LATE LOCALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1928, Page 5

LATE LOCALS.

Mr C. F. Voegelin, an ethnological research student from Stanford University, arrived at Sydney from New Zealand recently. He is engaged upon the study of music among .primitive peoples. After having thoroughly investigated Maori music during his four months’ stay in New Zealand, Mr \oegelin came to the conclusion that the native music combined beauty with subtlety. “It is worthy of the attention of our contemporary musicians and composers,” he said. Mr Voegelin purposes to journey to China to con-, tinue his enquiries. Owing to the many ethnological resemblances between the Chinese and he said, he expected to find the music of the primitive Chinese somewhat similar to that of tlie Maori. U

Another member of. the Forestry Delegation, Mr C. E. Legat, chief conservator of forests, South Africa, referring to exotic trees, related his experiences of exotic trees in various countries. The climate round Capetown, he said, was similar to that where jarrah was grown in Australia, but experience had shown that it. did not succeed in South Africa. He emphasised that they must not be too dogmtaic in the planting of exotics. Some trees flourished and gave a straight clean bole, while others proved stumpy and branchy. Regarding pinis insignis he thought there were one or two varieties, and he favoured the use of seed from good examples of the light branch type. Soil conditions also required consideration, as had been proved in South,Africa.. It was also possible to introduce pests with the exotic trees, and some such trees were also liable to hail damage, while, fungus following a hailstorm would destroy whole areas. In America pinus insign.is had not recognition, hut in New Zealand and Australia its value was not to ■, be ignored. In South Africa they had grown exotics extensively, mainly from Hobson’s choice. .