NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26040, 2 January 1946, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Population of Invercargill Population figures for urban areas, given in the Abstract of Statistics, show that Invercargill has a' slightly greater population than Palmerston North, and is therefore the sixth city of New Zealand. The figure for the Invercargill urban area, which includes the borough of South Invercargill and adjoining suburbs in the country, but regarded as part of the city, is 27.419. Palmerston North’s urban area population is 27,277. which is 142 below that of Invercargill. Wanganui is next on the list with 26,453, followed by Hamilton with 26,344. Rare Service Ribbon

Of the various campaign star ribbons worn by New Zealanders, the most rare by far is one which is blue, white and sea green, shaded and watered. It is the ribbon of the Atlantic Star and was intended to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic. It was designed primarily for convoys and their escorts and anti-submarine forces, as well as for fast merchant ships which sailed alone. As a result, only those who served with the Navy or the Air Force could hope to qualify for it. The Navy demanded six months and the Air Force two months continuous operational service in the Atlantic. Cheap Travelling

Two youths have “ hitch-hiked ” from Wellington to Whangarei in five days, having walked only 10 miles of the journey. Both are members of the Tararua Tramping Club. They have since left on the return journey. The trip north was accomplished for a total outlay of 10s. They left Wellington on Monday of last week and spent Christmas Day in Rotorua, having covered practically the whole trip from Wellington with lifts by passing motorists. Later they secured a lift from Rotorua to Auckland. Each youth carries a pack of about 301 b in weight, containing a small tent and essential equipment. Slot Telephones When parents are finding it a little difficult to persuade young sons and daughters that when pennies and threepences are saved they soon mount up, they may perhaps, by drawing the long bow a trifle, find it helpful to quote the amount received in New Zealand from coin-in-the-slot telephones. For the year ended March 31 last the total collections amounted to £97,321. The number of slot telephones in the Dominion at that date was 1406. compared with 1420 at the corresponding date in the previous year. The decrease was due to a number of military camp installations being closed during the year. Stewart Island’s Decline The population of Stewart Island, according to the Abstract of Statistics, has fallen from 617 in 1936 to 343 this year, a decrease of 274. Explaining the reason for the big drop, the chairman of the Stewart Island County Council, Mr T. Bragg, said that when the war broke out a number of men enlisted and their families went to live on the mainland. Fully 100 crossed from the island to work in factories and take up other employment. Some of the girls married and were remaining on the mainland. Since the census was taken, about 100 had returned and there were no vacant houses. Mr Bragg also mentioned that when the 1936'census was taken 50 or 60 whalers, some with families, were living on the island. “The war hit us very badly, said Mr Bragg. He added that membership of the Fishermen's Union had dropped during the war from 140 to 48, but it had now gone up to between 70 and 80. Floating Mines All ships crossing the Pacific are being warned by the United Stqtes Navy against the danger of floating mines. Japanese aircraft are believed to have dropped large numbers of them in the last few weeks of the war and it is considered probable that many of them will remain afloat for a considerable period. The Japanese did not use miqes nearly as extensively as did the Germans. One reason was that the great depth of many parts of the Pacific prevented the use of mooied mines. There were, however, enemy minefields defending a number of the approaches to various islands belonging to or under the temporary domination of Japan. When units of the British Pacific Fleet bombarded the island of Miyako, in Sakishama Gunto, last May, allowance had to be made loi a field, within the 100 fathoms line, which protected the usual approach to the island. T)n other occasions floating mines were sighted almost daily. Many of them were seen in very deep water far from the nearest land. Some were destroyed by gunfire. Otheis survived. It would be impossible to say where such mines as these would float. One ship which was recently going from Melbourne to Vancouvei sighted several near Honolulu. Picton Steamer Service “With, at any rate, the present railway time table, it does not seem practicable with the steamer service to reconcile the interests of both tne Marlborough passengers and possible through-passer.ger traffic,” said the Christchur-.h manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd. (Mr I. L. Hodge) answering a complaint that the South Island main trunk expresses did not make a steamer connection at Picton. “ The Tamahine’s running between Wellington and Picton has been fixed for many years at times which best suit the local traffic between Wellington and Marlborough generally, including passengers to and from the Sounds, and cargo.” replied Mr Hodge. “ For instance, if the sailings from Picton for ■ Wellington at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays were postponed till, say, 5.30 p.m. for the benefit of passengers from the Christchurch train, the steamer would miss connection with the limited express for Auckland (when the coal situation allows it to run). A sailing from Wellington in the early morning, say 5.30 a.m., to connect at Picton with the 9.50 a.m.’ train for Christchurch, is out of the question, as no one would want to turn out at that time when he could so much more conveniently travel by the Wellington-Lyttelton steamer and all the Marlborough passengers would be involved in the inconvenience.”