THE OAMARU DISTRICT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23702, 9 January 1939, Page 10

THE OAMARU DISTRICT

“LEARN-TO-SWIM” WEEK

DOMINION-WIDE EFFORT INSTRUCTOR VISITS OAMARU The “ Learn-to-swim ” Week which is being sponsored throughout New Zealand by the Government as part of the National Fitness Campaign will be held in ■ Oamaru some time next month. The definite dates have not yet been fixed. Interest in this campaign has been increased by the visit to Oamaru of Mr P. A, Mathieson, one of the seven Government coaches who are travelling throughout New Zealand for the purpose of coaching the voluntary instructors as to the right way to conduct the local campaigns. Mr Mathieson, whose territory is from Balclutha to Christchurch and includes Central Otago, met the local instructors at the Municipal Baths on Saturday, and gave lectures on the method of teaching learners to swim. This method was decided on at a recent conference in Wellington, and is adapted from a system recommended by the Auckland branch of the National Committee of Swimming and Life-saving, and is based on simplicity. The pupil is first given confidence —the main essential in swimming—and from then on is taught the various strokes by a method so simple that it is claimed that even a child or a non-swimmer could teach others.

About 250 pupils enrolled for tuition in Oamaru last year, but unfortunately the weather broke before the week was completed. Over 50 per cent, of the pupils were, however, taught to swim by this time. Even better results are expected this year, as some 30 voluntary instructors are offering their services.

Mr Mathieson stated in an interview that the Government’s purpose in sending coaches throughout the country was to see that a uniform method of instruction was adopted everywhere. Arrangements would be made for pupils to attend swimming lessons at certain times each day, and each individual instructor would have his own class and would teach the same pupils every day during the week. By this method it was expected to obtain much better results. The object was to have every pupil swim at least ‘25 yards, but instruction would not necessarily cease at this stage. The school teachers were very keen on the campaign, and, seeing that the Government was sponsoring the effort, they would be given every opportunity of supporting it. “I have received excellent support everywhere, and everyone seems to realise what a lot of work can be done in this direction,” Mr Mathieson concluded SHIPPING ACTIVITIES PORT OF OAMARU High Water. —January 9, 6 a.m. and 6.26 p.m. Notes The Waikouaiti, from Newcastle and Port Stephens, left Sydney last Saturday for Bluff, Dunedin, Timaru, Lyttelton and Bluff. She is expected here about Monday, January 16. The Kaimai will load at Oamaru on Wednesday. January 11, for Wellington, Napier and Gisborne, via ports. The Waipahi will load at Oamaru about January 13 for Wellington, Nelson and New Plymouth. The Waipiata. from Auckland on January 13, is due to load at Oamaru on January 21 for Wellington and Auckland, via ports, . The New Zealand Shipping Company advises that the Tongariro has been allotted to load refrigerated and general cargo at Oamaru for London about January 19.

ITEMS OF INTEREST IN AND ABOUT TOWN Prevention of Stock Diseases Strict inspections of the yardings at the weekly Waiareka stock sales are to be carried out in future by inspectors of the Department of Agriculture. This precaution is being taken to prevent the spread of stock diseases through the exposure and sale of diseased stock at the sale yards. Shark Caught Near Harbour A fair-sized shark was landed by a fisherman, who was trying his luck from the Oamaru breakwater yesterday. The shark, which was caught outside the harbour, measured about five feet in length. Waiareka Sale Present entries for the Waiareka stock sale to be held to-morrow morning include good two-tooth Romney ewes, fat ewes and wethers, two-tooth wethers, fat cows and heifers, and a gie suitable for a drover. Further entries are invited.

NEWS OF JHE DAY

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

CRICKET RAIN STOPS PLAY DEFAULTS IN TWO MATCHES As is usual at this time of the season, the school holidays caused a disorganisation of the North Otago Cricket Association’s competition matches on Saturday. In the Senior Grade, the St. Kevin’s College and Waitaki Boys’ High School teams defaulted to Albion and Oamaru B. In the remaining match, between Oamaru A and Union, the heavy rain which commenced shortly after 3 p.m. stopped the play when Oamaru had made 116 runs for six wickets. Second Grade The rain also stopped play in the Second Grade match between Oamaru and Albion, thus maxing it a drawn game. When the rain intervened, Oamaru had scored 155 for nine wickets, the top scorers being Doran (36) and J. Bee (25). Gleeson and Sutherland each took three wickets for Albion. KINEMA ENTERTAINMENTS MAJESTIC THEATRE "The Perfect Specimen" Errol Flynn is one of the fortunate ones of this world, which is not saying that he has not made the best use of his natural advantages. In “The Perfect Specimen, ’ the comedy at the Majestic Theatre, one . realises that Mr Flynn’s physique matches his face and his attractive voice. In the boxing scene he looks his best, and then, of course, he can box, so that the audience has a very pretty display of the art of self-defence. “ The Perfect Specimen ” is an exceedingly pleasant, and at times a genuinely exciting comedy. The comedy role is played by May Robson, Edward Everett Horton, Hugh Herbert and Allen Jenkins. Flynn is Gerald Beresford Wicks, cast in life bv his grandmother as the perfect specimen. He lives on a large estate and is trained to take charge of the Wicks millions. Then Joan Blondell happens along and upsets the whole plan. OPERA HOUSE " Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo ”

