IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21649, 10 March 1932, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY. Green Country. A local resident who has just returned from a visit to Christchurch in his car informed a Times reporter yesterday that the country up north was at present looking very fine. “The fields are delightfully green,” he said, “and farmers are feeling much more optimistic regarding the prospects of winter feed.” The motorist added that the recent rains, although a little late, had done an immense amount of good. » * * * Good Roads. “The highways from Invercargill to Christchurch are at the present time very good,” remarked a motorist who has recently been touring in the north. It now is a comfortable day’s journey from this city to Christchurch by road, and thosw who are contemplating this trip may set out with complete confidence. _ A Times reporter was informed that the', worst road on the whole journey was the highway between Gore and the Taicri River bridge.

Accomplished by a Child. The manager of the Milford Track, Mr L. C. Cheriton, is very proud of a feat recently accomplished by his son, Eugene. The boy, aged 4J years, recently wajked both ways over the track without receiving any assistance whatever. It is common to see men and women of 60 or or even 70 years of age on the track, but Master Cheriton must be the youngest tramper ever to have done the trip. He has a rival in Miss Lang, of the Milford Hostel, aged six years, who has twice done the track.

Pigeon Snare. Mr N. J. Dolamore has presented the Southland Museum with an uncommon exhibit in the shape of a pigeon snare. Mr Dolamore was probably the last white man to see pigeons so caugut. The snare is made of split cabbage tree leaf and is in a good state of preservation. The method of using the snare was to provide a trough of water on a dry ridge frequented by the birds. When the birds became accustomed to drinking at the trough the snare was set- and the birds in bending down to drink were caught and killed. the birds did not seem to be scared by the dead birds already caught.

Mataura Freezing Works Demonstration. The invitation of the Southland Frozen Meat Company to farmers to attend a stock demonstration and inspection of the Mataura Freezing Works yesterday afternoon was accepted by a large number, and an interesting afternoon was spent, the demonstration being on similar lines to that given at the company’s Makarewa works a week ago. At the commencement of the demonstration, Mr Alex. Derbie, general manager of the company, extended a welcome to the visitors. Mr W. T. Johnston, of Gore, demonstrated on Romney Marsh sheep, Mr P. Campbell, of Wyndham, on Border and Mr W. Falconer, of Makarewa, on Southdowns. After the stock demonstration in the yards, the gathering adjourned to the abattoirs where there was a display of carcasses. Mr R. Hutton, works manager, explained different causes of rejection and outlined the different faults in carcasses which had caused them to be put on the rejection rail. The visitors were then invited to inspect the works thoroughly. As the day was a busy one for killing, there was a great deal to interest visitors. It- is the intention of the company to make the demonstration an annual feature, probably in conjunction with the display of lambs for show purposes introduced by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board.