‘Greater NZ’ hypothesis
Biologists and geologists find an explanation of many New Zealand problems in the theory that in past ages a Greater New Zealand stretched north-west as far as New Caledonia. The theory is supported by relatives of the kauri, the karaka and other plants and animals. Towards the close of the Cretaceous Period, New Zealand was a small group of islands, with a scanty vegetation and a meagre population of animal life.
Later, very early in the Tertiary Era, it was gradually elevated, until it was almost a continent, stretching through New Caledonia and Fiji, and joining the mainland at New Guinea.
The land was covered with ferns and forest trees, but the fern lands sheltered no reptiles except the ancient tuatara, and the forests contained no birds.
Waikouaiti has it all
The young people of Waikouaiti have every facility for developing the physical of life. Tennis, football, hockey and bathing are some of the pastimes indulged in; but there is also a society which caters for the intellect — the Mutual Improvement Society.
Half-century for borough
At the meeting of the Green Island Borough Council last evening the Mayor (Mr W.T. Smellie) referred to the approaching jubilee of the borough, which will attain the fiftieth year of its existence in November next.
A committee was set up to arrange for the celebration of the jubilee in an appropriate manner.
Toki pounamu found
The Museum has received from Mr Allison a very interesting greenstone adze which was found at Grand View, Lake Hawea. The implement is made of grassgreen stone, and has been carefully shaped at its upper end into a grip for holding the flax binding which secured the wooden haft to the adze.
The flax binding and the wooden haft are, however, missing. The implement is of additional interest in being found on the ancient Maori route between Southern Westland and Otago.
Eggs for fish and game work
A great deal of interest was taken in the operations of the Acclimatisation Society’s rangers near the St David street bridge over the Leith on Sunday afternoon. There was a big run of brown trout after the continuous rain and the rangers were seizing the opportunity to secure fish for stripping. The society has a trap near the bridge which prevented the majority of the trout from getting past upstream. The ova thus secured are for stocking the society’s hatcheries at Clinton, where they are required to supply special orders and also to stock various rivers under the jurisdiction of the society. The stripping in the Leith is, of course, only a part of the operations of the society which collects brown trout ova also at Pembroke and from the Pomahaka, Mimihau and Waiwera Rivers. — ODT, 7.7.1925
Compiled by Peter Dowden
