Mr D. Tannock (Superintendent of Reserves) returned to Dunedin last night after spending a short holiday in Queenstown. While on his holiday Mr Tannock managed to combine business with pleasure with very profitable results, as he succeeded in gathering no fewer than 47 different species of alpine plants, which will go to supplement the splendid collection bequeathed to the city by the late Mrs George Matthews, and which have been placed in a special rockery at the Gardens.
Mr Tannock was accompanied in his collecting expedition by a small band of enthusiasts, in the persons of Messrs McIntyre (late gardener with Mrs Matthews), W. Willcox (Government gardener, Queenstown), T. D. Pearce (head master of the Southland Boys' High School), and J. Rennie (of the Albany Street School).
The party proceeded up the Routeburn Valley to the Lake Harris Saddle, where they slept two nights at the hut, spending the whole of the intervening day in collecting. A horse was taken to the edge of the bush to pack the plants, which were immediately sent to Dunedin, arriving in good condition. Among the plants gathered were some which are already included in the collection, and some which are new. A fine specimen of the mountain daisy was obtained, it being found in full flower, and affording a splendid sight. Three varieties of Senecio lyallii - a big daisy somewhat smaller than a marguerite - were secured; namely, yellow, cream, and white; also a lot of celmesias. The party had intended to climb Ocean Peak, but were deterred by unfavourable weather.
• There are serious complaints of damage done to sheep by worrying dogs in the Whare Flat district. A case occurred within the last few days, when a number of valuable sheep, the property of a local farmer, were killed or maimed. Fortunately the dogs were detected in the act, and were summarily destroyed. It was then found that they either had no collars on or their collars bore no plate, so that it was not possible to identify the owners. It is contended that the dog registration fee is ridiculously small, and that sufficient vigilance is not exercised to prevent the animals from being at large with the liberty of doing damage which may easily extend to hundreds of pounds. It is urged that it is high time that the local bodies, which accept a certain amount of responsibility by registration, should take some vigorous steps to abate what now amounts to a serious nuisance and cause of loss.
• Mr P. C. Webb (president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour) addressed a meeting of over 200 waterside workers in the Trades Hall yesterday afternoon, when he explained the agreement recently come to in Wellington and also the objects of his organisation. The meeting then unanimously endorsed the agreement, and passed a resolution deciding that each member would become a subscriber to the Maoriland Worker, the official organ of the New Zealand Federation of Labour. Cheers were given for the federation, the officers of that organisation, the secretary of the local union (Mr W. Morris), and the delegates of the various organisations.
Mr Webb states all the principal waterside workers' unions in New Zealand are now affiliated with the Federation of Labour, and that the membership of the federation at present amounts to 15,000 or 16,000, as compared with about 4000 two years ago. Mr Webb addressed a meeting of workers at Port Chalmers last night, and will meet the miners at Green Island tonight.
- ODT, 26.1.1912.
