He has recorded the discovery of a black kiwi near Lake Waikaremoana. Abnormal plumages amongst individuals of the four or five species of kiwis are noted comparatively often. The common North Island kiwi is brown, but perfect albinos, exceptionally beautiful on account of the hair-like feathers, reddish kiwis, known to as kiwi kura, and dark kiwis are found. This is the only case of abnormally dark plumage — melanism, technically — Mr Cobledick has seen in kiwis. "It is hard to record instances of albino kiwis," he writes, "because they are killed easily by dogs in the forests, and Maoris highly prize the feathers for working into cloaks or kits."
Effervescent scene in chamber
The mayor having expressed felicitous wishes and appreciation of the way in which councillors had worked during the year, and the councillors having returned the compliment, members of the St Kilda Borough Council drank one another’s health in ginger beer last night. But that operation was not as devoid of preliminarily incident as might have been expected. Probably it was the heat that made the councillors descend upon the bottles with avidity, and the same cause was doubtless at the root of the playful manner in which the contents of the bottles behaved. It cannot be said that the council chamber is always conspicuous for decorous happenings within, but it may be presumed that even its walls must have wondered at last night’s doings. A number of bottles were opened together, and reports that occurred would have satisfied even the most noise-loving boy.
But noise was not all, for it was demonstrated that ginger pop in a froth is something to be avoided. Thirsty councillors were struck on the face with force by the spouting liquid, parts of the walls and the table were flooded, and generally pop and hilarity reigned supreme. "Why vote prohibition? Whisky would never behave like this," sighed a councillor.
A very plucky act
There is a certain amount of danger about surf-bathing anywhere if swimmers are inclined to go out too far, and St Clair is no exception. A fatality was narrowly averted on this beach yesterday afternoon, when Robert Francis Duckworth, who is a patrol leader in the St Clair scouts, was responsible for saving a young man named Harold Parkes from a watery grave.
The boy, who is 14 years of age, and Parkes were surfing together when the latter got into difficulties. He had disregarded Duckworth’s advice, had gone out beyond his depth, and was being carried out to sea. Parkes was about 100 yards out from the shore.
As soon as Duckworth observed that his companion was in trouble he set out to rescue him.
His task had only commenced when he reached Parkes, for the latter struggled violently, and in doing so tore his rescuer’s bathing suit almost completely off. It became necessary for Duckworth to administer Parkes a blow under the chin to quieten him, and after he had done that he towed him to the shore. This was an exhausting process, which occupied fully five minutes.
— ODT, 2.12.1922 (Compiled by Peter Dowden)
