SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3867, 24 April 1928, Page 35

SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

(Fhom Oub. Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, April 21. fbp Lv> M Thi est i' yay .^ 0 a change in the Southland weather is for me to write about it in this column. It invariably has happened that When I have described the preceding : week as a glpriously fine one the weather breaks as soon as my letter is posted. So also has it been when a wet week has dragged along. I have only to record this fact in these topics when the sun bursts through, and a fine week follow’s.. This rambling preamble is apropos of the very violent change from summer to winter that occurred last week within a few hours of these notes being despatched. The warmth and sunshine of Easter week gave place to high winds, heavy rains, and several severe hailstorms. , Day. after day this wintry weather has continued, and although Thursday showed improvement, Friday was as boisterous as ever. The farmers, Jiowever, will not complain, as rain was urgently needed. J

lhe gales were responsible for very heavy seas, in Foveaux and the t jb-v- ooutnland underwent a severe test of her seaworthiness during her Wednesday crossing. That she came through wuth flying colours has established be>ond doubt that she is a fine sea boat, tor old sailors declare that she will not aa i?j , ee a worse sea for many years Edendale was en fete on Wednesday, when despite unfavourable weather a'most successful gala was held with the object raising funds for the new. swimming baths. Judging from the enthusiastic way young and old participated, in all outdoor events, no matter how hard it was raining they should take to the baths like ducks to water. . '

Wyndham, not to be outdone by its neighbouring town, put on a most exciting show of its own. in the early hours of ihursday morning. Unfortunately, only two. or_ three , people were really in the such it can be called—and the sleeping inhabitants of the riverside town were not aware till 8 a.m. how much thev had "been missing. At that hour Mr George Kerse went to his garage and back door standing open, and the office door in that state also. In the office nothing seemed to be disturbed, and Mr Kerse. was beginning to wonder why the place had been broken into, when he realised that something important was missing. This was a 30in x 26in safe, which contained £2O in cash, £23 in cheques, and his account books. A little investigation showed how the safe had been removed, for the tyre marks of a light car were distinctly discernible on the soft earth at the back door of the garage. The police were soon pursuing investigations, and the safe was found in a gravel pit on the road between Wyndham and Edendale. It had been broken open with a crowbar or some such instrument. The cash tmd been taken, but the cheques were lefG- lhe burglars drove their car down into the pit, and must have spent several hours and made many sparks fly before Sl e , e y’ as made to Yield its treasure. Though the police were making full inquiries no arrest has been made so far Winter sports will soon be in full swing. The town Rugby matches commence on Saturday of next week. At Gore the competition begins on May 2, while in the country centres a commencement will be made early next month. Ladies’ hockey gives promise of flourishing in "Invercargill this season, and there is quite a possibility of the New Zealand-champion-ship tournament being held here. Duck shooters are getting ready for May 1, and there should be some great feasts on May 2 if enthusiasm counts for anything. The May-fair grows nearer, and tiiroughout the whole province interest is quickenTh o pageant is going to be a wonderful affair, and each district is doing its best in a spirit of friendly rivalry to make a better showing than its neighbour. An ■ aeroplane, with Captain Findlay in charge, has been lent to the committee by the Government, and some stunt flying will be seen.

Tuatapere, one of the keenest centres in regard to the May-fair, had bad luck with the big function if had arranged for Wednesday to raise funds to enable the town to participate worthily in the pageant. Heavy rain caused the gala to be abandoned, but the dwellers in the bush town are not by any means downhearted. “ J/.y° u want a thing done, do it yourself,” is a motto that was vividly enforced on a well-known Invercargill business man this week. He sent his office boy to buja tube of shaving soap, and at the close of the day he took this home with him. There was an important function that evening at which he was due, and a good shave was essential. He "made the necessary preparations, rubbed a large quantity of the tube’s contents on his face and on the brush, and proceeded to work up a good lather. This came all right, but not without many unusual odours, and not without much burning and smarting of his tender skin. He thought it was time to look at the name on the tube, and was rewarded by discovering that he had been using dental paste instead of shaving cream, both of which substances were made by the firm whose name was on the tube. The unselfish enterprise of the owner of Te Anau Downs station in making a road along the lake from Te Anau Hotel to the homestead at the Downs will result in. many more people visiting the beautiful lake and. enjoying its varied charms by the drive through the bush. Te Anau will win fame in another too, fpr a party of sportsmen which has just- returned from tlie district state that no finer deer and pig shooting is to be obtained in New Zealand than in the country round the lake. To prove their words they were able to show the head of a magnificent fourteen-pointer. For the position of town clerk and treasurer of Invercargill (which was readvertised after the refusal’ of the three candidates originally selected), no fewer than 60 applications- were received; All were married men ov had been married, one hailed from London, and one from Sydney. The Finance Committee of the council will on Monday reduce : the number to four, and -the council will decide the issue on Tuesday, May I. Complete arrangements have been? made both in Invercargill and in other centres for the fitting commemoration of Anzac Day, and the services bqth for children

and for adults, promise to be: as impressive as the significance of the occasion warrants.