IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 20501, 1 June 1928, Page 8

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY. Collision near Winton. A collision between a fish delivery van and a Ford car occurred late yesterday afternoon on the main road three miles south of Winton. Both cars were considerably damaged, but as far as can be ascertained! none of the occupants was injured.

Customs Duties. The customs duties received in Invercargill for the month of May amounted to £11,280 as compared with £12,068 collected in May, 1927. The difference is attribut ed to the general slackness of trade consequent upon easy times between seasons. The beer duties collected amounted to £493, which is £1 less than the amount collected for the same month of 1927. * * * * Eggs Plentiful. The egg shortage in Southland has ended —for the time being at any rate. Merchants report plentiful supplies again. fact it is whispered that there are too many eggs on hand. “It’s either a feast or a famine,” said one merchant. “However, it is better to have too many than none at all.” The retail price of eggs is now 2/9 per dozen. Round Figures. “I am informed by those who worked it out, that the people who owned the steam roundabout and the chair-o-plane, which proved so attractive during May Fair Week, took between £2OOO and £3OOO out of Invercargill. Their takings were estimated at about £2O per hour during the one week.” Several business men at the meeting expressed the conviction that the committee should endeavour to hire these amusements for next May Fair, and make them a profitable undertaking. * * * * The Taratahi. There has been much discussion at Bluff recently concerning the meaning of the Maori name Taratahi on Mr A. Pascoe’s boat. Various explanations have been given, but none of these has been correct. An interpreter told a reporter yesterday that the name meant a single canoe used by the Maoris for scouting purposes before the advent of the pakeha. It is termed a single canoe to distinguish it from the Uknaui, a fighting craft, composed of two canoes lashed securely together. The name Taratahi itself does not imply speed, but that is taken for granted.

Packing Mutton Birds. It is probable, as a result of an innovation by Mr A. Wixon in the packing of mutton birds, that this branch of the birders’ activities will be reorganized. Everyone is familiar with the kelp bags in which they are now packed. Mr. Wixon had a number of tins made to order capable of holding 30 to 34 birds each. The tins are hermetically sealed and a great deal of time and labour is saved. Two points in favour of the new system are that there is no danger of the tins bursting, as the bags do now occasionally, and that more protection is afforded from the predatory rat.

An Icy Plunge. Wagers arising out of arguments have let folk in for all sorts of unenviable experiences, and few stories related . lately will surpass the following: As a result of such a wager, two Riverton residents—both over 63 years of age —dived into the Pourakino River from the Riverton wharf at seven o’clock on Wednesday morning to swim across. One of the pair succeeded in his task and scrambled out on the opposite side, but the other was not in such good condition and clambered out on the wharf side. It is doubtful whether many of the younger folk would care to take the icy plunge. Lite Arrival of Express. The frequent late arrival of the express was referred to at the Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday. One member said that there was no truth in the statement that the lateness was due to a goslow policy among a certain section of the railway employees. The true explanation appeared to be that the wet weather had delayed the goods trains in their loading operations and these delays had affected the running of the expresses. In view of the proposed new time-table and the com ing conference with the commercial manager of railways no action was taken by the chamber yesterday.

Vital Statistics. The vital statistics for the Southland district for the month of May show that the number of births (68) was identical with that of the corresponding month of 1927. The number of deaths (27) exceeded by seven those of the previous term, and marriages were two less in number, the figures being 22 (1928) and 24 (1927) . Taking the figures as a whole over the five months of this year the births (319) show to advantage when compared with the deaths (128). There were, however, 18 less births for the five months’ term of 1928 compared with those (337) of ?he same term in 1927. The deaths for the 1927 term numbered 107 and the marriages 131 against 121 for 1928.

‘ May Fair” Train Traffic. May Fair in Southland was a boon to the New Zealand Railways. The following booking figures are illuminating and give an idea of the numbers who travelled to Invercargill to take part in the festivities. For the week previous to May Fair 1900 persons travelled by train from northern stations to Invercargill. During May Fair week 3900 bookings were recorded as compared with 1800 the previous year, while 6,741 bookings were recorded from all quarters that is 6,741 persons visited Invercargill by train during May Fair week. For the three days succeeding May Fair 1,150 bookings from the north were made. These figures clearly show what a magnet May Fair week was to many thousands outside Invercargill. * * * * Night Expresses and Fruit. “It’s an ill-wind that blows nobody any good,” quoted a prominent fruit man, when discussing the institution of night express trains in the South Island. “I am not predicting that the night expresses will not be a success—simply likening the trains to an ill wind, because the people of Invercargill will benefit as a result of their running and carrying fresh fruit from northern districts to Invercargill. It will mean a saving of many hours. For instance, Christchurch growers will be enabled to pick their fruit in the late afternoon, put it on the express in the evening and Invercargill retailers will be selling it in the early afternoon of the following day. We can look for plenty of fresh local fruit in the future.” Half Moon Bay Wharf.

The chairman of the Stewart Island Harbour Board has received no further advice as to the steps the Government proposes to take in regard to the new wharf, the plans for which have been curtailed considerably. A further instance of the inadequacy of the present structure was given on Wednesday. The tug Southland discharged her cargo which took up a good portion of the wharf and there was very little room left in which to work the Kekeno which was expected to arrive later in the day. The general feeling among the residents is that the lengthening of the wharf will be of little use without the widening also.