IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21605, 18 January 1932, Page 4

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY. Winton’s Statutory Half-holiday. At a special meeting of the Winton Borough Council on Friday evening, Wednesday was decided upon as the day of the week on which the statutory halfholiday shall be observed in accordance with the Shops and Offices Act.—Correspondent. * ♦ # * Abnormal Gooseberry Growth. Giant gooseberries are again being brought in to the Southland Times Office for verification of their abnormal growth. On Saturday morning, Mr J. McColl, Chelmsford street, left several monsters of the “Roaring Lion” variety, which weighed out at about 14 to the pound. The Sanders Cup Contest. The Southland representative Sanders Cup crew arrived in Wellington on Friday and their craft, the Vai, yesterday. A civic reception in honour of the visiting yachtsmen from the various challenging provinces was given by the Mayor on Saturday and among the speakers were the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board and the chairman of the Wellington Yacht Association. The delegate from each of the centres replied. * * « * Band Concerts. The Caledonian Pipe Band of Southland was favoured with glorious weather yesterday afternoon when, under the conductorship of Pipe-Major R. C. Sutherland, it gave a concert in the Rose Gardens There was a large gathering present and the various Scottish items were thoroughly enjoyed. In the afternoon, another concert, for the entertainment of the patients, was given by the Battalion Band at the Southland Hospital, its thoughtful action being much appreciated. Power Board Statistics. Features of the operations of the Southland Electric Power Board during the nine months ended on December 31 last comprise an increase in revenue and also an increase in the output of electric power from the Monowai generating station. The revenue of the board for that period showed increases in various directions, compared with the figures for the corresponding period in 1930. The increase from all sources amounted to £8066. In the sale of electricity alone the cash receipts were ahead by the sum of £2139. Regarding rates, the position was that more were outstanding at the beginning of the financial year; hence the payments during the nine months of the financial year would, naturally, show an increase. The actual increase amounted to £4513. The overdraft at December 31 last stood at £27,000, which was £lO,OOO tower than was the case at the same date of the previous year. The total output from the Monowai power station during December represented a daily average ol 58,000 units, while the highest observed peak was 4,900 kilowatts. These figures are both in excess of the comparative ones for the previous year.

Mining at Moonlight. Queenstown dwellers are talking hopefully about the possibilities of mining development at Moonlight, in the rugged Shotover country. Moonlight No. 1 Company, the interests in which are largely owned at Gore, may shortly have a neighbour to work, for the Moonlight Extended Gold Sluicing Company (called for short Moonlight No. 3) has sprung into existence at Auckland. On November 26 it formally asked the Unemployment Commissioner for subsidized labour, specifying the work to be done as the repairing of its water race. In the application it was set forth that the work is to commence early in 1932, that 20 men are required for approximately six months, and that the company offers three and a-half days’ work per week if the Unemployment Committee can give two and a-half days per week, it being added that there will be permanent work for at least ten men on the completion of the race work. On December 14 the Unemployment Commissioner replied that his board would obtain a report from the Mines Department. Quick action must have been taken, for the next day (December 15) the Mines Department announced that the inspector of mines had been requested to report. So far the official response may be regarded as favourable.

Opening of New Radio Station. An important advance in radio activity in Southland has been the construction of a most up-to-date powerful new 500 watt station in Spey Street, which is owned and wiil be operated by Messrs R. T. Parsons and R. 13rooks. In order to mark the occasion of the opening on January 28 next, a concert will be given in the Civic Theatre by leading local artists, while in the Victoria Hall the station management itself intends holding a dance. A broadcast of the concert, and, from 10 p.m., of the dance will be made and it is proposed to arrange a land-line to 4YA (Dunedin) for rebroadcasting purposes. His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Miller) will [wrforni the opening ceremony in connection with the new station. Mr R. L. Pettitt is organizing the concert, and in addition to items by the Civic and Battalion Bands, the following artists have consented to assist: Mesdames Frampton (soprano), and A. E. H. Bath (pianist), Miss Trixie Pryde (contralto), Messrs T. Pryde (baritone), F. Johnson (tenor), D. Gillies and D. Gallaghan (violinists), an instrumental trio consisting of Messrs A. E. 11. Bath (cello), G. Winton (xylophone), and R. L. Pettitt (violin). The programme promises to be a most enjoyable one, and as the proceeds of both the concert and dance are to be handed to the Mayor towards his fund for the relief of the distressed, it is expected that a generous measure of patronage will be forthcoming from the public. In addition to the above items, Mr W. Aitchison will conduct a half hour’s community sing at the concert, an interlude w'hich should prove most popular.