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Otago Witness, Issue 3959, 28 January 1930, Page 35

The excursion organised by the Railways’ Department to the Catlins district on Sunday was accorded a very satisfactory measure of patronage, and the outing was thoroughly enjoyed by all who made the trip. The weather was not very promising early in the day, otherwise the train would probably have been severely taxed to accommodate its patrons; but conditions improved as the day wore on, and were quite pleasant during the few hours spent in the southern districts. Two engines were required to draw the train through the hilly country south of Balclutha, the passenger list., which numbered 256 when the train left Dunedin, having been swelled to about 330 at the former station The gross number of passengers was 350, and the train's complement on the return journey was approximately the same. Many did not go the whole distance, large parties leaving the train at Balclutha and Owaka, while the very great majority made Maclennan their destination, about 200 getting off there and proceeding to Papatowai Beach, where refreshments were available. Most of these spent the afternoon exploring round the rocks, where flotsam from the wreck of the Manuka proved a considerable attraction, nearly everyone bringing home some small souvenir in the shape of a piece of wood. There were only 97 passengers left on the train when it arrived at the end of the line at Tahakopa. The excursion train arrived at Tahakopa at 12.10 p.m., and reached Dunedin again at 9.10 p.m.

During the hearing of a claim for payment of overtime in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court the other day plaintiff stated that he received half a crown a day in addition to ordinary wages. “What was that for?” asked the inspector of awards (Mr R. T. Bailey). “ That was beer money,” replied plaintiff. “It may not have been all for Leer money, but it was to be spent in hotels.” Men on the oil-tankers which come to Auckland prefer to arrive in the summer months, because as soon as the ship begins pumping out her cargo at the western wharf the order is “ all lights and fires out.” The men are not only deprived of a smoke, but as all the galley fires are extinguished they have to be content with cold food, or else go ashore for meals. The men who have to remain on the ship to look after the pumping have their meals “ sent in from the cookshop,” as people used to do in Dickens’ books. The sailors on the German tanker Mittelmeer entered into a contract with a Queen street restaurant to send over to the Western wharf regular consignments of fish and chips. New Zealand fish have not the same flavour as the best fish of colder Europe, but the Germans thoroughly enjoyed the hapuka, John Dory, schnapper and tarakihi, and they do not mind if their ship is again put on the berth for Auckland. Operating costs of the tramways in the four main centres of New Zealand were compared in a table included in the Works and Traffic Committee’s report to the Christchurch Tramway Board the other day. The figures, which were compiled from Government statistics, are as follows: —Christchurch 12.26 d per car mile. Dunedin 13.26 d, Auckland 17.50(1. W ellington 1 8.1 Id.