He says that the people of Dunedin have but a faint idea of the enormous numbers of salmon which every year travel up the Waitaki, and, presumably, other rivers, to spawn. He has also taken the trouble to obtain all the data possible regarding the habits of the salmon which are caught in the rivers of the west coast of Canada and the United States, and has no doubt that the New Zealand salmon are of the same species as that which provides the basis of the great Canadian and American tinned fish industry. The salmon in these great rivers of the northern hemisphere spawn only once, then die, and float tail first, dead, battered, and emaciated, down the rivers. Once a salmon of the American species enters a river to spawn, it never turns back. Escaping the perils of the ocean, it enters the river mouth on the last journey Nature requires from it. In the river it ceases to eat, but presses on towards the spawning grounds. Some manage to evade the traps, the nets, the water wheels, etc., which line the river banks, to surmount the rapids, and finally to reach their last destination. The Dunedin business man had the idea that, as the salmon in New Zealand have but a few miles to swim in the rivers to reach the spawning grounds, as compared with the hundreds of miles in the rivers of British Colombia and the United States, they might not die as the northern fish do, but return to the ocean. From information which he has received, however, he has ascertained that fish have been seen in the Waitaki, towards the end of the spawning season, floating tail first down the river.
Y.W.C.A. girls’ club
A new club for girls over 20 has been formed at the Y.W.C.A. A "spring party" was held to inaugurate this venture, and proved a great success, a number of girls signifying their eagerness to join. The Maori name "Taruna" was chosen for the club, which is to meet once a week for regular work and once a month for social gatherings. The fourfold aim of the association — the spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social development of young women — is incorporated in the programme of the club. Tennis is beginning to create much enjoyment. The official opening of the tennis and swimming clubs will not take place for several weeks, but the committee of each club has met to arrange the programme, and practice will begin immediately. The Ramblers’ Club, which has proved so popular during the winter, will continue to enjoy the outings, which during the warmer weather will be enhanced by partaking of billy tea. The Winter Club and classes are still in progress. A "Hard-up Social" was enjoyed by the members of Every Girls’ Club on Saturday, when there was a good attendance. The second term of the physical culture class has just begun, and a marked improvement is shown in the carriage and general appearance of the girls who have undergone the instruction.
Family affair
"The men who make money at dairying are those who work their wives and families without paying them wages." - Mr David Wards (Mataura Island), before the Conciliation Commission on Wednesday (according to the Southland Times). — ODT, 8.9.1917.
