Mr A. Bathgate, president of the league, said when a Dunedin gentleman was in the Auckland district recently he met a party of Australian tourists, and in the course of conversation asked them if they were going over the Milford track in Otago.
"Oh no,'' they said, "we are told at the office it is greatly over-rated.''
"Which office was that?'' asked the gentleman from Otago, and the reply was "Cook's office.''
This gentleman then made it his business to inquire into the position, and he found that Cook's not only in Auckland, but in Invercargill, were doing their best to make little of that attractive spot, and to persuade people from going there.
He was aware of another instance where a party were told that both Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu were not worth visiting.
It appeared that Cook's people were paid a commission on tourists who went to Rotorua, but no commission on tourists who visited the southern parts.
Mr Bathgate went on to say that, at any rate, was the suggestion, and the position had been inquired into.
The league had communicated with the Government and the Tourist Department on the matter, informing them of the facts brought under its notice, and suggesting that, if there was any difference in the commissions as between the hot lakes and the cold lakes, they ought to be placed on the same footing, if not abolished altogether.
Members would recognise from what he had said that there were influences at work to "boom" Rotorua and to neglect the southern scenic resorts. - (Applause.)
• The circular letter forwarded by the Recruiting Board to local authorities, etc., did not meet with much favour at the monthly meeting of the Milton Borough Council.
The opinion was expressed that the scheme did not propose anything more than what had already been accomplished by way of recruiting meetings, which had proved utterly futile in obtaining recruits.
The Mayor and councillors expressed their disinclination to act as recruiting sergeants, considering that the Government was endeavouring to shelve its obligations.
Conscription was regarded as the only practicable remedy, and the council adopted a resolution urging the Government to pass legislation in favour of its adoption.
• With the view of demonstrating what the military service rifle is capable of doing in the hands of an expert rifleman, Sergeant-major Hart, one of the instructors at the School of Musketry at Randwick Range, recently fired 104 shots in four minutes, hitting a second-class figure target (4ft square) 88 times from 300 yards.
This averages 26 shots per minute, but the sergeant-major has in 60 seconds aimed and fired a rifle 46 times.
The magazine and clipped cartridges were used.
• The death is announced of the oldest Maori in South Canterbury, the last surviving male of his tribe, Hoani (Johnny) Kahu, who had reached the age of 84 years (says the Christchurch Press).
He leaves one daughter - Mrs Piper, of Lyttelton.
Johnny Kahu was well known to European anglers and was held in high respect by the Natives throughout this island. - ODT, 12.2.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
