IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21836, 13 October 1932, Page 4

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY The Relief Depot. In future the Relief Depot in Yarrow street will be open only for one week in four, owing to a rearrangement of the working hours of the men employed under Scheme No. 5. The next time it will be open will be during the week ending on November 5. It has not yet been decided on what days and at what hours the depot will be open. * * » ♦ A Coincidence. An interesting coicidence was provided at the Dominion Convent Jubilee Ball last evening when Mr Harry Anthony led off the grand march. Mr Anthony was one of the first pupils of the school, one of the first five boys, but more interesting still is the fact that 35 years ago, in the same hall, he led off the grand march at the Queen Victoria Jubilee Ball. * * » * “Insize” in Hen’s Eggs. A local resident (Mr R. Hosie, Spey street) brought to the Times Office yesterday what could be termed an “insize” in hen’s eggs. The egg is less than a fourth of the size of a normal hen’s egg and is well shaped and constituted in every respect. It is claimed to be a record small egg for a White Leghorn. The hen is a matured and prolific layer and had not previously produced ariything in the nature of a freak. * * * * Rabbits Ravage Gardens.

Reports have come to hand that rabbits are at present reaping a harvest in several well-tended house gardens in the city. Freshly-sown lawns and young cabbages and lettuces have come in for special attention, and in some instances the “hospitality” of the gardens has been so much appreciated that burrowing has been - prominent. In East Invercargill and Lindisfarne several nests of young rabbits have been located, while many gardens have suffered from the visitation. » * * * Fire at Drummond.

At an early hour on Tuesday morning the Travellers’ Rest Hotel at Drummond, comprising 15 rooms, was totally destroyed by fire. The licensee, Mr R. Daly, retired at 1 p.m., and at half-past three had only time to escape in his night attire. The building was owned by Mrs M. Prendeville, and it is understood was insured, but the amount is not available. The stock and furniture were insured in the Standard Office for £6OO. The origin of the fire is unknown, and practically nothing was saved.

Scout and Guide Rally. It is anticipated that fully 500 Boy Scouts and Girl Guides will participate in the rally to be held at Rugby Park on. Saturday afternoon. An attractive programme has been drawn up, including displays by the cubs, brownies, guides and scouts and a spectacular combined breaking of the colours. Dr P. Clennell Fenwick, C.M.G., V.D., J.P., HS W. Honorary Dominion Chief Commissioner, and Major W. E. S. Furby, V.D., J.P., Dominion Headquarters Commissioner for Organization, will be present and will give brief addresses at the “Council Rock” to be held following the display. The presentation of trophies to the Girl Guides will also take place during the afternoon.

» * The Mataura Works.

“Although the contract at our Mataura works has been classified under the No. 10 Unemployment Scheme, there will be no monetary gain to either this company or Messrs Shillitos, Ltd., the contractors, said Mr A. Derbie, manager of the Southland Frozen Meat Company, to, a reporter yesterday. “It is quite impossible to estimate the amount, as it depends entirely on the number of men taken from the unemployment register and the employment of all labour is in the hands of the contractors absolutely who are obliged to pay award rate of wages. Judicious inquiries would have brought forth the information that before the member for Mataura ever introduced the matter in the House it had been decided that any subsidy derived under the No. It) Scheme on the Mataura building operations will be returned, through, the Southland Unemployment Committee in the form of meat supplies. * * * * Gorse for Canada. Many a landholder in the south has cursed the gorse plant, which finds the climate and soil of Southland so congenial that it flourishes in this province. Though a recognized pest, gorse looks beautiful when in bloom and attracts flower-loving visitors from overseas A case in point happened recently, lhe sight of a patch of gorse blooming in brilliant sunshine on Bluff Hill so appealed to the captain of the Canadian Cruiser, lately in port, that he sent a man to secure a plant for him to , l ake to Canada. Close investigation of the bloom convinced the skipper that he had obtained a horticultural treasure and the plant was duly prepared for the voyage to its new owners home garden. The nature of gorse was explained to the captain and needless to say he was subject to much goodnatured banter. He. stood it all with equanimity, content in the belief that he had a prize. The final remark of one man was: “You have a beautiful plant captain; but if you live another ten years you will see gorse all over Canada!” Great things grow from small beginnings; maybe the forecast will prove correct. —Bluff correspondent. » * » * Summer Time “History.”

In chronicling the advancement of all clocks in New Zealand on Sunday in accordance with the summer Time Act, the Christchurch Times in Monday’s issue published the following “historical” narrative: “Maori legend relates that a young man named Maui at one time attempted by the use of a rope noose to hold the sun god. in the sky. He failed and with him failed the first attempt in New Zealand to introduce summer time saving. Then about six years ago there arose in the Dominion another Maui, known as Sir Thomas Sidey, who attempted by the use of law to do what his predecessor had failed to do. At last he was successful. In 1927 a noose flung high and wide on a favourable wind caught Rangi and held him fast from the first Sunday in October until the first Sunday in March. A full hour was gained on him for each day in that period. Opponents of the great effort came from the country and declared that it was merely the world that had been retarded. Activities in the country were still regulated by the sun and not by Maui, they said. So strong was this opposition that the following year the difference between standard time and summer time was reduced by half an hour. By the Summer Time Act, 1929, the strongest noose yet thrown, the period of summer time was fixed as the period between the second Sunday in October and the third Sunday in the following March. And so it is settled: the sun still moves on, but each year for a time the world gains half an hour on him. It is only an illusion, but alarm clocks make it work.”