IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21218, 20 October 1930, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

' NEWS OF THE DAY. An Unusual Mishap. A most unusual mishap occurred about half-past seven . last qiight, when a spark from the exhaust of a taxi proceeding from Winton to Invercargill ignited a canvas cover enfolding passengers’ luggage at the year of the. car. The smouldering was not discovered until a stop was made at West Plains road when it was ascertained that a kit bag with its contents had been completely destroyed,, while two suit cases were also badly singed.

A Successful Appeal. The Salvation Army in New Zealand, in order to adequately maintain its social institutions in the 'Dominion, has to find over'£s2,ooo yearly. The annual street collection towards the Army’s self-denial fund was taken up in Invercargill on Saturday and -it is understood that it proved very successful, over £5O being raised. This amount will be 'considerably increased by donations previously received from business men and other sources.

Elderly Man Injured.

As the result of an accident, a man named Herbert Walton, aged 67 years, a clerk in the paper mill, and residing at 122 Kana street, Mataura, was admitted to the Gore Public Hospital on Saturday evening. Though details of the accident are not fully known, it is understood that a motor car driven by George Hart, manager of the paper mill, Mataura, was proceeding along the main road near Otamita when it skidded in loose gravel, the injured man being thrown out. He was conveyed to the hospital suffering from a cut. on the forehead which necessitated several stitches. He is now progressing favourably. .

Time Profitably Spent. “Nothing done,” remarked a member of the Southland executive of the Farmers’ Union to the reporters at the monthly meeting on Saturday 'when the executive caine out. of committee after a protracted discussion of more than an hour and ahalf and no suggestion' of a report of business done in committee was forthcoming. The discussion in committee had concerned Power Board matters and had been full 1 of bright, interludes. Members appeared to be relieved when reminded after the passing of a • motion that the meeting had been in committee. The decisions in conimittee were not. confirmed and no report was made. ■X- ...it ' 4t Helpful Advice.

Sound advice to young ladies contemplating matrimony was prtfffbred to the lair sex present at the jubilee celebrations of the Southland Bowling Club on Saturday afternoon by Mr James Brackenridge, of Wellington, the sole surviving foundation member of the club. “When you young girls are thinking of marriage, be sure to ask-'your boys if they are bowlers and, if not, then you should insist they immediately join a bowling club” Mr Brackenridge emphasized. “If a husband is a bowler, his wife knows exactly where he can be found—either on the green or in a ’pub’ (laughter)'. There arc, of course, no ‘pubs’ in Invercargill, so you can then be positive he’ll be playing bowls.”

■ * » » Saving Power Board Expenses. “Altogether, some 2,850 farmers have signed enabling us to save £5OO a year in meter-reading expenses. If we can get the total up to 4,000 then we can save another £5OO per year,” stated a letter received from the secretary of the Southland Electric Power Board (Mr C. Campbell) at the monthly meeting of the Southland executive of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday conveying thanks to the executive in sending out circulars urging the co-opera-tion of the members of the union with the Power Board in its. effort to increase the electricity revenue and reduce meter-read-ing expenses by less frequent reading. “The response is disappointing, but we will keep at it. until we attain the object we have in view.”

Week-end Anniversaries. The week-end was rich in anniversaries of important events in the world's history. On October 18, 1865, Lord Palmerston died; the same day in 1868 was the occasion of the great ’quake in New Zealand, while, on October 18, 1914, the rebellion led by De Wet and Beyers commenced in the Orange Free State, South Africa. On October 19, 1216, King John died; in 1774, Captain Cook made his fourth visit to New Zealand, and in 1868, Bishop Selwyn took his departure from this Dominion. In 1875 Sir Charles Wheatstone, introducer of the electric telegraph died, as did President Garfield in 1885. In 1922, the Right Hon. David Lloyd George, Prime Minister of England, resigned, together with the Coalition Cabinet.

“Not Always Slow.” “This is not hostile criticism for once, gentlemen,” said Mr E. Bowniar, president of the Southland executive of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday before reading the following communication from the Oteraniika —Gorge Road branch: “At the monthly meeting of the Oteramika-Gorge Road branch held on September 23, a resolution was unanimously carried expressing admiration and appreciation of the action of the executive in standing’ firm in the face of strong adverse criticism of what they deemed of interest to farmers, in confirming the resolution regarding the subsidy to the Union Steam Ship Company,” Mr A. McKenzie said Farming First, the organ of the Auckland executive, had congratulated Southland on its attitude and had stated that “Southland was not always so slow.”

Chips And Sawdust. It is understood that, as the result of the bushcraft tests conducted in thc_ Civic Theatre last- Friday night, the funds being raised in order to finance the sending of a team of representative sawyers and axemen to compete in the Tasmanian Championships next month were augmented by nearl- £4O. This sum, together with amounts received at the Lumsden, Winton and Tokanui contests, should go a long way towards the object the committee have in hand. In order to further enlist support, the management of the Regent Theatre, Gore, has generously undertaken to stage, with the help of the committee, a further display by the leading axemen and sawyers on Thursday and Friday of this week. It is confidently anticipated that the Eastern District enthusiasts', of the sport will appreciate the management’s efforts by showing a practical interest in these entertainments. * sj: * Veteran Bowlers. The honoured visitor to the jubilee celebrations of the Southland Bowling Club, both on Saturday afternoon and evening, was undoubtedly Mr James Brackenridge, of Wellington, who had made the trip from the north in order „to be present at the functions. Mr Brackenridge is the sole surviving foundation member of the club, he, with three other enthusiasts, being responsible for its formation in November 1880, when the green, at that time behind the Club Hotel, was first opened for play. Mr Brackenbridge, who, according to the period of playing years, is the oldest- skip and bowler in the Dominion possesses the proud distinction of emerging victorious at the Victoria Club’s (Wellington) single championship held last year, and, it is worthy of mention, he was then in his 77th year. Other veteran bowlers were also present at the celebrations in the persons of Mr William Smith, who, though not a foundation member of the club, also joined in 1880 since which vear, right down to the present dav he has actively interested himself in its welfare; Messrs W. Scbo and J. Hath, both of whom joined as members in 1884 when the present green was first opened, Mr Sebo, it being mentioned during the celebrations, never having missed an opening or closing day since that -year, and Mr William Cook who laid the first turf of the present green. Fifty years

