LATE LOCALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1928, Page 3

LATE LOCALS.

Forced from its century-old course In- the massive barrier at Arapuni, the "Waikato River, in its impetuous wrath, has torn its way in a raging torrent through the channel sluiced out for it in the plateau hundreds of feet above its former level (says the •“ Times ”). More than that, it has swirled furiously along deviations it lias carved out from its original course, and bitten deeply into the soft pumice land on to which it lias been diverted. The turbulent waters racing madly at Arapuni, have flattened out gradually in the distance between tlie dam site and Hamilton, but have assumed a dirty yellow hue. as if to indicate their spleen at the interference they have suffered. Hamilton’s drinking water, is very much discoloured, looking very muddy. This is attributable to the erosion at Arapuni and the thousands of tons of debris disintegrated into minute particles of sediment which have found their way into Hamilton’s water system.

During the holiday season tile gannei rookery at Cope Kidnappers is proving a popular spot for tourists (says the "Napier Telegraph”). A few days ago a Napier motor-car service company ran an excursion to the cape, the car with light passengers getting well along the beach. Scores of people have, in addition, made tlie journey by private car. while many of the younger , generation go by bicycle. Complaint I continues to be made regarding tho I state of the final lap of the track approaching the rookery, and the opinion has been expressed that the present track should lie made firmer, and a wire or a rope in the form of a bandrail run along the inside. People visiting the rookery found difficulty in negotiating the track on the return journey and two girls left the track in an effort to make better progress further up the cliff face, with the result that they found themselves in a position of not being able to go forward and being too unnerved to go tack.