Weekend Chat

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 49, 13 March 1937, Page 11

Weekend Chat

COUSIN

ROSE.

COUNTRY AND— TOWN. s*

SATURDAY, March 13. Dear Everyone, — f This column is for men as well as women, though for convenience in printing it is on the "Mainly for Women" page. But' all letters for this wedk-end diseussion column must be sent to Cousia Rose not later than Thursday each week, please. It is realised in 1937, by all leaders in public life, that women have even more influence in. world affairs than thcy them-, selves fully comprehend. The politician seeking votes knows that a .woman's vote may lose or win the campaiga for him; yet women do not fully value their power or use it as they might. Maybe those who are retiring by nature would find~this column useful so that they can say what they think knowaig that their name will not be divulged. There are many letters this week, and I hope you will be interested. I am hoping still more readers will kindly remember tho following letter. Dear Cousia Rose, — Very many thanks to all those who sent old sheets and coloured wools to Hall's Book Shop, Hsatings, in aid of . the Melanesian Mission hospital, and also for the lepers at-Makogai'Island. Any parcels sent to HalPs, and marked "Bandages," will be very gratefully acknewledged through this column. The lepers are longing for help and interest. — Yours, etc., "BANDAGES." « • «• Dear Cousin Rose, — I was much interested in the comments in your column about language and what wo have taken from America. I would be greatly intorcstod to hcar more df this subject. — -Yours, etc., "CORNISH." When spaee pcrmits, Cousin Rose will continue the above subject. Have other readers thought about the influences on our language from America? • • ® Dear Cousin Rose, — -I am one of those mothers who -like to go to the Shows at the Tomoana show grounds. I think the charge for admission is

too high, and I think the society should provide shelters so that parents with children, perhaps from a distance, can keep dry if rain comes. Surely it would not cost much to have a permnaent wooden framework over which, on show days, tarpaulins could be tied. Anything better -than drenching rain on those who patronise the shows. — Yours, eto. 1 1 COMMON SENSE." • • * . Dear Cousin Rose, — As a church attender, I was interested in what * 1 Lily Pond" said about those who belong to -the country, and those who may attend a church out of their district,. I do not think that is quite the heart of the matter. We all love to see people come to our church who wish ta" come. But there are people of wealth who make use of a church just when it suits them, though they never support the maintenance and upkeep of buildings. A bridegrooin thinks his cheque of a pound or two to the clergyman is a reasonable contribution for his stipend over a period of umpteen years. Many others only support their church very meanly in proportion to their income and vto* the .money they spend on their own pleasure and dress. .One would never grudge the nse of a church in town to" country or town people who love to support • their own church. This applies also to poor people, who could at least attend church somotimes and put 3 d in the plate. — Yours, etc., "PRACTICAL." « * * A man sends in this very informative letter: — Dear Cousin Rose., — As most people are partial to this succulent mollusc, ahd gastronomic delicaey, perhaps this article on their life history will be interesting. -An "R in the nionth and oysters are in" is an old English saying. , Of course it does not apply entirely to 'the season in the Antipodes. However, our first. two months of the oystcr season (March and April) do . contain tho letter "Ii" and tliey eorrcspond to Scptember and October (which is the bcginning of tho English season). It is said that the oyster was first propagated by tho Romans. Eentish folk will tell you that Julius Caesar selected their cOast for his invasion, because he heard of tho good oystor beds in that district. And they are still there producing somo of the choicest oysters in the world. - In New Zealaud, of course we have several'good beds, the principal being off Auckland and ofE Stewart Island. The months when they are out of season they are spawning. . ' Each oyster produces as many as a million eggs which slowly develop in-. 1 sido the shell of their parent and after a few days' "incubation" acq.nire a tiny shell of their own and ' a crown of hairs by which means they detach themselve3 from their mother and swim freely in .the water. The

young "spat" as they are called, ara already fertilised, biit so numeroua are the' enemies of the system, that it is very rare that more than one.or two " of the million eggs survive to> reach adult life. Eish, jelly fish, star fish, periwinkles, an.d limpets ara some of their enemies. Oysters can live only in shallow water, such aa .that in estuaries and creeks, and it must be surrounded by tiny sea plants and minute fish." It takes seven years before they are fully grown. The older the oyster the more pleasing he is to the palate, — Yours,, etc. OYSTERICUS. » • • Dear Cousin Rose. — Here are some Ijhoughts inspired by contemplation of Te Mata Peak at snnset. . Perhaps the subject is majestic enough to excuse literaiy shortcomings. — Yours, ; "Afterglow." "THE GIANT" TE MATA " Above our house the Giant quietly sleeps. Awhile the setting sun in blaze of gold retreats, Sinks to his rest, his day's work noblydone. : So grim in outlino and so olear and gold, His sides all opal, purple, russet-gold; Above his head the pale blue evening sky, While down beneath the orchards nestlo by. What are you dreaming of, why do you !ie, Back on the lime rock, face to the sky! What are you doing there up on the hill, Outstretched, imsobile, deathly still? * Is time for you finished, your last aetion cast? Are you dreaming of future, or present,. or past? - ' ' • Or will you perhaps in somo fap distaut ycar, Kegain your grcat soul and shako your* tself clear, . . And leap from your rock and re-entei? the fight, " ,■ And rule this fair land with your; oldkingly Hoping that readers of the HcraldTribune will make full use of this column to air their views, make needs known, and hand on their useful experienee. — Your friend,

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