IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21832, 8 October 1932, Page 4

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY

Advancing the Clocks.

New Zealand to-morrow once morft reverts to summer time and clocks will be officially advanced 30 minutes at two o’clock in the morning. Before retiring to-night householders would be well advised to make the necessary; adjustment to their clocks otherwise there is a possibility of their putting it a late appearance at church tomorrow morning. In a notice to mariners the Marine Department advises that from 2 a.m. to-morrow to. 2 a.m. on March 19 of next year the time for general purposes in New Zealand shall be 30 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time. The use of summer time does not affect the use of New Zealand standard time for purposes of astronomy, meteorology, or navigation, or affect the construction of any document mentioning or referring to a point of time in connection with any of those purposes. The attention of mariners is drawn to the several elements contained in the New Zealand Nautical Almanac and Tidetables, which are given in terms of New Zealand standard time, and to the necessity for adding 30 minutes to all such times if desiring to obtain them in terms of summer time. Admiralty and other publications for navigational purposes will be similarly; affected.

Broken Leg. While working in the Waimumtt bush shortly after 8 o’clock yesterday a young man named Robert Barber had the misfortune to break his leg. It appears that a tree, which he was assisting another man to fell, split down the middle, one half swinging round and striking him across the leg, fracturing it above the knee. He was removed to the Gore Public Hospital by the ambulance. » » • • Freak of Nature.

On Thursday at Mr William Scott’s farm, “Pinegrove,” Mataura, an eighttooth crossbred ewe gave birth to a lamb which can certainly be classed as a freak. The lamb, which lived only a short time, had eight legs, two distinct bodies which separated near the shoulder and were complete in every way, two tails, an extra tooth protruding from the upper jaw, and only one head. The freak created considerable interest amongst neighbouring farmers on account of its peculiarities. —Mataura correspondent. * • • • “Bad Business.” There is no doubt that the economic crisis has had an effect on all sections of the community, and not even the poundkeeper’s job has escaped (writes our Winton correspondent). At a recent stock sale the poundkeeper had collected three yearling cattle (two steers and a heifer) and was informed that the owner did not want them, giving permission to the poundkeeper to sell them in order to defray expenses. This was done, but the results were not very fruitful, for the three animals changed hands at 1/2 each, a total of 3/6. The poundkeeper remarked that it had been “bad business.” * * « • History of Iron Bridge. “When was the iron bridge erected across the Oreti river and where did the material come from?” were questions recently raised locally. One version is that the bridge came out as ballast in the little barque The Witch of the Tees, the captain of which was Mr Charles Bartley, who was also part owner. The ship left Gravesend on September 6, 1866, and had a long trip owing to rough weather in the English Channel and loss of time in the tropics through being becalmed. Hobart was reached on January 3 and the anchor was cast in the Invercargill Estuary on either February 2 or 3, 1867. According to this account it is evident that the iron bridge was erected at Wallacetown 65 years ago. ♦ ♦ • • Refreshing Rain. The fall of rain that commenced at Winton on Thursday morning and continued throughout the afternoon, although not heavy, was a godsend to the district. A large number of householders had felt the effects of the spell and a shortage of water for household purposes had been a common cry. The pastures throughout the district were also in need of moisture, and now bear a freshened appearance. Sporting areas, such as the Winton and Central bowling greens, were very much in need of rain and the yellowish tinge that was apparent on the sward a few days ago has been replaced by a green coat. The rain, although of twelve hours duration, was very light and by no means sufficient. A solid 24 hours’ rain would be welcome.—Correspondent. • • * * Fishing Cruise. On Thursday afternoon the schooner Aurora (H. McNeil, master) returned to the mainland after a cruise of about twelve days in Stewart Island waters. The others on board were: Messrs O. Johnston, A. Low, C. Johnston, H. Lane and G. Johnston. The cruise was of a “business combined with pleasure” nature and proved very enjoyable, especially as the party were successful in their fishing operations. Although no rain had fallen at Bluff for a lengthy period prior to Thursday, the party experienced a downpour on four days previous to that and were surprised that the showers had not reached across Foveaux Strait. On leaving Lord’s river on Thursday morning, heavy seas were encountered on the run to Halfmoon Bay, but the vessel proved herself a fine sea boat. The Aurora (which was formerly the Ruru); has lately been reconditioned by Mr O. Johnston, her present owner, and is now in excellent trim. While at the island her headquarters were at Pegasus, where a little overhauling was done and a new rudder fitted. * • . • o Motor Transport. According to returns collected by the Government Statistician motor freight services in New Zealand ran an aggregate of 1,062,890 miles during the halfyear ended last July. The figures show that during this period there were 1089 vehicles in freight service, a decrease of 63 on the total operated during the half-yearly period ended last January, but an increase of 23 vehicles as compared with two years ago. Of the total number of vehicle operating services 70 per cent, are in the North Island, and 67 per cent, of the total mileage was run in the North Island. The average distance covered by each vehicle in the period was 974 miles and the average return trip was 48 miles. The fleet of freight motors was valued at £329,245 and the receipts totalled £43,165. Since the freight totalled 52,904 tons, it is calculated that the average return was 16/4 a ton, while gross receipts averaged 9.8 d a mile. During the half-year under review the freight services employed 1338 males and 87 females, or an average of 1.3 employees per vehicle. The above statistics include only vehicles operating regularly on defined routes, and vehicles used only for local transport are not embraced. Passenger services are also excluded from the half-yearly review.