HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 304, 8 December 1936, Page 3

HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

GLEANINGS OF DOMINION NEWS.

N,Z.’s Unknown Soldier. It is not generally known that in the Wanganui old cemetery is the grave of an unknown soldier. A tombstone dated 1865 bears the names of two soldiers who fought in the Maori wars which wore in progress in the Wanganui district. The inscription on the tombstone states also that another soldier is buried there whose name is unknown. Green Peas Scarce. In contrast with conditions this time last year, green peas are scarce, and unless supplies come on much more rapidly, the price will still be very high for Christmas. A year ago chqlce quality sold from 4/- to 6/6 a ■bag, and by Christmas prices were, as low as 1/- a bag. Now a bag of good green peas costs from 12/- to 14/-. Th© shortage is explained by smaller plantings by most growers. Owing to last year’s low prides for peas and high prices for potatoes, more ground has been planted in potatoes and less in peas. i

Shortage of Dried Fruits. It is anticipated in the grocery trade that before long there will be a pronounced scarcity of dried fruits. Supplies of raisins and prunes from California are cut off because of the shipping strike. At the moment there are no stocks of prunes available from Australia, and there is a scarcity of raisins, so unless there is a speedy termination of the American shipping strike housewives are likely to find thfj replenishment of dried fruits in the larder very difficult.

Telling Their Age. The age of, trees is gauged by the number of rings in the trunk and that of animals by the number and condition of the teeth, but it may not be generally known that the age of fish is determined by' the scales. This fact was made known to members of the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society, when it was decided to get a comparison of the ages of trout in the Manganui-a-te-Ao stream and that of the Mangawhero, in an endeavour to ascertain the reasons for the difference in the size of trout in the two streams. Scales of trout of similar size and weight are to be taken from these streams and forwarded to the Scientific Branch of the Department of Marine for this purpose.

Road Signs in Taupo District. Motorists in the Taupo district will appreciate work completed this week by the Automobile Association (Auckland) in the provision of road signs. Every stream, bay and point on the shores of the lake from Taupo to Tokaanu has been designated with an A.A. sign and directions have also been placed on all the new settlement roads. Warnings have also been erected in populated areas frequented by children. In collaboration with officers of the Internal Affairs Department from the Government hatchery, signs have been erected indicating the various fishing pools and favourite stretches of water on the Tongariro and upper Waikato Rivers.

! Our “Talkative” Member Mr 11. Coulter, M.P. for Waikato, speaking at a Harbour Board gathering at Thames, referred to the member for Thames as a most “talkative” individual. “He spoke for threequarters of an hour in caucus thp other day,” he said, “and it was mostly on Thames, its beauty spots and possibilities.” Mr Coulter said he would like to mention there was such a place as the Waikato still in New Zealand. Cabaret Closes Down. The Auckland cabaret involve'*! in the dispute about the employment of an Australian band was closed last night, and the management stated that it would not be reopened. More than 20 waiters and members of the kitchen staff -were given the necessary wages in lieu of notice. The five musicians involved were given notice a week ago. The management issued a statement claiming that it had taken ■ every possible step to each a fair solution.

Rare Native Plant. A young Onehunga gardener has at present a very' rare native plant in blooom. It is Coxella Dieffenbachii, a herb belonging to the carrot family. It grows only on ■ the Chatham Islands,' 500 miles due east from Lyttelton. Even on this remote outpost of the Dominion the plant is exceedingly rare, being found on but a few cliffs. The plant grows to a height of 3ft, and produces fern-like much-divided leaves. The plants are unisexual, that is, male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. The specimens at Onehunga were sent to the enthusiast by a Chatham Islands resident, who is an observer of the flora there.