along life's journey is no mean achievement in sporting circles, and the bowling reminescences of the veterans as confided to i a large gathering at the social function on Saturday evening were listened to most attentively and aroused considerable enjoyment and, not infrequently, spontaneous laughter. ,7

Six Persons Injured. Six persons suffered minor injuries as the result of a ipotor collision which occurred about 6 o’clock on Saturday evening. A fully-loaded lorry belonging to the Southland Electric Power Board was being driven in a westerly direction along Biggar street towards Nith street by Reginald Frampton, a single man, residing in Biggar street when, at the intersection of Nith and Biggar streets, it collided amidship with a five-passenger motor car driven by S. Clymo, a bricklayer, residing in Elliot street, whose vehicle was proceeding north •along Bluff Road. Tire motor car was thrown right over on to the footpath and was considerably damaged while its five occupants all sustained minor cuts from broken glass and abrasions. The lorry also heeled over, its engine being stove back while the chassis frame was broken. Dr Burns Watson was summoned to the scene of the accident and conveyed Frampton,, who was suffering from numerous cuts to his head, to his home where several stitches were inserted to the wounds. One of G’lymo’s passengers, William McKinley, a, carpenter, residing at 154 Teviot. street, is still suffering from shock and confined to his bed.

An Eloquent Parallel. “Fifty years hence it will be hard to say how many of us will be here to speak of this function” remarked Mr James Brackenridge, of Wellington, when speaking at the jubilee celebrations of the Southland Bowling Chib on Saturday evening. “I hope I shall be able to look down ——.” A voice (interrupting) : “You might be looking up, Jimmy'.” (Ixmd laughter.) Mr Brackenridge: “I thought that would be said. But, speaking in serious vein, what a parallel can be drawn between the playing of bowls and life in general! A bowler plays very wide of the mark sometimes and, sometimes, very narrow; sometimes he plays too strong and, sometimes, not up and, sometimes, again, he slips on the mat. In the battle of life, one plays very wide sometimes and, again, often very narrow; sometimes too strong or, on the other hand, not up. And, very often, one slips on the mat. If, in real life, wc endeavoured to conquer these shortcomings to the sameextent as a bowler does, what good citizens, good husbands and fathers wc would make. Think it over, ladies and gentlemen, for it will help you to look down and take away that ‘might’ of looking up.” (Applause.) « * ♦ * “The Ladies.”

Though it is now'* universally conceded by the bowling fraternity that to the active interest taken by lady friends must be attributed many improvements both socially and in other directions on the greens, it would appear that the presence, in the past, of the daughters of Eve has not always been so willingly sought nor, again, so readily given as is the case to-day. Mr James Brackenridge, at the jubilee celebrations of the Southland Bowling Club on Saturday, related how, in company with (.three others, he had formed the club 50 years ago. ’ Turning to the ladies present on Saturday, the speaker said: “I am glad to see all you ladies, with your smiling faces, here to-day.' The day we opened, many years ago, not a lady graced us with her presence. The fair sex were somewhat shy and didn’t know what kiud of chaps bowlers were. However, they soon found out and came along.” (Laughter.) Prejudices are often deeply rooted, for, at the Te Rangi Club’s opening (also on Saturday afternoon), Mr J. Soar, the president, when expressing pleasure at the large number of ladies present, admitted that he had been frankly sceptical when it had been decided to admit ladies to the green, but, after three years’ experience, he found his fears were totally groundless and the lively and keen interest taken by the ladies in the affairs of the club had been'of inestimable value.

A Proud Possession. Proudly fluttering at the Invercargill Bowling Club’s masthead at the official opening of the season on Saturday afternoon was the “South Sea Pennant.” For the past eight years, the South Sea Pennant bowling competition has been held at the annual Suva tournament, and teams from Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and the South Sea Islands have wrested the coveted trophy on various occasions. This year, for the first time, representatives from New Zealand were successful in winning the competition, the victorious teams being (1) Messrs J. Brown. (Christchurch), G. T. Stevens (Waihopai Club —Invercargill), J. Baxter (Christchurch) and R. Mullins (Christchurch) and (2) Messrs D. H. Thomson (Southland Club—lnvercargill), F. G. Stevenson (Invercargill Club —Invercargill), J. Thomson (Invercargill Club—lnvercargill) and H. Hay ~( Invercargill Club—lnvercargill). The Invercarrill Bowling Club, by virtue of the fact that the majority of the successful Southland representatives were its members, was thus on Saturday in the proud position of being the first club in New Zealand to fly the pennant. Later in the afternoon it was hauled to the full at the Southland Bowling Club’s opening in honour of Mr D. H. Thomson’s achievements. It will, in due course, flutter from the Waihopai Bowling Club’s masthead as a tribute to Mr G. T. Stevens’s efforts t owards Jhe win at Suva. The pennant will have to be defended against all challengers at the Suva tournament next June.