IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 20617, 16 October 1928, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY Closing of Roll.. Electors are reminded that the Parliamentary rolls definitely close at 5 p.m. tomorrow. Those failing to make application to the registrar will, in addition to becoming disfranchised be liable to a fine of £5 or three months’ imprisonment. Water Mains. The cleaning of the water mains has been commenced in Don street, where a number of men are employed uncovering the pipes at intervals. The work is progressing rapidly and Don street will probably be completed to-morrow. Course for Cadets. A continuous training course for cadets is being held at Tuatapere under the auspices of the local Defence Office during this week. The Gore Defence Office will conduct a similar course commencing on October 23, probably at Menzies Ferry, for cadets from Edendale and Wyndham. Street Repairs. The section of Tweed street between Clyde and Nith streets is at present closed for repairs, over a dozen men with forks and shovels, assisted by a grader and the steam roller, being employed there. The old road is being broken up and the grass and soil at the sides are being moved back with the grader and manual labour. • • * • The Auckland Islands. According to one of the crew of a vessel which of recent weeks visited the Auckland Islands, goats are very numerous there. They are not in the least afraid of human beings and would walk right up to them. The aroma which accompanied their appearance, however, would in his words “almost bowl you over.” * ♦ ♦ * No Improvement. The unemployment figures on the books of the Labour Department show no improvement over last week’s total, the number still being 108. Fifty-two new applications were received during the week and 11 were withdrawn. Twenty-one men were sent to the Forestry Department, 19 to local bodies, and one to private employment. Makarewa Good for Fishing. An angler informed a Times reporter yesterday that in his opinion the Makarewa river, though running high, svas in good order for worm or minnow fishing. He recalled how a party of anglers had gone out during a previous flood, and while merely throwing out their traces to wet them had hooked a big fish where the water was flowing over stubble. * ♦ * * The Strange Bird. The bird which was picked up recently in the Crescent has, from the description in a recent issue of the Southland Times, been identified by Mr Wixon, of Bluff, as a kuaka. This is a migratory bird which comes every year from warmer latitudes with the muttonbirds. Several have been picked up on the coast during the past week and have puzzled the finder. Strange, but Probably True. An interesting sidelight on the ways of motor drivers was given at last night’s meeting of the Southland Motor Association. A member was relating how he had remonstrated with a fellow member for following his car too closely on one of the association’s motor tours. “What would happen if I had stopped suddenly and you were looking at the view?” he had asked. The reply came: “Oh, I never look at the scenery when I go on these motor tours.” * « • • Another Ketch in Trouble. An unconfirmed report received last evening at Bluff stated that the auxiliary ketch Meteor, with Messrs H. Frickleton and H. Grace (late of Wyndham) on board, had reached Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island. Thia vessel left Bluff a fortnight ago on a fishing trip and on Friday last the launch Pegasus passed her about three miles off Port Adventure when her course was set for Bluff. The weather was particularly rough in the Straits at the time. Some comment was made at Bluff last evening on the fact that the Meteor had not arrived as, according to the report from the Pegasus, she should have berthed there on Sunday at the latest. Fears were set at rest by the message late yesterday, but it cannot be confirmed until the opening of the Post Office to-morrow at the island. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ A- Minister and His Critics. “I have no doubt,” remarked the Minister of Lands (the Hon. A. D. McLeod), in the course of his address at Upper Hutt, “that before long a tirade of criticism by the Leader of the Opposition will be poured down on my poor doomed head, with references to the incapacity of the Minister of Lands. But I think I shall be able to put up a good fight. I shall say very little, though, until I see the full strength of their hands. I can see the line of attack that is coming, and I will take the opportunity later on of dealing with Mr Holland’s jumble of figures respecting land and its occupation. I have no doubt the attack will be along the lines of recent letters in the Press, containing equally jumbled so-called facts and figures, over the nom de plume of 'Touchstone.’ Who ‘Touchstone’ may be I do not know for certain, although I have a shrewd idea. I think I am right in saying that in sporting parlance ‘Touchstone’ was the sire or grand-sire of ‘Traducer.’ ” (Laughter.)