NORTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22711, 25 October 1935, Page 12

NORTH OTAGO

ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT

(FROM OUR SPECIAI

TERMINATION OF DROUGHT BENEFICIAL RAIN One of the driest periods in the history of North Otago has at last terminated in a good downfall of rain, which has been anxiously awaited for some weeks past. Farmers generally fully realise the seriousness of the situation in North Otago due to the prolonged drought, but now their fears in regard to future prospects have been greatly lessened, and the appearance of rain has created a much brighter outlook. The feed position in North Otago was becoming very serious in many districts, the heavy frosts and lack of rain having checked the growth, with the result that there was a shortage in some parts, and stock had to suffer. Conditions were not so serious in the coastal areas, as those inland,, especially in the vicinities of Duntroon, Kurow, and Kauru Hill, whore the pastures had become very dried up. It was surprising, however, to see how some of the wheat crops have stood the drought, but undoubtedly their progress woujd have been soon retarded had not the rain come when it has. As the result of the rain experienced so far, there should be a marked improvement in the growth generally, and the beneficial downfall should ensure ample, feed for stock. Not only has the drought affected the pastures, but. there has been a shortage of water in many country districts, so that in this respect the rain should also be very welcome. Restrictions had also been placed on the townspeople to ensure that there would not be any unnecessary The rain actually commenced on Wednesday morning, and there were slight showers throughout that day. It was not until the evening that the rain became more steady, and at times there were fairlv heavy downfall's. A very fine drenching rain fell throughout yesterday, and this type of rain should soak well down into the soil if it continues with the same steadiness for another day or two. The rain appears to be general through-

