The Coolidge examiner., 1937-07-22

Long ago Natures forces, not
mans industry, reigned in this local
ity. Within radius of ten miles
there are more than 60 burnt-out
volcanic cones. Stand on the top
of Mount Eden, one of the best
preserved of the craters, which h
rises like an observation post near
the center Of the city, and you see
the once-fiery throats bulging or
forming symmetrical cones on the
landscape.
From this same vantage point it
is apparent how narrowly North
island escaped being divided in two.
The isthmus upon which Auckland
sprawls, between the Waitemata
harbor, looking out toward the Paci-
fic, and the Manukau harbor, open
ing westward to the Tasman sea,
is only eight miles wide. River
estuaries and other indentations
narrow it in places to a scant mile.
Veritably, water seems almost to
encircle the red and green-roofed
maze of the city's business blocks
and suburban residences.
Abounds In Flowers.
Business hovers close to Queens
street which leads up from the
wharves, and in its adjacent mar
row, twisting thoroughfares. But il
the people responsible for the city's
growth have failed somewhat in
town planning so far as the streets
are concerned, they have more than
exonerated themselves in providing
broad park spaces.
The parks seem almost number
less. To them the flush of the SUBJ
tropics gives perpetual freshness
and color. Flowers luxuriate all the
year round.
One cannot move about Auckland
long without the new War Memorial
museum claiming attention. 1t
stands out boldly, massive white
Grecian building, above the wide
greensward on the heights Of the
Domain. Here are housed treasures
from many lands, but most inter-
esting of all is the comprehensive
collection of Maori objects on dis
play-the homes, deliberately carved
storehouses, war canoes, war i'm
plements, and handicrafts Of that
YOxUorfI1l native roco
Rolling southwark in January
from Auckland on the ribbon of
concrete and asphalt, you pass soon
into smiling open country. check
cred with fields. Men are haying
and herds of sleek cattle and sheep
Craze on a hundred rolling hills and
valley.
Agriculture was the task to which
the New Zealand colonists first di-
rected their efforts, but in the pass
ing years they have come to rely
more and more on pastoral enter
prise. An experimental shipment of
frozen meat sent to England in 1882
pointed the way out of pinching
depression that had followed the
collapse of land boom.
Historic Battle Scenes.
Today New Zealand butter and
other dairy products have attained
worldwide distribution. OF m e
than 100000 cattle pasturing on
the land, nearly half are dairy
stock. More than 28,600, 900 sheep
also range North and South islands.
making New Zealand the world S
seventh largest sheep producing
country and the fifth largest in wool
production.
Near the little town Of Mercer
was the old frontier between Maori
and colonist. The whole region is
historic ground, for here in 1854
the Maori warriors tested the best
mettle of the British troops and long
made pioneering perilous venture.
Today, instead of a battle-ground,
the district is a peaceful, English
favored countryside. Upon a hill
now stands the st. Stephens Maori
Boys college, where Maori youths
are being trained for useful pur-
suits.
Just beyond Hamilton. the largest
provincial town in Auckland prov
ince, you may run into peat fires
that are smoldering and eating into
the black soil in many places. The
continued dry, hot summer weather
causes an outbreak of many of
these destructive fires.
A few miles to the west of the
main road that leads to TIE Kuiti
are the fascinating Waitomo caves.
Interest in the caves hinges on a
tiny worm-an unusual carnivorous
glowworm-scientifcally, the Bole.
tophela luninosa.
The Glowworm grotto is a magic.
ally uncanny spot. Floating along in
a boat on the stiffness Of a subter-
ranean stream, one looks up at
myriads Of these tiny creatures.
with their lamps alight, that cover
the roof Of the cavern like . dense.
rreeniRh. blue Milky Way.