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Variety in Brief

Illuminating effort from an essay by a Nuhaka schoolboy:—

“‘Up guards, and at 'em!’ was what a Stationmaster cried when some holiday makers rushed to board an excursion train without tickets.”

—“O. W. Waireki.”

* * *

After inspecting one of the new “K” locomotives at Auckland station, Henare waxed eloquent. “‘K’ te werry great man, orrite,” he declared. “He make good engines, good soup and good jam.”—“O. W. Waireki.”

* * *

Within a very short distance of the Railway Round House, Greymouth, there is a piece of Native Bush, about three acres in extent, that is composed almost entirely of Kowhai.

By some happy chance the tide of settlement has passed it by, and thus this portion of the old-time Maori forest exist to-day as it was in the days of yore. By design happier still, on the part of a few Greymouth citizens, it has been classed as a scenic reserve, and will doubtless be preserved to delight future generations.

During the months of September and October it is a glorious sight with the Kowhai's gold gleaming under the sunshine or glowing through the rain. In either case visitors, during daylight hours, are treated to sights and sounds worth going a long way to see and hear. The trees are then heavy with their rich amber blossoms, and are ravished for their sweet contents by tuis, which throughout the winter subsist on less sumptuous fare; with guttural chortlings, sudden anvil like notes, an occasional bell and flute symphony, or a burst of mellifluous melody, they feverishly break through the clustering blooms, seemingly intoxicated by the delicious and long-waited-for banquet, while all the air is full of silvery sound.

“Bells as musical
As those that on the golden-shafted trees
Of Eden, shook by the Eternal breeze.”

The title, Bell-Bird, has been conferred not upon the tui, but upon the mako-mako, who is also a lover of the Kowhai's nectar, but, strangely enough, this particular Kowahi grove is apparently strictly reserved for the tui family, for never have I seen a “Mockie” in it. There is, however, no question about the bell quality in the tui's notes, which are often indistinguishable from those of the mako-mako or “Mockie” as he is frequently called. This title is not, as so many seem to imagine, a diminutive for Mocking Bird, but is a corruption of the Maori mako-mako. Whilst both the mako-mako and tui have strong claims to the title of Bell-Bird there is another clamant in the Kokako or so-called New Zealand Crow—whose notes, alas, are no longer heard amongst the blue hills of Westland.

On a calm evening just before sunset, when day is retreating behind the western bars, I can imagine nothing more lovely than this pleasant spot near Greymouth Town,—this musical and colourful link between the Maori past and Pakeha present. It is surely like the place described in Mahomet's Bible, where joyous bells are hung on the trees in Paradise, and are stirred into most exquisite harmony from the Throne of God.—E.L.K.

* * *

This from a small farm in the North Island of New Zealand. With unfailing regularity a wise old collie brought the cows to the milking yard each evening. One day on the return of his master from the nearby town, he discovered that “Glen” had also, rounded up the dozen or so sheep kept on the place. Wondering why, and being attracted by the excited manner of the dog, his owner (after counting the flock and finding one missing) followed “Glen's” lead to an open drain where he rescued the sheep which had fallen in and nearly drowned. The conclusion he arrived at was that “Glen,” with a dog's sense of reasoning, brought the sheep together—a thing he had never done before—so that the fact of one missing could be detected.—Wirihana.

* * *

From the earliest days of motion pictures railroad features have been very popular, and many of them have proved outstanding successes. One does not have to be very old to recall the Helen Holmes series, pioneer efforts in this class of feature that were so popular in 1913–14, and even later. Undoubtedly they blazed the trail for a chain of railroad attractions, including two recent films of very great merit, “Shanghai Express” and “The Ghost Train.“—O. W. Waireki.

* * *

Some friends went away for a holiday, locking up their house for the duration. On their return they found the living room in a state of minor wreckage. Pictures were askew, vases and ornaments were knocked over, and in some cases were lying broken on the floor. Cushions and small movable articles were also shifted. Thought of burglars or earthquakes at once came into the mind, but investigation revealed that the rest of the room was as left, and it was found that the windows of the living room had not been touched. Then was discovered under the sofa the body of a small dead owl. It had evidently got down the chimney, and, being unable to escape, had flown about the room in terror. creating minor damage as it did so. Had it managed to effect an escape our friends may never have solved the “Mystery of the Wrecked Room.“—C.H.F.

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