, CORRESPONDENT.) out North Otago, and in some of the country districts it is reported to be even heavier than in the town. For the 24 hours ended 9 o'clock yesterday morning 81 points of rain had been recorded by Mr William Forrester in Oamaru, while a further three or four points fell during the day. Late yesterday the weather remained very overcast, and the prospects were for a continued spell of wet weather. At Ngapara 43 points of ram were registered up to 8 a.m. yesterday. According to the report of Mr J. R. M Culloch, rain commenced about noon on Wednesday in this district and became heavier towards night. Misty rain, similar to that experienced in Oamaru, fell during yesterday. Mr E. Tallentire reports that 33 points of rain fell at Duntroon, while at Hakataramea the rainfall was not so heavy, only 20 points being recorded. At Kia Ora again rain fell fairly steadily throughout Wednesday night, with the result that 61 points were registered. Mr W. Forrester, of Oamaru, reports that the total rainfall for the nine months of this year was slightly over half of that for the corresponding period of 1934, which gives a good indication of the dry conditions which have prevailed. The following are the figures for the nine months for each of the past four years:—l93s, 14.03 in; 1934, 22.30 in; 193‘J, 13.60 in; 1932, 15.87 in. In October of this year 94 points of rain fell in Oamaru, and for the corresponding months of 1934, 262 points; 1933, 150 points; and 1932, 304 points. SWIMMING NOTES By Crawl. Unfortunately, the baths will be opened a week later than the club had hoped, as repairs have not been finished, although the Borough Council has had all winter to do them. Nevertheless, this minor hardship is more than compensated for by the improvements that have been carried out. THE BATHS TIME TABLE. The Borough Council has arrived at a reasonable compromise in the matter of mixed bathing, and the caretaker (Mr R. J. Miller) is to be congratulated on the careful manner in which he has drawn up the time table, so that ample opportunities are provided for mixed bathing, while at the same time due allowance is made for those who desire to have the baths reserved for their own sex at some hours. On all days except Wednesday and Sunday. the baths will be open for mixed bathing from 6.30 a.m. to 9 a.m., from 1.30 to 3.30 p.m., and from 5 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. On Tuesdays this last period will be from 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. only. On Wednesdays, when the baths are cleaned out, the hours are the same as before, 6.30 a.m. to 7.30 a.m., and 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Both these periods are for mixed bathing. On Saturdays tho mixed bathing period in the afternoon is from 1.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., and on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Women only have the use of the baths on all days except Wednesdays, Sundays, and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and from 3.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Men only are admitted from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays. Fridays, and Saturdays. It is interesting to note that of the 60 hours during wnich the baths are open each week. 40J are reserved for mixed bathing, 11 for women only, 7i for men only, and one for the Swimming Club. CLUB HOUR. The council has very generously provided that the hour from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. each Tuesday evening shall be reserved for a club hour for the Swimming Club. It is up to the club members to see that, they make the fullest possible use of this privilege. In all probability the Vice-presidents’ Cup races will be swum off during this hour. It would also pay the club to organise a system for coaching juniors and beginners during the club hour, as is done in other centres, while there are probably other schemes also which might with advantage be tried out. PROSPECTS FOR SEASON. A notable advance was made in the standard of swimming amongst the lady swimmers last season, and it should be, kept up this season, judging by the keenness shown at the annual meeting. The proposal to hold a Junior Girls’ Championship will probably be adopted, and thus many of the younger members will be encouraged who would otherwise be deterred by the competition of the older members. Miss Nellie M'Laren swam very consistently to win the Ladies’ Championship, and with hard training she could do much better. Unfortunately, training is not too often indulged in by some of the other lady members A noticeable fault amongst the lady swimmers is incorrect breathing, while another is unevenness in the kick. Distance swimming helps to overcome this. TRAINING. Here are a few hints on training gathered frpm various sources. Jean Taris, European champion, states: “New Zealand swimmers do not train seriously, and do not know how to train. Even some of the best swimmers in Australia were completely out at the end of a hard race, which indicated that they had not trained properly. My training for a big event begins a year beforehand. For nine months I will be in a swimming pool every day between mid-day and 1 D.m. This is the best time to train because there are no people in the pool. For three months before the event 1 will go to the pool twice each day. In the morning I will swim slowly over 1000 or 1500 metres, then over 500 metres using arms only and 500 metres using the legs only. In the afternoon I will swim 100 metros four times, with a short rest between each distance, and then sprint over 25 or 50 metres.” Weissmuller, ex-Olympic champion, writes: “ Bachrach (his coach) did not allow me to employ my full speed until several months had been devoted to experiment, study, and practice. It is a mistake to time even the veterans very often. My work-outs are a daily affair. Regularity is most important. First, I dive into the tank and swim several lengths of the 20-yard pool to work up a good circulation and get limbered up. Then I begin taking my stroke apart and practising each part separately. First I do the leg thrash alone, making no use of my arms. Make the motive power come from the hips, flexing the legs at the knees and ankles. Go up and down the tank as many time<? as you can comfortably at a fast speed, using only the leg thresh, and quit as soon as you begin to tire. Then I swim up and down the tank, using arms only. After getting enough of this exercise. I often practice turning. Using the full stroke, combining arm and leg action, I swim back and forth across the short width of the tank. Then I taper off my practice by swimming a few lengths of the pool with the combined stroke, paying attention to coordination of all parts of the stroke, and concentrating on relaxation. The quarter mile is the ideal distance for training. PORT OF OAMARU High Water.—October 25: 1.19 a.m. and 1.39 p.m. The Wainui is due at Oamaru on Wednesday, October 30. to load for Wellington, Napier, and Gisborne, via Tiinaru and Lyttelton. The Wingatui is due at Oamaru on Monday, November 4, to load for Wellington anil Auckland, via Tiinaru and Lyttelton. The vessel will leave Auckland for southern ports on I riclay, October 25 The Karu will load at Oamaru on Wed nesday, October 30, for Wellington, Nelson. and New Plymouth, via limaru and Lyttelton.