Crystal Pajace Tree Ferns That among the magnificent collection of palms and ferns destroyed when the Crystal Palace was burnt last week were tree ferns which had a link with early’ Auckland is an interesting fact disclosed by Mr George Graham, a vice-president of the Auckland’ Historical Society. When his grandfather, George Graham, snr, who was one of the founders of Auckland, took a trip Home about ISSO, he took with him a number of stems or stumps of the native tree ferns (ponga). These he banded to the authorities at Kawi Gardens, -who interested themselves enthusiastically in their acclimatisation. Upon the completion of the Crystal Palace a collection of palms and ferns was made in the transept, and a number of the pongas were transplanted and grew to a considerI able height.. Those that were destroyed last week were the descendants of those taken from Auckland nearly 90 years ago. Mr George Graham, snr, who also represented Auckland West in the New Zealand House of Representatives, was an officer in the Royal Engineers, and superintended the building of many of the pioneer “public works’’ of the city by the military' garrison. The old Albert Barracks were erected under his supervision, as was the stout wall which defended them- and old Fort Briloinart, portions of which can still be seen a few yards from I Princes Street beside the University I College arts block. His portrait is in lie Auckland Old Colonists’ Museum,

Blind Boy’s Success. All addition to a long series of musical succdlSK-s by members of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind was made this week by Julian Lee, aged 13, who gained first place and the silver medal in the Intermediate section of the Trinity College of Music examinations held at Auckland. There were nearly 70 entrants. The boy, who was blind at birth, entered the institute from Dunedin when six years of age. In 1931 he headed the first stops section,' and gained the bronze medal. ' Three years later he was awarded the first prize, in his class in the Auckland competitions. Apart from his being a pianist of promise, he is a skilled cornetist in the Institute band.

“Last Job On Earth.” “The last job on earth 1 wanted was that of Minister of Labour,” said the Hon. H. T. Armstrong at a conference with Te Awamutu district farmers. He explained that he knew the difficulties of the job before he took it. He had advocated and taken part in quite a number of movements involving revolutionary changes over a. period of years, and he knew that to carry out Labour’s platform involved niore such changes. Immediately on assuming office he had been faced with obstacles, and while surmounting .them he had been tackled by all sections, including many' of his associates and trade union secretaries, who could not see his objective. “As a matter of fact, I have had ‘a better spin’ from the employers than from the representatives of the employees, but gradually appreciation and recognition is coming, and 'We will have a first-class Department before long,” he declared.

Reverence for Law. “I believe that the practical genius of our people has evolved as one of ,the|r traditions such .a respect for the law and the constitution that it is felt to be an integral part of our lives,” said the Attorney-General, the Hon. 11. G. R. Mason, speaking at the opening of the new Law Library at Auckland. “I believe that wherever the English common law prevails we need not fear any' of the troubles they have in other countries which are affecting the world so much today. I believe that one sense of security is due to the genius of our people and their law-abiding instincts, and these have been evolved by the greatness of our Judges to whose labours we largely own that law.”

Railway Crosisng Danger Discussing railway crossings in Marlborough the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, said that about 500 of the crossings ip the Dominion were regarded as dangerous and of these 250 were exceedingly dangerous. A schedule had been drawn up, and they were being taken in order —the worst first. For this purpose) .£lOO,OOO was ho be spent this year, and the complete programme which had been mapped out would cost the nation about £1,500,000. “They have been talking about cleaning them up for donkey’s years, and they have been .talking long enough,” said Mr Semple. “The crossings have killed many people in the past, and are continuing to kill them. The increasing motor traffic in New Zealand has certainly sent the mortality barometer up, but. when I became Minister I promised to look into this terrible killing ,and took steps that I thought would drive it down to a minimum,” he proceeded.

Lewis Pass Highway. Excellent progress continues to be made with the construction of the new highway traversing the Lewis Pass, and connecting Canterbury with Westland. The work was inspected recently by' the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, who said he was well pleased with the manner in which the construction was being pushed ahead. The new route opened up another very attractive itinerary for tourists, and, in addition, it would serve a very practical purpose for the settlers of tho district through -which it passed. The Public Works engineer in charge of the undertaking, Mr J. Jackson, stated that only three and a-half miles of road remained to be constructed, but one mile of this section was very heavy going, involving heavy siding cuttings. All going well it was expected that the work would be completed by March 31 next. In till, 310 men were employed on the job, 240 being at the main camp on the Canterbury side, and the remafjtd'ef (Operaittfil from the camp on the West Coast side. The two camps were now only live miles apart, two miles and a-half separating the respective advance gangs. The work had stood up well to the heavy floods during the winter, and none of the bridges had been lost,