cases arc no good at all," said Mr. Edgar Stead, who has just returned to Christchurch after a motor tour of 6000 miles through England (reports the "Christehurch Times"). Mr. Stead said .that throughout his tour in England he received tho utmost courtesy from traffic officers and policemen, yet in Wellington, when ho was a passenger in a motor-car which infringed a traffic signal, the inspector took it as a personal insult and was all but abusive over a very trivial matter. The removal of tho speed limit on the open road had not resulted in any great increase in the speed of cars for the reason that tho drivers realised that the responsibility was on them more than ever to maintain every reasonable care on the road. It had actually resulted in a decrease in the number of accidents, which formerly were deplorably common. "I could not imagine a' traffic inspector in. Now Zealand directing motor-cars on to the footpath to expedite traffic," said Mr. Stead. "He would have a fit if it was suggested to him, but in England it is more or less common. Any practical way of helping tho traffic along is adopted. The regulations aro designed to get the traffic through as speedily as possible without any prohibitions that simply serve to annoy motorists." .