Mr Turner intended to start on his expedition to the Tutoko Mountains early in the year, but he was forced to wait for Mount Cook to get into climbing condition, and consequently he was somewhat late in reaching Fiordland. The Tutoko Mountains are situated about 10 miles from Milford Sound, and two attempts had previously been made to reach the summit. Mr Turner succeeded in reaching within a short distance of the summit, and hopes to return next year and complete the task. He will endeavour to secure the services of two surveyors, with a view to preparing a more detailed map of the district. Mr Turner considered New Zealand one of the most wonderful scenic countries in the world, and with increased shipping and quicker transit it could soon be made a very profitable tourist country, which would bring great wealth to the dominion.
Maori workshop at Bowentown
An interesting discovery was made at the Maori workshop at Bowentown last week by Messrs R. W. Bell and S. M. Hovell, of Waihi, (says the New Zealand Herald). Westerly gales had moved the sand and exposed a portion of this ancient workshop.
A further investigation was then made, with the result that an almost complete set of stone and bone implements associated with Maori work was found embedded in the sand. Ultimately about 200 stone adzes, gouges, anvils, and hammers, together with a number of pieces of moa and whalebone implements and greenstone articles, were unearthed. The curator of the Auckland Museum, Mr T. F. Cheeseman, who had already visited the recently discovered workshop, says that the articles will prove a valuable adjunct to the museum which it has been proposed to erect in the Auckland Domain.
Rabbit board to be formed
The best-attended meeting in the district for a considerable time was held in the County Council Chambers, Palmerston, last Saturday, when a number of farmers met to consider what steps should be taken to deal with the rabbit pest, which is getting worse and worse in the district. Mr T. H. Pilbrow, who presided, read a letter from the Agricultural Department regretting that no representative could be present and expressing sympathy with the movement. The Blue Mountain Riding was well represented, and a resolution was carried that the district, with the consent of the ratepayers, should be formed into a rabbit board area. The other ridings in the county are expected to fall into line with Blue Mountain.
Jam theft arrests
Constables Irwin and Joyce arrested five of the crew of the steamer Hororata at Lyttleton on Tuesday for the alleged theft of five cases of jam. The jam was placed on board the steamers at Port Chalmers, and was packed in cases, each containing 1cwt. It was missed on the voyage to Lyttleton, and on arrival at the port Captain Hatchwell reported the matter to the police, who searched the ship, and found most of the jam in the crew's quarters. Each accused was fined $10. - ODT, 19.4.1919
