NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1927, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

THE BED KOWHAI. “The rod kowhai is one of the outmost gorgeous (native flowering plants,” writes “Oreti,” in an exchange, “the vivid blossom being enhanced by the dark green, glossy, pinnate leaves. Botanic-ally it is known as Clianthus pnniceus. It is bettor known as tlie scarlet clianthus, parrot’s beak, or kaka’s beak. The natives called it kowhai-ngivtu-knka, but in the Urewcra country it is known as ngutu-kaka-riki. Once the rod kowhai was found on the Great Barrier, and along the coast of North Auckland, but it has become rarer of late years, although it- doesl well when cultivated in a garden. Attempts have been made at different times to acclimatise the red kowhai in England.

. A CHINESE NATIONAL GAME, Fan-tail, which was described hy Judge Stringer in the Supreme Court, Auckland, as a. Chinese- national game, is a very simple gamble, so simple, in fact, that- one might wander at its appeal to a clever people. There are several variations, hut. the most common method is that in which a wooden how] is used. Each player puts in his chips, and they are counted out in fours—“ One, two, three, four!”—over and over again, until all are taken out. The players bet on which will he the number of the last counter. It is a straight-out gamble, with a. slightshade. of odds on the hank.

PENALTY OF PROGRESS. “Municipal government tends to be more costly in proportion to tho population as the sine of a town or a city increases.” said Mr E. 11. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, at a meeting of the committee on metropolitan government, revision." He added that the scheme which the committee had under consideration was nothing novel, as many supposed, hut had been well triad out in London and other large English cities. Pittsburg. in America, had recently resolved to introduce it, and exhaustive inquiries had proved that the efficiency of public services could he greatly increased by having unified control. At the same time, snob matters as the control of footpaths, roads, lighting, parks and drainage was something that should always he left to local men.

RATANA MOVEMENT. Founded by one Wiremu Ratana, the Maori settlement of the same name near Wanganui has grown apace and now boasts streets, bungalows, a temple—n ornate structure of imposing design—and an electric lighting installation on a generous scale. Through the influence of the Ratana elders agriculture has been concentrated upon, and at the settlement there is now 400 acres down in Rotates the seed was procured from Hawke’s Bay—and 350 acres in oats and wheat. Tangata, wahine and kotiro.all labour industriously, while the settlement band plays “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” and other appropriate hymns, while instead ol a break for “smoke-o,” intervals are devoted to prayer. The Ratana movement has its own banking system, conducted by a management committee and the morihu (common people) has no voice in its affairs. Europeans have been sceptical about Maoris being able to run a bank, hut so far the native investors appear to be satisfied, and the institution is flourishing.