IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21887, 13 December 1932, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY. * * * ♦ Rose Gardens Attractive. The roses in Queen’s Park are magnificent at present. Show visitors with a half-hour to spare would be richly rewarded if they made their way to the park. * Clothes Line Robbed. A hoary convention knows no other than a Monday as washing day. An Avenal housewife, duly obedient, hung out the clothes yesterday only to find, later in the day, that the line had been totally stripped by a thief. The matter has been reported to the police. ♦ * * * Record Number of Signs. “This is something of a record,” said the president (Mr D. J. Wesney) at last evening’s meeting of the general committee of the Southland Motor Association when the report of the road signs committee was under consideration. “During the month 99 signs were passed for erection. This number included 47 for the Eglinton Valley Road.” * * * * An Old Road. f Returning from Dunedin by car recently, the president of the Southland Motor Association, Mr D. J. Wesney, and Mr J. R. Haigh and Dr Stanley Brown decided to travel from Clinton to Mataura by the old back road. “I’m satisfied its a fine weather road,’ said Mr Wesney at last evening’s meeting of the general committee of the association. “There is a good surface near Clinton and again near Mataura. The old telegraph poles still stand and there is great country to be seen there. The distance is 28 miles and we covered it in one hour 10 minutes. By the main road it is 35 miles, so we did not lose much from the point of view of time. However, a big stretch is absolutely unformed.” Relief Depot Donations. The following donations have been received at the Relief Depot: Self Help Co., Ltd., half chest of tea; J. M. Brown, Ltd., half a chest of tea; Single Profit Stores, 511 b of tea; Miss A. K. Blaikie, 51b of tea; Mrs Poole, 51b of tea, 41b of butter; pupils of Park School, quantity of jam and pickles; Mr Preddy, box of jam and pickles; Mr Lindsay, parcel of boots. To enable the committee to ascertain how much tea, etc., will be required for next week’s distribution it is requested that anyone intending to make donations of tea or plum puddings should send them in as soon as possible. Somebody will be at the depot most of this week and next week, but if not Messrs J. Bath and Sons will take delivery of parcels at their garage opposite. The depot will be open for the distribution of parcels on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week from 9 a.m. to noon. * * * * Speed Limit at Mataura. Reference to the speed limit of 15 miles per hour enforced in Mataura was made at last evening’s meeting of the general committee of the Southland Motor Association. Mr G. Tapper suggested that the Mataura Borough Council should be written to, stating that 15 miles per hour was an unreas•onable speed limit for the main road through the borough, on account of its width, the length of the road, which was two and a-half miles, and the fact that with the exception of one street, there were no cross streets. He considered the speed limit should be 25 miles per hour. Mr G. G. Webb said the rule of backing into a parking area which was in force in Mataura was out of date. “Some of our members considered they were unjustly treated,” said the road officer (Mr J. R. Johnston). “There are no speed limit signs and the traffic inspector has only to say they are exceeding the speed limit. He doesn’t need to prove it.” It was eventually decided to write to the Borough Council, asking for the speed limit to be raised.

Technical College Exhibition. The recent exhibition of work at the Southland Technical College came in for warm praise at the monthly meeting of the Board of Managers last evening, the chairman (Mr J. H. Reed) describing it as one of the finest advertisements possible for the college. The attendances at the various sessions showed the whole-hearted interest people were taking in the work of the students. Mr Reed moved a hearty vote of thanks to the principal and staff for their valuable services in the preparation of the exhibition. Miss C. McLeod, who seconded the motion, declared that the display reflected great credit upon the teachers and pupils. The following reference to the exhibition was made by the principal (Mr C. A. Stewart) in his monthly report: “This year we had not our usual good fortune in the weather for our exhibition, and the attendances were less than they would otherwise have been. At the same time we estimate the number of visitors at from 5000 to 6000 and this cannot be considered unsatisfactory. The innovation of having an official opening ceremony on the Thursday evening was apparently justified. Although the weather was very unpleasant we had a good attendance of guests who appreciated the opportunity of being shown round in comfort without undue crowding. It is only right that I should again express our appreciation of the self-control, orderliness, and good humour of the Southland people when in large numbers and somewhat cramped conditions. Except for one or two cases of pilfering and one or two instances of mischief by a very few weak-headed youths, the exhibits on display were in no way interfered with. The exhibition is our great annual community effort, and undoubtedly serves a useful purpose to the district and to our school. As a proof of good-humoured and hearty co-oper-ation at the end of the year when energies are likely to be flagging and tempers fraying, the effort was again a real triumph. Staff relations and the co-operation between teachers and pupils are definitely strengthened. The special calls made on pupils in the preparation, arrangement and dismantling of the display are a fine revelation to teachers of the real characteristics of individual pupils—a useful check on mere classroom indications. (It is worthy of note that by good organization and hearty team work the hall and most of the classrooms had been brought back to normal conditions by midday to-day.) A further profit from the annual effort comes from the opportunity given to the teachers to meet in an interesting way parents and others interested in the school. We are again indebted to many firms and individuals for willing assistance in connection with the display.”