IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21854, 3 November 1932, Page 4

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY It’s Patodi, Not PatawdL Patodi—That is the correct pronunciation of the name of the Nawab of Pataudi. Known among the Englishmen as “Pat,” the Indian Prince has heard many variations of the pronunciation of his name, the most common error being “Patawdi.”— Sydney Sun. * * * * , Thieves at Gladstone. On Tuesday evening thieves raided the garden and fowlhouse of Mr J. W. Smith, Hollywood Terrace, and stole fowls and a quantity of vegetables. They were seen to decamp in a motor car.’A reward of £lO has been offered by Mr Smith for information leading to the conviction of the thieves. * ♦ * ♦ Hours at Relief Depot. Relief workers are reminded that the Central Relief Depot in Yarrow street, will be open to-day from 9 a.m. to 12 noon to all except the County Council employees. Men working for the County Council and one gang of men engaged with the Reserves Department who cannot get in to-day will be supplied to-morrow morning only. * ♦ » * A Painful Accident. An inmate of the Southland Hospital at the present time is Gordon Johnston, a carpenter residing at 135 Don street, who was unfortunate enough to slip while stepping through a door at the Ocean Beach freezing works and painfully injure his left foot. Upon his removal to hospital it was found he had sustained a fractured fibula with torn ligaments. » * » ♦ A Camellia Oddity. Two camellias growing on the one stem but bearing different colourings formed an unusual object of interest brought into the Times Office for inspection yesterday afternoon. It was cultivated by Mrs T. Lockerbie, of 118 Spey street, but whereas one bloom was of a delicate pink shading the other was a pure white. While this is not a common occurrence it is stated that camellias are inclined occasionally to sport this way. ♦ * ♦ • To Wellington by Air. When Mr W. Excell left Nightcaps on Monday for Wellington to attend the annual meeting of the Coal-Owners’ Association, it was not the customary method of railway travel he adopted. Instead he went as a passenger in an aeroplane piloted by his son George, who is a member of the Southland Aero Club. After being held up at Blenheim on account of unfavourable weather conditions, the aeroplane arrived in Wellington yesterday morning and is expected back'at Invercargill on Saturday on its return flight.

Private Small Farm Plan. An interesting experiment is being made by a farmer at Oteramika road, Mr J. Sutherland, who has decided to cut up his farm of about 70 acres into blocks of upwards of five acres and place a dwelling of about four rooms on each. This sS something in the nature of a private small farm plan and the results will be watched with interest. Doubtless the prospect of owning a small block of land with a home in reasonably close proximity to the city will be welcomed by a number of people who can secure more or less regular employment elsewhere and use their spare time to provide additional income. * The Weather at Winton.

As was the case throughout Southland generally the weather experienced at Winton for the month of October was characteristic for its gloriousness, and through the courtesy of the Winton District High School the various readings have been made available. Although rain fell on 10 days it was of a very light nature and for the month only 1.64 inches were recorded, an average of .053 inches. The temperature throughout was very mild, the hottest day registering 69deg. Cent, and the coolest 45.6 deg. Cent. The lowest reading of the barometer for the month Was 29.3 inches and the highest 30.6 in. On six days frost was experienced, while winds from the north-west dominated. —Winton correspondent. * * , Welcome Bain.

With the subsidence of a hot northwesterly wind yesterday afternoon came a shower of rain which, in view of the dry conditions prevailing locally, proved very welcome indeed. While the downpour lasted it was a fairly heavy one. The moisture, however, was soon drained away by the thirsty soil and indications last evening pointed to a continuance of the dry spell. Probably the only people who did not regard the advent of the rain with pleasure were the members of the newly-formed Rugby Park Athletic Club who wondered vaguely why the rain should choose to fall on the night of their opening sports meeting. In one quarter the fear was expressed that the club had inherited the bad weather hoodoo which has dogged amateur athletics in Invercargill during past seasons. *

