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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2981, 19 January 1917, Page 6

Six o'clock closing of hotels has now been in operation (says.the Melbourne "Argus" of January 2) for a little more than two months, and an examination of the figures in connection with cases of drunkenness dealt .with by tho City Court bench reveals much that is interesting. During the two months previous to October 26, when six o'clock closing became operative, 1242 cases of drunkenness had been dealt with at the City Court. For the two months since October 26 a total of 811 cases were dealt with, showing a decrease of 431, and representing an average of nearly eight fewer cases per clay. During the Christmas week-end 27 "drunks" were locked up at the city watchhonse. This is a much smaller number than during the Christmas of 1915, but at tho same tim 4 cannot be regarded as a sweeping effect of tho reform, as the weather this year was much cooler, and, in addition, _it is asserted by competent authorities that as many men wero to he seen in a state of inebriety in tho streets on December 25, 1016, as on any previous Christmas Day. . .

: An eel weighing 20lb. and measuring 57in. 'in length and 12in. in girth was caught just bolow the Black Bridge cheese- factory, Lynnford, Ashburton, a short time ago. Several largo eels have hoen caught in the Ashburton County of late, and one, on being opened, was found to contain a. trout measuring Blin. in length.