IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21192, 19 September 1930, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY. Artistic or Not? Mr I. L. Petrie was referring to the museum and proposed art gallery for Invercargill at the meeting for the formation of an art society held in the Council Chambers last evening. “Here’s the nucleus of an art gallery,” he said, pointing to pictures of past City Fathers around the wall. “That’s the museum,” said Mr C. A. Stewart amidst laughter. *»» ' * Pipe Fish Found. The curator of the Southland Museum (Mr George Jaquiery) has received from Stewart Island a curious member of the seahorse family which was picked up on Hell Fire Beach. It has the same bony covering as a seahorse and a similar head, but the body and tail arc not curved to nearly' the same extent. The fish is a needle or pipe fish (siphonostoma) and measures IGin in length and 4in in girth. An interesting fact about pipe fishes and seahorses is that in most species lhe male take charge of the eggs. * -x- * * Sir Harry Lauder’s Birthday. Sir Harry Lauder, the comedian, was 60 years of age on August. 4, and he entertained 100 of his old friends to luncheon at Dunnoon, Argyllshire. On the huge birthday cake, which was surmounted by a sugar statuette of Sir Harry, were the words: “May you keep right on to the end of the road. 1870-1930. With best wishes.” Sir Harry Lauder said: “Ye may all think weel o’ the repast ye hae passed down, for it’s the last ye’ll get—until I’m 90. It will take me 30 years to recover the expense. The real things in life are the simple things. I discovered early in my career that there were more buts-and-bens in the world than castles and palaces, and I went with the majority.” In The Public Gardens. Although it is too early yet for the real spring display, the public gardens are not without their attraction just now. Some of the flowering shrubs are in bloom both in the central gardens and in Queen’s Park. Near the greenhouse are two striking bushes of red camellias, and in this locality some rare varieties of rhododendrons are also commencing to bloom. In the beds primroses make the greatest show, but it will be very little time before the narcissi arc out. The greenhouse is always worth a visit. In addition to primulas and cineraria there are two or three pots of azalea of a beautiful pink shade. * * * Claims on Queenstown.

A conference of representatives of the City Town Planning Committee, the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, the Southland League and the Bluff Harbour Board will be held in the City Council Chambers this afternoon for the purpose of considering the attempt, made by public bodies in Dunedin to have Queenstown aud a portion of the Lake County included in the Otago regional planning area. At last night’s nieeting of the executive of the Southland League, notice of the conference was received from the Town Clerk (Mr C. L. Grange). The president (Mr C. S. Longuet), Messrs W. B. Dixon, 11. I'. Drewe and W. Hinchey were appointed to represent the league at the conference, which has been called for four o’clock. * * * * A Thriving Society.

Although this is the first, year of the Invercargill Debating Society’s existence, the support it has received augurs well for the future. At the conclusion of the Mock Trial staged by the society in St. John’s Hall last evening, Mr M. M. Macdonald, vice-president, referred to the fact that the function marked the close of the present season, which, he said, taken all round had proved a highly successful one. The speaker, in emphasizing the advantages which had accrued to the young men aud women, members, expressed the hope that an even greater measure of support would be accorded the society’s activities next season. He concluded by thanking the St. John’s Church for the generous use of the hall during the year.

TV 'A- <• ♦ Twins And Telegrams. The arrival of twins in a family is always responsible for an increase in the revenue of the Post and Telegraph Dcparement. The friends of the fortunate father as soon as they hear the news rush to the nearest telegraph office and despatch a telegram of congratulations, making these congratulations as facetious as possible. Quite recently twins were born in Invercargill and their advent was advertised in the local newspapers. It so happened that the father’s name and initials were common to another married man who, to his amazement, began to receive telegram after telegram congratulating him on his substantially increased family. One telegram read, “Very pleased to hear of your duplication.” In addition io the telegrams at least 30 telephone messages were received.