SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3877, 3 July 1928, Page 35

SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

(From Ona Own Correspondent.) " ‘INVERCARGILL, June 30. The climax to a stormy week came ou Friday, jyhen a fierce gale raged during the afternoon and wrought havoc in town and country. Prior to this visitation there was a fall of snow in Invercargill, visitors arriving by the late express on Thursday finding the ground white and flakes still falling. Before morning, however, rain and sleet caused the snow to melt, so that very little remained for children to sport with. The most striking result of the gale on Friday was the demolition of an old wooden building which for a great many years has stood at the corner of Esk and Kelvin streets. Shortly before 5 p.m. a terrific gust lifted half the roof off the building, flinging about 20 sheets of corrugated iron (still joined together) across the telephone and electric lines in Esk street. Each succeeding gust contributed towards the ruin of the structure, and passers-by had to keep well clear of flying missiles. A vast crowd was soon attracted by the unusual spectacle, and several policemen had to keep eager “rubbernecks ” back from the danger zone. The task of getting the big mass of iron off the telegraph lines was a difficult one, a huge ladder having to be employed as a lever. Many lines were broken, and for nearly an hour a portion of the town was without light, as the Power Board had cut off the current so as to avoid danger should the wires be broken. only fine day of the week was Wednesday, and the Eastern and Central District Rugby representative teams were fortunate enough to play their match for the Sports Trust Cup on this sunny day. There was a big gathering at Gore to see the match, and the spectators were rewarded by seeing their Black stalwarts retain the coveted trophy. The Central forwards played splendidly, but their backs let them down. While the Eastern forwards were good, it was the backs which won the match. That flourishing organisation, the Wyndham A. and P. Association, held a most successful dinner and reunion in the Wyndham Town Hall on Friday evening. This is an annual event of such great popularity that hundreds of farmers from far and near attend. In addition to excellent speeches during the progress of the toast list, the trophies won during the year were presented.

Every day wireless is being put to a new use. One enthusiastic listener-in in Invercargill, on learning that a daughter of his neighbour was to be married on the evening of Wednesday last, some time before that date wrote to the manager of the Christchurch broadcasting station and informed him of the ceremony that was to take place, suggesting that in honour of the occasion Mendelssohn’s Wedding March should be broadcasted just at the moment at which the pair would be united. Tliir the manager agreed to do, so on Wednesday last, just as the minister was preparing to do his pleasant work in the bride's home, the strains of the Wedding .March were wafted in through the window by means of a loud speaker connected with the radio enthusiast’s set next door. The bridegroom was so overcome at being the first celebrant to have the Wedding March heard through a loud speaker that he lost the ring, and the minister’s signet ring had to be requisitioned, to be returned later when the real one was found.

One result of the running of night expresses is the great increase in the sale of Bluff’s most famous product— oysters. Each train carries northwards hundreds of thousands of oysters, their freshness as against those carried by the ordinary day expresses causing a keen demand in Christchurch and other northern towns.

Basketball is taking a great hold in town and country. This week-end a big carnival is being held to raise funds to send a representative team to the tournament at Auckland. Competition in the various grades is exceptionally keen, and it is pleasing to see Bluff and Makarewa doing so well. It may not be known that one of the world’s most up-to-date platinum mines is situate on the beach at Wliakapahu, where a local syndicate is winning from the sand about £22 worth of platinum and gold per day. The machinery in use is claimed to be the best in the.world. It is anticipated that even better results will shortly be obtained.

Not content with having put an end to that harmless method of raising money for good causes, the euchre tournament, the rabid prohibitionists of Invercargill have caused all dinners or reunions held in restaurants here to be “ dry.” Until now the police tolerated a reasonable amount of liquor at these functions, but pressure has been brought to bear so strongly by those whose motto is intolerance that water or lemonade is all that is now permitted with which to honour toasts. Tobacco will be the next to go! There died at Winton on Thursday another of Southland’s genuine pioneers. This was Mr Andrew Chrystal, who, besides being one of the ■ best known farmers in Southland, was a very prominent exhibitor at A. and I’. shows throughout the province. He had reached the advanced age of 85.