LEAGUE TO ABOLISH POVERTY LOCAL COMMITTEE FORMED A meeting of those interested in the League to Abolish Poverty was held in the Mayor’s room yesterday morning, there being a good attendance, representative of various sections of the commuLity. The Mayor (Mr M. F. E. Cooney) occupied the chair. A motion was carried unanimously that a local executive of the League to Abolish Poverty be formed, and the following were elected to the committee: —The Rev. J. F. Jack, Rev. J. T. Crozier, Very Rev. Father O’Reilly, Rev. J. N. Goodman, Messrs I. Jones, A Rudduck, and D. Martin. , The committee was instructed to tormulate a plan of campaign, and it was decided to hold the next meeting on Thursday, October 31, in the Douglas Credit room. . A vote of thanks was accorded tne Mayor (Mr Cooney) for presiding. MAJESTIC THEATRE In “Aunt Sally,” showing finally tonight, Cicely Courtneidge delights with her inimitable flair for burlesque whether for singer or dancer. In particular her Apache dance which terminates the film is a remarkable achievement, quite apart from its mirth-provoking qualities. The play is packed with fun, interspersed with brilliant and eye-delighting cabaret sequences, the massing of dozens of beautiful chorines and dancers being extremely effective in the many delightfully tuneful numbers. Prominent among these are "You Ought to See Sally on Sunday, “Riding on a Rainbow,” “The Wind’s in the West,” “ My Wild Oat.” “ If I Had Napoleon’s Hat,” and “ I Want a Fair and Square Man.” For the change to-morrow, Broadway Bill,” a racing comedy-drama, featuring "Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy, will be shown. For Labour week-end a better programme could not have been obtained. GYROTILLAGE INSTRUCTIVE DEMONSTRATION The interest that is being taken by the North Otagp farming community and business men in Gyrotillage, the new method of cultivation, was strikingly shown by the crowd of 700 or 800 including 40 Waitaki Boys’ High School students under Mr B. B. Blackmore, at the demonstration of the gyrotiller, or Deisel rotary plough, at Mr A. C. Hurst s property, Papakaio, yesterday afternoon. The crowd (followed the operation of this 170 h.p. machine with the keenest inCutters rotate on, a horizontal plane, pulverising and aerating the soil to a depth of 18 inches over a width of 10 feet 6 inches and leaving the soil in a state enabling a high degree of tilth to be obtained. The machine is capable of working at a greater depth but, on the area selected, the gyrotiller at 18 inches deep, thoroughly broke up the pan. A very small proportion of clay was brought to the surface. Tillage by the machine of an area of land with a hard gravel bottom met with equal success, the boulders brought to the surface being, if anything, less prominent than an area treated by ordinary ploughing methods. The demonstration showed that the machine performed all that the makers claimed for it. The capacity of the gyrotiller is an acre per hour, or 20 acres for three shifts every 24 hours, or 100 acres per week. The demonstration yesterday gave farmers much food for _ thought and the operations of the machine in North Otago will be closely followed during the coming months, especially in view of the fact that the cost per acre is approximately the same as under usual methods. 4 MOTOR COLLISIONS On Wednesday a motor car driven by Mrs E. Borrie (Glenavy) and a motor lorry driven by Mr Richardson (Willowbridge) collided at the intersection of Ferry road and Seven Mile road, Papakaio. Mrs Borrie received an injury to her collarbone, but Mr Richardson was unhurt. Both machines were badly damaged. Yesterday two cars came into collision at the top of Eden street. The driver of one of the cars was Mr Bruce Christie with whom was Mr Peter M'Auley, -who received a slight cut on the head. Mr W. R. Harle (Ardgowan) was the driver of the other car, and the occupant, Miss Alice Slaven, suffered slight bruises to the leg. GENERAL The Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer, Labour candidate for Oamaru, will commence his campaign to-night, with an address to electors at Moeraki at 8 o’clock, followed by a meeting at Pukeuri on Tuesday at 8 p.m. PERSONAL Inspector T. Shanahan, officer in charge of the South Canterbury-North Otago police area, is at present in Oamaru on an inspectorial visit. Inspector Shanahan was in charge of the Oamaru police district some years ago. Prior to severing her connection with Messrs Stringer and Co., Ltd., Oamaru, Miss E. Henderson, who has been connected with the firm as accountant for the past five years, and who is shortly to be married, was the recipient of a cheque. Mi James Gerrie (secretary and manager), in making the presentation, referred to the excellent services rendered to the company by Miss Henderson and also to her many good qualities. He wished her every happiness for the future. Miss Henderson suitably replied. Miss Beverley Brown, of Clyde street, Oamaru, will leave to-day on a visit to her relatives, Captain and Mrs Godwin, oi Christchurch. Queen’s Hotel.—Mr S. W. Oakley (Melbourne), Mr W. P. Wilson, Mr H. R. Fisher (Wellington), Mr F. E. Tueyford, Mr Donald Paterson, Mr R. Willis (Christchurch), Mr C. H. Ford (Tiinaru), Mr J. M’Leocl, Mr T. Mayne, Mr E. A. Smith, Mr and Mrs T. D. James, Mr R. H. Hood (Dunedin). New Club Hotel. —Mr C. J. Leeden, Mr L. J. Drysdale, Mr e D. Andrew (Dunedin), Mrs F. S. Page (Hamilton), Mr N L. Peryer, Mr L. C. Pearcy, Mr F. S. Dyer, Mr T. E. Holmes, Mr A. E. Reeves (Christchurch), Mr N. R. Patterson (Invercargill