Week-end Chat

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 67, 11 December 1937, Page 13

Week-end Chat

"SPINDEIFT."

[a]

"SWEET MEMORIES."

COUSIN ROSE.

C0UNTRY ANDa T0WN.

December 11, 1937. Dear Everyone, — As I am often asked where to camp at Taupo by Hawke's Bay residents who are going there eadh year in steadily increasing numbers, I could not resist laking some notes for readers while watching friends catching (yes, catching, not just trying to catch) trout beside the AVaikato river last Sunday. A favourite spot for campers is about two iniles past the first bridge that spans the AVaikato where it leaves Taupo. All along this locality the river bank is grassy'and sheltered with tall manuka, now just coming into Aower, and very spicy and refreshing to be near. The river is a dangerous one, flowing swiftly and terribly deep in parts, and it is not a good place for those who have children who are used 1o running freely into safe streams. It is very beautiful al] along this rightkand side of the road as you motor from Taupo, and would be ideal in fine weather for large or small camping parties. Heie the river is beginning to break into the famous Aratiatia rapids, and further down are the glorious Huka Falls which cascade in a heavy blue torrent after passiug through the narrow Huka Gorge, over which is tha very waggly suspension bridge where boys are always tempted to carve their names while the river crashes along below. All along this Taupo-Huka road the road slopes steeply or gently to the river, and the grass is studded with daisies and wild flowers, with the white manuka flower around, and as this was written, a gay-breasted chaffinch piped a qneer but musical note from the topmost. branck of a manuka tree. Tiny islands in the river were long, long ago part of the mainland, and now are isolated islets with native bush to the edge — flax, totara, ferns, and srnall, very green, native shrubs. The license for Taupo Ashers is good for a certain distance, but after a few miles the Rotorua license niust be held. Trout are line and fat in this river, and campers who were there last year said that they were given so much fisk that they always had plenty for meals. At Christmas last year camping here needed some brigkt points, for the rain poured down solidly for a full week, and tenpers had to be very restrained with clotlics, ienls, towels, shoes and bedding thoroughly damp. But campers are always optimists, and the weather may be just as solidly fiue this year. * % # Cousin Rose is pleased to answer questions about Taupo from any readers who may wisli to go there. It is. so high that, as a Hastings business man said, "tlie air is like wine." * * « A reader has kindly sent in a list of lierbs and their medicinal uses. This will be printed next wcek. Many thanks to her. A Wellington dietitian promises lo write a special article for this column on soya beans, so we will all look, forward to that. Here are three interesting letters, and next week I hope readers will find a little spare time to write and answer any inquiries sent by past readers, who are most grateful for answers. * # * This next letter sent by a man reader from Havelock North, will please both Britishers and New Zealanders. Maybe New Zealanders liardly realise the treat awaiting them on their first visit to the Homeland, but it is striking that once a person has been to England, their great desire is to go again as soon as they can alford it. We will hope for more of these well-written letters from " Spindrif t 's " pen. « • • Dear Cousin Rose, — It is amusing to .read in the paper how little known New Zealand is supposed to be in England. I suppose these crities do not realise that it is a case of the pot ealling the kettle black. New Zealanders appear to be just as ignorant of the Old Country as those at Home do regarding this country. One reads the reports of people returning from their first visit to

England, and, to one "tfho was born there, their remarks are distinctly refreshing. They all express amazement at the beauty of the countryside, the efficiency and courtesy of the police, and the cxcellence of ' the roads. What did they expect to find there? A barren land with nothing but carttracks, guarded by replicas of the Prussian Guard? Or, did they imagine that the main cities were so close together, that the police had to guard the countryside, lest the motorists run over it-— or off the island altogether? I may sound boastful, but, in my opinion, the British Isles will take second-place to no country in the world with regar-d to scenery. Sinai! as she is, one can find scenery of every deseription — plain, mountain, rolling down, woods, streams, and, last but not least, a coast-line, with a variety unrivalled in any part of the world. A final word for the police force, who need none, actually. For many years, the eyes of the world have been turned to the metropolitan police and Scotland Yard. It is admitte£ that they stand seeond to none as guardians of the peace, and have been immortalised by writers as no other police force in the world have been. Who has not heard the old song, "Ask a Polieeman?" As a rule, a London polieeman is regarded as a human eneyclopaedia, and the questions asked him would stump a politician, yet the gentlenian in blue generally manages to supply useful information. Many well-known authors have written of the London police and, although' their custom often is to derogate hijn, their remarks, actually, only serve to enhance his splendid reputation. The leafy lanes, and hedge-girt highways are well known to, and beloved by, the writer, and, later, perhaps, I will crave space in your columns to discourse on them. They well deserve a column to themselves. as all who are familiar with them will affirm. — Yours, ete.,

* * ♦ , Dear Cousin Rose, — Your page is used for a variety of comments and inquiries, and I wondered if anyone could ijuggest a way to get rid of a half-grown wild rabbit that is infesting my garden ? Shoot it, of course. But I have not got anyone to shoot it, or even a gun. Where has it come from, wonder. The hills are some distance away. Sometimes a large warrior of a cat will catch rabbits. Well, we try to trap itf without succeeding, and we are still lamenting that rows of beans make a dinner for the young rabbit. — Yours. etc..

Dear Cqusin Rosey— I was interested to see that at a recent flower show Lady, Galway remarked that she had not seen a York and Lancaster rose in New Zealand. The late John Gully, the artist, was also an ardent rose grower, and the York and Lancaster striped red and white rose figured largely in his collection. We seem to have dropped several roses of old-f ashioned charai and fragrance. Does anyone now grow a pinlc or white moss rose? or the hardy cloth of gold? or even a Marecha! Niel? The last is a delicate climber, most wonderfully sweet-scented. In a sunny, frosty climate the very old fashioned pink monthly rose will make a charming winter hedge when few flowers are blooming. Can we buy them now? I do not know.— Yours, etc.,

• • • A famous journalist once said, "The essence of all newspaper work is xepetition," and have you noticed how the clever advertisers have realised thisfact? For years we hav6 been told to "shop early," and at last, with theannual shopping before us, and Shop. Early written on so many advertisements we are, as a people, actually beginning to shop early. Already, two full weeks before Christmas, many people have bought much that they need. to last them till after New Year, in the way of holiday requirements, and shops are crowded with people who enjoy meeting friends from far and near while choosing gifts. One is often amazed at the patience of shop assistants. Just in th middle of choosing a book, or handkerchiefs, or maybe a travelling rug, or bag, or some other enticing article, oue will see a friend not met for weeks, or even months. All idea of the transaetion in hand is f orgotten while greetings are mutually enjoy ed; the poor assistant hardly likes to leave the scene, and so hovers about listening to how Annie got over her operation, and where we mean to go for Christmas. Certainly shop assistants, at Christmas, need to be very angeiie and suited to the season of goodwill, The compliments of this jolly season to all readers.