IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 20523, 27 June 1928, Page 8

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY. The Borough Council. “We trust to the Borough Council to find work for our unemployed men; but you know the Borough Council as well as I do. That’s enough said,” was a remark of the Rev. John Chisholm at the R.S.A. dinner last evening when speaking of the need for better organization and more effective measures in dealing with unemployment.

Duties, Not Rights. At the Returned Soldiers’ Association dinner last night the opinion was expressed that too much is heard nowadays about the rights of the public and far too little about the duties of the public. The spirit which won the war was the spirit of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty and if the returned soldiers foster this spirit in civil life they will be performing a great service to the community.

Tanks and More Aeroplanes. In the course of his speech at the R.S.A. dinner last night Major McHugh referred to the fact that the English Army was being more and more mechanized. Tanks and new transport machines would be sent out to New Zealand in order to keep the training here up-to-date and more aeroplanes would also be despatched. Unfortunately the cost of these had meant the cutting down of the vote for ordinary training.

Heeney’s Understudy. A rather serious-minded Invercargill youngster returned to his home from school the other day with the skin off the back of his knuckles. His fond father asked his offspring what had happened to him. “Gosh, if it hadn’t been for that I’d have been in gaol,” said the lad seriously. “How’s that, son?” asked his father. “Well,” was the reply, “one of the other fellows pinched my grub, and I punched at him but I missed him and hit the wall. If I’d have hit him, I’d have killed him!” * * * * Fire in Tay Street The services of the Invercargill Fire Brigade were required at 9.15 yesterday morning to quell an outbreak of fire in the premises occupied by Mrs J. Manson, fruiterer, in Tay street, and owned by Miss Welch, Christchurch. On arrival the brigade found that a fire had started in the super-heater cupboard and it was easily extinguished, little damage being done. The contents of the residence were not insured but the building is covered by a policy for £llOO in the Commercial Insurance Office. * * * * Peeping Tom Active. Once more Invercargill is being annoyed by an unwelcome visitor in the person ofa Peeping Tom. An indication that such a despicable person was at present in the city was afforded last Saturday evening when a lady residing in Bluff road received a considerable shock as the result of the action of this depraved individual. It appears that the lady had just emerged from the bath when she happened to look up at the open fanlights above the window to become horrified at the sight of a man’s face in the opening. She immediately communicated with the police, but the man had disappeared of course within a few momentg. A search next morning revealed that a long plank had been placed on the window sill along which the man had walked to reach the open fanlight. * * * * A Good Samaritan. An Invercargill motorist travelling homewards on Monday evening noticed a man walking along the road between Gore and Woodlands, whereupon he stopped his car and asked the man whether he would care for a lift. His invitation was eagerly accepted and the driver, in conversation with the stranger, learned That he had walked all the way from a district north of Christchurch. At that moment he had been walking from Gore to Woodlands. The stranger went on to say that he had been ill and had lost his job. Being unable to obtain employment in the north, he had journeyed to the south to try his luck here. On his long walk numerous cars had passed him, but he had not been offered a lift. Upon arrival at Invercargill he was about to part from the obliging driver when the latter asked if he had any relatives in Invercargill. On being answered in the negative he then asked whether he had any money. “Yes,” replied the stranger. “How much?” queried the motorist when he was astonished to receive the reply: “Twopence.” It is pleasing to record that the motorist made satisfactory temporary arrangements for the comfort of the stranger.