CROMWELL NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 22248, 28 January 1936, Page 11

CROMWELL NEWS

(From, Our Own Correspondent.)

DEATH OF KING GEORGE V. It was not until official confirmation of the death of His Majesty King George was received in Cromwell that the community seemed to realise the enormous loss sustained by the nation that was conveyed by the simple, yet so tragic, message—“ The King is dead.”

A church hell solemnly tolled out at one-minute intervals the years of the life of a noble monarch. Flags were flown at half-mast, with a black pennant at the truck, on all Government buildings and the Council Chambers. Wednesday was observed as a day of mourning, all business premises being closed. An In Memorium ceremony was to bo held at the Council Chambers, Cromwell, this morning, when His Worship the Mayor invited the returned soldiers, representatives of local bodies, the ministers of the several churches, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, and the public to attend. “ LEARN TO SWIM ” WEEK. The Cromwell Swimming Club is organising a “ learn to swim ” week, commencing on February 3. Expert tuition under Mr Bannatyne, _of Dunedin, is to be afforded the novice. The week is to conclude with a big carnival, and an attempt is being made to raise funds to liquidate the debt on the baths and to raise funds for the installation of a pumping plant to pump clean water from the Clutha to the swimming pool. PETTY THIEVING. An unusually mean piece of sneak thieving has come to light by the-dis-covery that the Plunket box in the ladies’ rest room has again been rifled. After a previous occasion when the box had been relieved of its contents extra precautions were taken to prevent a recurrence, but evidently without success.

During the last few weeks a number of bathers at the swimming baths have experienced losses of a few shillings, and in one instance a youthful newcomer to the town found he had been relieved of 4s Id while .in swimming. On leaving the baths he noticed a small urchin greedily devouring a bag of lollies, and the victim, thinking of his, loss, commenced a vigorous cross examination of the youngster. He had 3s 7d in his pocket—the sweets had cost 6d —and it looked too obvious, more especially as guilt was written all over the lad’s face. At the mention of the police the thief promptly confessed, and was promplv ordered to share the sweets with all the “ small fry ” present. After a severe scolding he was permitted to go his way. RAILWAY TRAFFIC. The outward traffic on the Otago Central branch line from Cromwell for the four weeks ended January 4, as supplied by the district traffic manager’s office, is as follows:—62o passengers, 4 season tickets, 40 cattle and calves, 251 sheep and pigs, and 629 tons of other goods, comprising 1,013 cases of fruit (weighing 8 tons llcwt), 802 cans of cream (containing 4,771 gallons), and 2,633 bales of wool. CRICKET. An annual fixture, though pot on the roster of the Vincent Association’s competition, is the cricket match between Nevis and Cromwell. The Cromwell team looks forward to the trio “ over the hills ” with pleasurable anticipation. First there is the somewhat thrilling trip to the summit of the Garrick. The view from this vantage point is one of scarcely rivalled beauty. Then there is the match, and, above all, the unbounded hospitality of the Nevis, people. In a two innings match Cromwell won by the narrow margin of 12 runs. On Saturday, at Alexandra, the two leading teams m the Vincent competition, Excelsior A and Lowburn, drew. Excelsior, batting first, declared with seven wickets down for 240. Lowburn, however, succeeded in holding up their wickets to time with eight down for 74. Clyde defeated Cromwell A by 32 runs in a one innings match at Crom- " At Omakau Cromwell B suffered defeat at the hands of Omakau by 142 runs to 88.