IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21220, 22 October 1930, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Municipal Elections.

The municipal elections next year will take place on May 6 instead of in April, as has been the case in previous years. The alteration is provided for by the 1928 amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act, which requires that the elections be held on the first Wednesday in May instead of the last Wednesday in April. Y Tramway Revenue.

The tramway, traffic returns furnished to the council by the city electrical engineer (Mr A. 0. Carman) show that for the six months ended September 30, 1930, the revenue was £11,007 6/10 as compared with £11,277 16/5 for the first six months of last • year. The corresponding figures for the fnotor omnibus were £635 15/- and £633 8/2. For September, 1930, the tramway revenue was £1,803 14/11 as compared with £1,852 10/6 for September, 1929.

Scarcity of Ten Shilling Notes. A scarcity of ten shilling notes is apparent at the present time, and shopkeepers have found themselves obliged to give away a great deal more change in silver. “People come in to buy something worth about a shilling,” a retailer stated yesterday, “and tender a pound note. It means carrying about twice as much change as we generally do.’’ s * * *

Injury to Engine-driver. Walter Pentecost, a married man, 4S years of age, residing at 91 Earn street, who was engine-driver on the ChristchurchInvercargill express last evening, was admittedNo the Southland Hospital after the arrival of the express suffering from an injured hand. As the train drew into. Mataura the driver’s right hand came into violent contact with the tablet apparatus. He sustained a compound fracture of the middle finger of the hand, the back of which was also lacerated.

Gale Rages. The westerly gale which raged on Monday night is regarded by many residents as the most severe they can recollect. Considering the strength of the wind comparatively slight damage was done, although not a few chimneys and wireless aerials were lowered and doors and roofs adversely affected. A high wind was still blowing yesterday morning, but died down before nightfall. Hats were frequently to be seen bowling merrily along the street with their owners in frantic pursuit. The wind was also responsible for a minor accident. As an elderly woman was proceeding along Kelvin street the gale blew over a bicycle standing by the kerb. The falling machine caused her to lose her balance and strike the asphalt heavily. In country districts the gale caused several interruptions to the electric power supply. » •» * * Tepid Baths.

Included in the report of the superintendent of the baths to the City Council last evening was the following: “I beg to report that after September 10 the attendances have been splendid—up to that date, which was very cold, we were nearly £9 down over the same period of the corresponding month last year. We have more than made up the deficiency since and on a recent Saturday over 100 children paid admission, not including concession and season ticket holders. I am pleased to report that the early morning attendance is gradually increasing and where it used to be from four to six now it is common to see from 20 to 30 and on last Sunday morning 62 came along for a swim.” The Baths Committee reported that for the half-year ended September 30 the receipts were £26 3/5 less than for the corresponding period last year.

Receipts from Civic Theatre. In the Finance Committee’s report to the City Council last evening a clause appeared comparing the receipts from the Civic Theatre and Victoria Hall for September, 1930, and September, 1929, and for the half years ending September 30, 1930, and 1929. In September, 1930, the receipts from the Civic Theatre were £lOO 3/9 as compared with £283 2/11 for September, 1929. The loss of the competitions booking accounted for £l6O of the decrease in the returns for September, 1930. The returns from the lease to Williamson Films, Ltd., are not included. Victoria Hall brought in £lO 13/6 for September, 1930, and £l7 12/- in September, 1929. For the halfyear the figures are as follows, the figures for the first half of 1929 being given in parentheses: Civic Theatre, £483 2/5 (£629 15/9); Victoria Hall £ll3 13/(£125 1/6). The committee also reported that it had under consideration the request of local societies and organizations for a reduction in theatre hire.

Eclipse of the Sun To-day. There will be a total eclipse of the sun to-day, visible as a partial eclipse throughout New Zealand. ' The eclipse begins at 8.39 a.m., the greatest phase occurs at 9.33 a.m., and the eclipse ends at 10.30 a.m. At the middle of the eclipse, about two-fifths of the sun’s disc will be hidden. Though the sun will not be very high in the sky when the eclipse begins, its light will still be strong, and all observers should provide adequate protection for their sight while watching the gradual encroachment of the moon on the sun’s disc. A badlyfogged photographic plate makes perhaps the best screen; well-smoked glass may be used with safety, provided that in handling it none of the deposit of soot is accidentally removed; coloured glass is attended with some risk of eye trouble, and should not be employed, except by skilled observers. The vanishing sun should not be watched continuously, as this fatigues the eye; after a brief look, the eye should be rested for a time; in this way the changes which take place in the sun’s appearance will be better appreciated.