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Variety In Brief

Nearly fifteen years before Auckland was founded a party of immigrants came out to settle on the shores of the Hauraki Gulf. The expedition, under the auspices of the New Zealand Association, arrived in the Gulf in 1826. Mechanics, ships' - carpenters, sawyers, blacksmiths and flax-dressers were among those who came, for the settlement was intended to work up a flax-and-spar-trade. They sailed up to the Sandspit Island, Pakihi. There were found rich deposits of iron ore, and the leaders bought the island with a view to settling there and opening an iron-mine.

But natives came to the district in increasing numbers and alarmed the immigrants by their “ferocious appearance and conduct” so much that they refused to land. The leaders were not enthusiastic, so they gave up the idea and sailed off to Australia and finally formed a pearl-fishery. The “New Zealand Handbook” declares that the leaders were alarmed by a war-dance of the natives, performed, there was every reason to believe, as a mark of welcome.

We can readily understand the reluctance of the leaders. The massacre of the “Boyd,” and of other ships, had not been forgotten; nor had they any knowledge of the Maoris.

If the immigrants had settled, perhaps Auckland would never have existed. They were an organized band of selected people, and, but for the tumultuous welcome of the Maoris, they might have formed the nucleus of a big city. Certainly the approach from the sea would not have been so good, but the hinterland would have been as suitable for settlement and cultivation as the environs of Auckland are. And, at least, there probably would have been fewer hills!

—J.R.B.

I have been doing a lot of reading and have read the “Railways Magazine” (August) from cover to cover. It is good reading and a wonderful little magazine. There is an article on New Plymouth—“Perfect New Plymouth” it is called, and is especially interesting just now prior to our projected visit. I have decided I didn't half see it the last time I was there.

My only objection to the “Railways Magazine” is that it gives me an intense desire to go for a long train ride and see our wonderful country.

—R.M.

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When on holiday in Cross Creek recently, I noticed one railwayman was very keen on tennis and happening to mention it to him, he replied that tennis to him represented the slogan of the New Zealand Railways. “Safety, Comfort and Economy.” Pressed for details he answered: “As to safety, one may break any limb at football or hockey; noses may be spoiled at cricket and tempers at golf; swimmers may drown, and even poker is not without its dangers, but tennis is a safe game. It is played in comfort, for Whites are the most comfortable summer wear for men; our courts are never overcrowded, one is sure of a game and it is handy both to work and to home; being a hard court, it is never messy with rain, never needs cutting or watering. And the economy—well, the court is free even if one plays a hundred games a day; we employ no green-keeper and don't even use a lawnmower or roller. We don't buy fertiliser, top-dressing or grass seed. Safety, Comfort and Economy, you see?”

—C.McB.

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How many people know that until quite recently there was a penguin rookery on the Otago Peninsula? At a lonely spot on the seaward side these birds had quite a large rookery, and visitors could see them in their nests at any time. The birds lived in the bush by the water's edge and their shrill cry could be heard quite a distance away. A wholesale slaughter of them a few years ago by a party of young men diminished their number and since that time their presence has not been advertised. However, quite recently, when the bush was being cleared from that area, remains of their nests were found.

—D.G.C.

The chap wearing the brown bowler (looked like a commercial), noting a fellow-passenger by the “limited” lighting a cigarette, remarked: “I see you're a heavy cigarette smoker.” “How d'you know?” queried the other, looking surprised. “Oh, it don't need a ‘Sherlock’ to tell that,” laughed the stranger, “look at your fingers! But why smoke ready-mades? You should roll your own, same as me. Those packet things are often as dry as a bone—and as tasteless, through being kept so long in stock. Besides rolling your own comes a lot cheaper. Roll them just as you want them—then they're always moist and fresh.” “What's your tobacco?” asked the youth. “Riverhead Gold—sweet as a nut, full of flavour, and can't hurt you—it's ‘toasted.’ Let me roll you one? Then you'll see.” And he did see! “Toasted” is at once the finest and most harmless of all tobaccos. There are only five brands: Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), Cavendish, Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold. The two latter are appreciated by all cigarette smokers.^*