NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 72, 27 March 1933, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Aged Maori's Death,

Mita To E'angituahoka, or Mita Tihoka, a veteran of tho Maori War, in which he fought for the British, died in the Bay. of Plenty district last week. Tahoka was reputed to be well over 100 years of age and witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at the Maori villages where Auckland\ now stands. He was a well-known figure in the district, and was held in the highest esteem by both. Maori and pakeha. His death occurred while he-was being conveyed to Maketu, his wish being to die at the historic landing-placo of the Arawa canoe. A Buried Forest. During the excavations for the sewerage schonio along Currio Street, Now Plymouth, tho mechanical ditcher has brought to light a considerable quantity of timber which was buried years ago when portions of the area were reclaimed and levelled for building purposes (says tho "Taranaki Herald"). At the Courtenay Street junction the depth of the trench is nearly 30ft. The ditcher went down through the solid yellow clay, and then into an earlier formation, evidently covered by the eruption of Egmont' thousands of years ago. Timber from a buried forest has been encountered, and Mr. W. H. Skinner securod a strip of totara found at this level. The'bark is-wonderfully well preserved, despite the fact that it must have been buried for thousands of years, so woll, in fact, that\ one would j;hink it had only just boon stripped from a growing tree. The-bark will form a most interesting addition to j tho exhibits in the New Plymouth Museum. Research in the Tropics. A man who is earning prominence for his research ' work on tropical diseases is Dr. E. G. Saycrs, formerly of CHristchurch, who is now stationed at the-Methodist. Mission in tho. Solomon Islands. The founder of the mission, the Rev. J. F. Goldie, who is visiting New Zealand, told a representative of the "Press" in Christehurch that the opinion of Dr. Saycrs on tropical diseases was being much sought after all over Europe. Dr. Sayers graduated at Otago University College,^nd then studied abroad under Dr. Manson Barr, the famous expert at the School of Tropical Medicine in London. His original research work is being, done in conjunction with the ordinary administration of the hospital, of which he is superintendent. Wangaaella's Sailing Time. The Huddart, Parker Company's motor-ship. Wanganella will in futuro leave Wellington at noon for Sydnoy, instead of §, p.m. as at present. She will also.; leave Sydnoy at noon for Wellington. It was recently announced that the Wanganella would arrivo at Wellington on Monday.afternoons instead of on Tuesday mornings, and that when she loaves Wellington on Thursday afternoons for Sydney and Melbourne, she would,arrive at Sydney on the following Sunday afternoon, instead of on Monday morning; However, tho Wanganolla will continue to leave Auckland at 3 p.m. on Friday for Sy'dnoy, and will arrive at Sydney on tho Tuesday morning. She will also leave Sydnoy at 3 p.m. on Friday for Auckland, arriving at Auckland on tho Tuesday morning. White Butterflies and Birds. A report from Masterton recently stated that thero was a possibility o*£ tho sparrow proving an effective enemy of tho white. butterfly. A Mastcrto'n gardener said ho had noticed a sparrow catch and oat two white butterflies. About twenty blackbirds were also noticed attacking a swarm of whito butterflies. Captain E. V. Sanderson, secretary of tho Now Zealand Native Bird Protection Society, states that birds have an instinct by which they can locate food supplies at groat distances, and information such as the above suggests that as the cold weather comes on birds will turn their attention to pests. Caterpillars, which are reported to be doing much damage between Paekakariki and Wanganui, will probably bo attacked by birds, and the samo thing will probably npply to white butterflies. Some hircls are not suited to the catching of flying insects, but they adapt themselves when insects avo present in groat numbers. There are numerous instances in.other lands of birds and animals developing an appetite for unusual forms of food when it is plentiful. South Island Interests. - Dealing with the question of tho formation of a South Island Tourist League at a meeting in Dunodin, tho Mayor of Dunedin (Mr. U.S. Black) said that the reason for tho proposal to form the league was so obvious that it hardly required stressing, but possibly it would bo well to mention it. New Zealand, geographically, was a long line of islands. Unfortunately, of recent years —possibly because Parliament buildings "were in Wellington—the geography of Now Zealand had been altered on tho map, because New Zealand, so far as the south was concerned, was Wellington. It was necessary, however, that other parts should bo brought prominently before the public. The South Island, ■ghe believed, had more scenic beauties within easy access than any other country in the world, and they ought to prepare information for the public showing how these beauties could bo reached and the. cost of "reaching thorn. The Mayor added that they should strive for the restoration of a steamer service to the South Island-, so that tourists could commence their sightseeing iv the south, ami work their way up to the North Island.

Conversion of Cars. One of tlio decisions mado by the Justices of the Peace conference at Invercargill was to urge that the punishment for the conversion of ears should bo substantially increased, and that Magistrates should bo empowered to place on probation without conviction delinquent young persons over 17 and under 21 years on complaint from their parents or guardians or from the police. Importance of the Pacific. In the minds of the map-makers the Pacific Ocean and tho islands in it havo assumed a much greater importance in. recent years, said the Key. E. Drake at a Methodist missionary rally in Christchurch. Ho mentioned (reports tho "Christchurch Times") that old maps of tho world showed tlio Eastern and Western Hemispheres with the Atlantic Ocean betwoen them, but the new maps showed tho Pacific Ocean in the middle. He Tegarded that as an indication that in the minds of the mapmakers the battles of tho -world were tp bo fought in the Pacific in the future. Memento for Jardine. The first ball used in the M.C.C.-Wel-lington cricket match last week, which, as stated in Saturday's "Post," ja to be presented to the English team's captain, has been made into a very attractive memento. Mounted on New Zealand honeysuckle, tho ball bears a silver plate with tho following inscription. —'' M.C.C.-jSTew Zealand Tour, 1933 —First ball used in opening match against • Wellington—to D. E. Jardine (captain)." The ball-will be handed to Jnrdine tomorrow morning on behalf of the Wellington Cricket Association after the team's arrival from Christchurch. After having breakfast hero the visitors are scheduled to loave at 8.30 o 'clock by motor for Auckland, via Wanganui, the Chateau Tongariro, and Eotorua. The second Test is to commence next Friday. Nearly a Tanner. There was a small city-dweller at the ram fair in Christchurch last week who_ is now congratulating himself on having escaped a profound embarrassment. He was attracted to the side of the ring in which the stud rams are offered, and assuming a farmer-like attitude- with his nrms draped across the top of the rail, began to absorb as many of'the details as he could of the mystifying business of buying and selling sheep. The auctioneer struck him as being particularly well worth watching (states the "Christchurch Times"), and so closely did he watch one of the fraternity that after an. exciting minute of shouting from the' rostrum, he found himself in possession of a fine Southdowh ram, nnd tho price the auctioneer was demanding was fourteen guineas. > The little man strenuously denied that he had bid anything at all, and, muttering something about sheep farming on an eighth-acre section, left tho ring, with the auctioneer's uncomplimentary remarks stinging his ears.