Fire at Owaka. A fire occurred at Owaka at about nine o’clock on Sunday night, when three buildings were totally destroyed. The fire apparently commenced in a wooden shop occupied by Mrs Boraman, confectioner, and spread to Turnbull’s butchery premises, another wooden structure adjoining, and finally catching hold of Dale’s garage, a modem brick building. The fire was not discovered until it had obtained a strong hold on Mrs Boraman’s premises, and the absence of any fire-fight-ing materials made it impossible to combat the flames, which, fanned by a westerly wind, soon spread to Turnbull’s. A bucket brigade was hastily organized and efforts were concentrated on Dale’s garage, but the fire caught hold through the caves. Most of the stock was removed before the building was destroyed. Mrs Boraman’s loss is partially covered by insurances. Mr Dale, however, is a heavy loser, as there was no insurance on the building, although the stock and plant were covered for a small amount. * • » » New Zealand Trout Praised.

The people of New Zealand who enjoy trout fishing do not always appreciate the sport and quality of the fish at their real worth, but in England, where a three or four-pounder is a real prize, sportsmen have a great admiration for the magnificent specimens taken in New Zealand rivers and lakes. The Salmon and Trout Magazine for September says:—“New Zealand eminent for the nobility of its trout, is also distinguished by the activity and energy of its acclimatization societies. These bodies, acting jointly through an association of their own, have initiated an extensive inquiry into all that affects the well-being of their trout, two contributions to which have recently been published by the Marine Department.” One of the articles was on the depreciation of trout fishing in Southland, and conditions elsewhere in New Zealand, written by Professor E. Percival, professor of biology at Canterbury College; and the other by Mr A. W. Parrott, biologist to the Freshwater Research Committee, on “The Age and Growth of Trout in New Zealand.”

Motor Vehicle Registrations. A decrease of 7381 in the number of motor cars and motor trucks registered up till September 30, 1932, as against

those registered up till the corresponding date last year, are shown in tables supplied by the Motor Vehicles Registration Bureau. Motorcycle registrations...decreased by 2494. Figures for the Invercargill district reveal a decrease of 127 for cars and trucks and 76 for motor cycles. Figures for the main centres are as follows, last year's numbers being given in parentheses: Wellington, cars and trucks, 16,087 (18,036); cycles, 1919 (2299); Auckland, 27,000 (27,939); 4122 (4386); Christchurch 19,590 (20,373); 3244 (3734); Dunedin, 9953 (10,528); 1269 (1455); Hamilton, 12,395 (12,800); 1443 (1610); Napier, 8181 (8811); 785 (1022); New Plymouth, 8944 (9159); 1341 (1512).; Wanganui, 5956 (6438); 651 (749); Palmerston North, 9432 (10,368); 917 (1076); Nelson, 3354 (3396); 570 (654); Timaru, 5277 (5694), 684 (752); Invercargill, 7645 (7772); 729 (805); totals for New Zealand, 149,451 (156,832); 19,617 (22,111); grand total of registrations, 169,068 (178,943).

Rabbit Extermination. The work of exterminating rabbits in the Pourakino riding of the Wallace County is proceeding apace under the No. 11 Scheme. Eleven fumigators are working, with three men to each machine, and farmers are pleased with the results. The eleven machines are scattered in the Pourakino riding, but as soon as the worst comers are cut out they will take the whole district on a face. Taken on the whole the unemployed men engaged are well satisfied with the work and are giving satisfaction to themselves and the farmers in particular. The districts completed in the Pourakino riding are Fairfax, Gummies Bush, Gropers, Hazletts, Pourakino, and Ermedale. Generally speaking the scheme is going to make a difference of thousands of pounds to the farmers in this locality and Councillor Hopcroft and his committee have shown enterprise and energy in bringing the project to a successful issue. Endeavours are being made io form rabbit committees in the Waimatuku and Wairio ridings, and the general opinion seems to be that the work commenced in Pourakino riding is but the forerunner of a scheme for bringing in the whole of Southland in the same way. It is worthy of note that the fumigators, which are made .in Otautau by a local engineer, are giving every satisfaction.—Otautau correspondent.