IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 20641, 13 November 1928, Page 4

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY Route Marches. The sound of marching feet was heard on several occasions last evening when two route marches were held, one by territorial: and cadets along the North Road and the other by the Salvation Army through the town and suburbs. * « * * Unemployment in Invercargill. An improvement in the unemployment position in Invercargill is reported by the Government Labour Bureau. Last week’s figures showed that 87 men were idle, but during the week the number has been reduced to 60, a decrease of 27. There were 59 new applications received during the week. Eleven men were despatched to public works, 35 to local bodies’ works, and 40 applications for work were withdrawn. * * * * Large Duck Eggs. Probably fired with enthusiasm by past reports in these columns of prodigies both in the flower and vegetable worlds, which have been discovered in Southland, the ducks at Ryal Bush have been exceedingly busy of late. The results of their endeavours were apparent yesterday when Mr W. Hodgkinson of Ryal Bush, brought into the Times Office seven large eggs which had been laid by his white Indian Runner ducks. One of the eggs weighed five ounces while the total weight of the seven was 21bs 24ozs. The eggs are now on display in a Dee street shop window. A Voter and a Bathroom. “You never know how people will vote,” said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart at his meeting last night. “I was told by a lady just the other day that she was not going to vote for me and when I asked the reason she said she lived at the same board-ing-house as one of my committee men and he monopolized the bathroom for so long in the morning that she could not gel a bath, and so she was not going to vote for Stewart. I told my committee man that he had better not have any more baths until after the election,” concluded the Minister drily amid laughter. Saw Two Dogs. A well-known medical practitioner of the Western District was recently visiting one of his country patients, and accompanying him in his car was his favourite dog “Billy.” When on the homeward journey he overtook a pedestrian, and promptly pulling up, offered him a lift. Shortly after resuming the journey, and when the man had been seated he remarked: “Say, boss, what’s happened to the other dog. When I got in there were two dogs, now I can only see one.” The medico’s quick eye at once told him what was up, and no time was lost in reaching home and having “the fare” placed in safe keeping. That he had been imbibing not wisely but only too well was soon discovered. Bluff Wreck Recalled. There are no doubt many people at Bluff who can recall the wreck of the barque England’s Glory, the anniversary of which fell due recently. On November 7, 1881, the barque went ashore at Look-out Point, Bluff, after a protracted voyage from London. “Lying as she is,” states one account of the mishap, “not 20 feet from cliffs covered with evergreens, she presents a most picturesque though melancholy appearance. Her foresail, fore-topsail, and upper fore-topsail are still set, and her mainsail, top-gallant, and royal are just clewed up; and with the Union Jack at the fore she looks as though she were still battling for existence, although it is certain that she will never float again.” Long overdue, the barque sheltered for a week at Stewart Island. Then she was signalled approaching from the westward, and a pilot went on board. The next thing the Bluff people noticed was that five boats were pulling up the harbour, fully manned. The surmise that the ship had gone ashore proved correct. It was stated that after the pilot boarded her “the helm was at once put hard over and the foresails trimmed to pay her off ... . she gradually forged ahead and did not appear to pay off at all, although there was a good commanding breeze .... She struck forward.” And that was the end of the England’s Glory, fortunately without a loss of life.