IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 20955, 12 December 1929, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Tug Southland. At yesterday's meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board, some discussion took place concerning the sale of the tug Southland, but the board finally decided to withdraw its offer for the sale of the vessel.

Startling Jarred Nerves. While the Commission of Inquiry info the Ohai mine tragedy was carefully weighing evidence in the Nightcaps Town Hall yesterday, suddenly a loud “bang” was heard from outside. The nerves of those inside who had been listening to evidence of the terrible explosion in the mine gave a very perceptible start, and the boys outside with crackers would have been very pleased to have seen the result of their fireworks exhibition.

A Runaway Horse. Some excitement was caused in the business centre of the town yesterday morning when a horse belonging to the New Zealand Express Company careered down the Crescent towards the railway station, dragging a dray behind it. The animal, afrightened by a spring breaking, bumped into a telegraph pole and grazed the end of a mudguard of a motor car, but finally the driver managed to bring the runaway to a standstill.

A Cutting Affair. The problem of how to get rid. of old razor blades seems to be definitely solved —and by a bachelor at that. A local resident bought a packet of new razor blades recently, but, after arriving safely home with them, (hey mysteriously disappeared. Every one within earshot was promptly’ requisitioned for the subsequent search. But all to no avail. Nowhere were the errant razor blades to be found. Next morning, however, the gentleman in question discovered, on raking the ashes out of the fire, a small heap of much-browned metal. Close examination revealed them to be the missing razor blades, with their cutting edges, needless to say, greatly impaired. « * * * A Great Draw. There was nothing in the shop windows of the town yesterday that attracted more attention than the magnificent model of the R.M.S. Orania displayed in one of the principal windows of the store of Messrs 11. &J. Smith Ltd. The model is impressive not only for its size but also for its superb workmanship. Compared with the Orient Company’s 20,000 tonner the model is, of course, a small thing. The ship herself from stem to stern would not fall far short in length of the city block in Tay street from the Bank of New South Wales to the Progressive Stores, but though the model is in a shop window it is itself a large object, and being in exact proportion, conveys a striking impression of the magnitude and spaciousness of the big liner. The detail work is beautiful, and the window is likely to be surrounded by interested and admiring people as long as the model is there.