LATE LOCALS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1922, Page 3

LATE LOCALS

Speaking to a ‘‘Lyttelton Times” re- j sorter, Mr S. J. Collett, officer in I 'Large of the Government Tourist Bur- j ?au, Christchurch, said that compared j vith last year, which was a record one, | ionrist tralfie this year was keeping up ! eery well. The Frame Joseph Glacier j ind proved very popular this year, ami ; die other resorts liad also been well ! jatronised. j Mr J. Drummnd, F.L.S., writing’in i lie “Lyttelton Times” says: —Mr AY. ! Vright, proprietor of the Lake lan- j he Hotel, South AA r estla,nd, some years j go watched a robin that made friends i ith a gang employed on a hush tram- 1 vay. Tt always was in evidence at J meal time, and it followed the gang | from place to place. The total pieces it ! received from the members of the gang j

at one time might represent about half a loaf, which it took away, instead of eating. On one occasion, it was seen gathering many earthworms and flying off with them. It was traced! to its resort, the top of. a hollow tree-fern, into which it had dropped scores of earthworms in order, apparently, to store them. The bread, probably was hidden in the same place. Robins still are plentiful in the dense forests near Mr Wright’s hotel. They may bo seen amongst small .groves of kamahi, which make fa,ir>’ halls in the forest interiors.

A very slight noise a. heavy footstep, a. snapping twig, or a subdued voice— is sufficient to bring them silently through the magic casements, with obvious inquisitive and friendly intentions. '