To be shown to-night and to-morrow night at the Opera House is the ace of all screen sleuths, Charlie Chan. It is murder for a million when death deals a hand at the gaming tables of Monte Carlo, and Chan takes a million-to-one chance to solve a triple murder. “ Cherchez la femme ” says the prefect of police, played by Harold Huber, as he greets the great sleuth at the Casino de Monte Carlo, and through an intricate web involving a mysterious English girl, Chan achieves his most brilliant case. All in all, a splendid cast helps Messrs Oland and Huber through a mystery maze. It includes Keye Luke, as Gland’s “ number one ” son, Virginia Field, Sidney Blackmer, Kay Linaker and Robert Kent. PERSONAL The Misses Edna and Mona Hanley and Miss Helen McKenzie have returned to Oamaru after an extended motor tour to the Marlborough Sounds and West Coast. Mrs A. W. Woodward (Arun street) is spending a holiday at Palmerston North with her sister, Mrs A. Grogor. Mr and Mrs James Gerrie and Miss Leonore Gerrie, Stour street, have returned from a vacation in Nelson. Mr and Mrs W. H. S. Widdowson and family left Oamaru on Saturday, and travelled by car to Karitane. WAIMATE Cricket Match Good batting performances were a feature of an unofficial cricket match played between the Waimate and Old Boys Clubs at Manchester Park on Saturday. Batting first, Waimate compiled 172 runs, to which D. Keyes contributed 37, E. Chapman 30 not out, C. Richardson 29, and G. Liddle 22. Old Boys replied with 118. W. Murphy made a useful 44 and D. Macdonald 28. For Waimate. D. Keyes took three wickets for no runs and R. Nolan three for 16. R. Fleming, with four wickets for 30, was the most successful Old Boys bowler. Tennis Rain interfered with the progress of the Waihao Sub-association’s B Grade Competition on Saturday, and only two matches were completed. St. Patrick’s by a narrow win from Waimate by a margin of three games maintained its unbeaten record, and Ikawai B beat St. Paul’s by nine sets to seven. Cocksfoot Tenders Additional tenders for cocksfoot cutting rights in the various county ridings have been let as follows;—Otaio Riding: Block No. 2, J. M. Tiffen, £2 15s 6d; block 1, unlet. Deep Creek Riding: Block 4, J. M. Tiffen, £1 10s 6d; blocks 1,2, 5,6, unlet, Waihao Riding: Block 2, Keen Bros., £1; block 4. D. Watte, £1 16s; block 6, A. Shirley, £1; blocks 3,5, 8, unlet. Upper Pareora Riding: Blocks 1 and 2, unlet. Personal Mr and Mrs T. Hobbs, Oamaru, are visitors to Waimate. Mrs H. Searle and family arc n holiday at Kakanui. Miss Daphne Dockerty, Dunedin, is visiting her aunt, Mrs J. Hight, Coronation street. Major and Mrs Podmore, Springston, are spending a holiday in Waimate. Miss Patricia Hickey, who has been on a tour of the west and east coasts, has returned home. TEMUKA Farmers’ Union The classification of members into their different branches of farming as asked for by the Dominion secretary, caused a wide divergence of opinion at the meeting of the Temuka branch of the Farmers’ Union ’on Friday. During the discussion, Mr G. H. Mulligan (Clandeboye) said it would be a difficult matter to classify farmers in South Canterbury. It was eventually resolved to appoint a committee from each district to go into the matter. In response to a request by Mr W. W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the union, an attempt is to be made to obtain the opinion of farmers on the vital matter of diseases among stock.

It was generally considered by the members that hogget mortality through foot-rot and internal parasites in sheep were the two worst diseases that farmers in South Canterbury had to contend with. Mr G. A. Davey (Rangatira Valley)) said that he had not lost a sheep through pulpy kidney, but had suffered much loss through footrot; in fact, he could state definitely that thousands of pounds had been lost in South Canterbury, through foot-rot. Mr S. G. McCullough, who has had a wide experience as a sheep breeder, said he was convinced that unless lambs were kept away from drinking dirty water good results would not be likely to accrue from attempts to cope with disease among sheep and lambs.